Glossary

Related Terms

archeologist-- a person who learns about the past by unearthing and studying objects that have survived from former times
adze-- tool with the blade at right angles to the handle
alabaster -- a hard marble like mineral from Alabastron, a village in Egypt
amulet-- a small object, either worn or carried, that was thought to ward off evil
ankh -- the Egyptian symbol of life; a cross with a loop at the top
awl-- a tool for piercing holes
barter-- to buy or sell something by exchanging it for objects of equal value
branding-- making a permanent mark on the skin with a piece of hot iron
canopic jars-- jars used to hold the internal organs of a body
casing stones-- the outer stones forming the face of a pyramid
chase-- to decorate metal by punching or raising it's surface with a tool
causeway-- a raised path or road made on an embankment
celestial fields -- where the Egyptians believed that people went after death; it was a better place than on earth
delta -- a triangular piece of land where a river begins branching off from it's mouth
dynasty -- a line of rulers from the same family, or the period during which they rule
ecclesiastic -- related to the church
economy -- the use of workers and natural resources to produce goods
egyptologist-- a scholar specializing in the study of Ancient Egyptian history
embalm-- to preserve a dead body by treating it with scented oils and spices
engrave -- to cut letters or figures into something hard, like rock
gleaner-- a person who gathers up ears of corn left by the reapers
granite-- a very hard rock
harem -- several females associated with one male; can include wives and servants
hieroglyphs-- Ancient Egyptian writing. At first picture signs were used to represent objects. Later, the signs came to represent sounds as well
infantry-- soldiers who fight on foot
inscrption -- words engraved on stone, metal or other hard piece
invasion -- entering a country by enemy force
legacy -- anything handed down from one generation to another
limestone-- a light colored, easily cut rock, much used for building
mortar-- a cup shaped container in which food or other substances are pounded
mortuary temple-- a temple associated with the burial of the dead
mercenary -- a soldier who has been hired by a foreign country
papyrus-- a type of reed plentiful on the Nile Delta
pylon-- an Egyptian entrance gate
pyramid -- a structure with a square base and triangular sides; used in ancient Egypt as tombs
reaper-- a person who cuts corn
ritual-- used in a religious ceremony
sanctuary-- a special holy place in a temple
sarcophagus -- a stone tomb or coffin
scribe -- someone who writes and keeps record. In ancient Egypt, scribes collected taxes. Only men could be scribes.
sow -- put seeds in the ground to produce crops
shrine-- a cupboard like container in which the image of god is kept
sphinx -- a giant stone figure of an imaginary creature, with the head of a man or animal and the body of a lion.
unguent-- a liquid or cream that is put on sores or wounds
Valley of the Kings -- an area in western Thebes that holds the royal burial sites of the 18th and 19th dynasties.
vizier-- a ruler's chief minister

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Created: June 24, 1998
Updated: October 17, 2000

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