Mysteries of Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptian civilisation has captured the imagination of many people in different times and from different philosophical viewpoints and some fairly incredible claims have been made regarding their origins and the extent of their knowledge. Please Email Ancient Egypt Online if you have any theories that you would like us to investigate.

What is the purpose of the "air shafts" in the Great Pyramid of Giza?

There are four shafts built into the body of the Great Pyramid of Giza; two emanating from the "Kings Chamber" and two from the "Queens Chamber". Although they are commonly referred to as "air shafts" their true purpose is the subject of much speculation.

Find out more about the Great Pyramid "air shafts".

Did the Ancient Egyptians understand electricity?

Some writers have suggested that a carving in the temple of Hathor at Denderah depicts an ancient light bulb. They suggest that this proves that the Ancient Egyptians had an understanding of electricity.

Find out more about the Denderah Light Bulb.

Who was the pharaoh of the Exodus?

One of the most famous, and contentious, stories about Ancient Egypt is that of the Exodus of the Jewish people. The Bible story is rejected in its entirety by some commentators, while others try to interpret Ancient Egyptian history to fit the biblical tale.

Find out more about the Exodus.

The parting of the Red Sea

The story of the Exodus of the Israelites includes the parting of the Red Sea by Moses, but alternative translations of this section of the tale have led some to question this famous miracle.

Find out more about the parting of the Red Sea.

Curse of Tutankhamun's tomb

Since the death of Earl Carnarvon, there have been persistent stories about the curse of Tutankhamun's tomb. The legend has been the basis of at least one movie and numerous books.

Find out more about the curse of Tutankhamun's tomb.

Was Tutankhamun murdered?

Tutankhamun's mummy has been x-rayed on three seperate occassions but controversy still rages regarding the cause of death of the young king. Was his death accidental, or was Tutankhamun murdered?

Find out more as we ask was Tutankhamun murdered?

When did the Old Kingdom start and finish?

The term "Old Kingdom" is a modern invention which would have meant little to the ancient Egyptians themselves. Still, it is useful to break the huge span of Egyptian history into more manageable sections and in doing so characterise each period. However, there is some debate as to whether the Old kingdom should start with the third dynasty or the fourth dynasty and whether it ended at the end of the sixth dynasty or with the demise of the eighth dynasty.

Find out more about the start and finish of the Old Kingdom.