Technology has enhanced many aspects of our lives and helped develop insights into our enchanting past. Ancient Egyptian culture has captivated us for generations, and now modern technology is being used in various ways to help us better understand what life was like in the age of the Pharaohs.
Games and Movies Based on the Period
Playing games is one of the most interesting ways of discovering interesting facts about any historical period, and games based on Egyptian culture are particularly prominent. The first surprise you’re likely to receive is that it’s possible to play the ancient game of Senet online, making this arguably the world’s oldest game that can still be played. Numerous board games such as Thebes and Amun-Re are among the more modern options but we need to look for movies and online games to see how technology can help bring this era back to life in new ways.
This culture is well-represented in the movie industry, where the likes of The Mummy, Cleopatra, and Gods of Egypt all contain useful snippets of information that help us understand Ancient Egypt better. You can also dip into this rich, fascinating civilization by playing online slots based on this theme. The likes of Eye of Horus, Book of Dead, and Cleopatra introduce players to some of the most enduring characters from this period. These games also typically include objects such as scarab beetles and ankh crosses, letting us discover more of the culture’s important symbols. Other cultures such as Ancient Rome and Greece are also covered in games of this type.
Uncovering Egyptian Art
Most people can picture at least a few examples of Egyptian art, including the most famous images such as hieroglyphics, the bust of Nefertiti, and Tutankhamun’s legendary mask, which are among the most memorable items to have entered modern pop culture. Yet, given that Ancient Egyptian culture covers more than 3,000 years, there are likely many aspects of their art that are still unknown to us.
A recent news story explains how researchers have been using the latest non-destructive tools to study pieces of art more closely than ever before. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities teamed up with investigators from the University of Liège, Sorbonne University, and other places around the world. By studying a couple of Egyptian funerary paintings, they were able to reveal details that had never been noticed before because they were invisible to the naked eye.
Finding Secret Rooms and Scanning Mummies
The Smithsonian Channel documentary called Tomb Hunters: Tomb of the
Judge, shows how investigators discovered an ancient room with beautiful artwork that had been hidden behind a door for thousands of years. They believe that the room they finally entered was seen as a crucial part of the afterlife process and the search continues for more secrets like this that can be found through tools such as satellite imagery and scanning.
As well as looking for rooms, technology like 3D CT scanning is used to reveal secrets that would otherwise remain hidden. The mummified remains of Pharaoh Amenhotep I were investigated in this way recently, letting researchers see the details of his physical condition in an unobtrusive way that left him perfectly preserved.
Discovering the Scents Used
Understanding the sights, sounds, and smells of the distant past seems like a challenging task. Yet, an interactive exhibition due to be held in Denmark’s Moesgaard Museum later this year will reveal what scientists have called the scent of the afterlife. By studying oils and resins that were mixed in 1405 BCE, they could identify the ingredients used. This scent was created for the remains of a high-status woman and involved gathering expensive ingredients from far afield, meaning that it wasn’t a typical formula used in many funerals.
These and other types of technology are helping us to discover more about the world around us as well as the past. With Egypt remaining one of the most intriguing cultures in our history, people will remain interested in finding new ways of using technology to better understand it. Hopefully, we can continue to see breakthroughs that help us better understand other cultures too.
Also read: The Mystical World Of Ley Lines: Connecting Monuments And Landforms
