Ancient Egypt
![Hieroglyphics on an Egyptian wall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VjjMFmzCGXChuK4SDG656E-320-80.jpg)
There's something awe-inspiring about ancient Egypt; whether it’s the captivating imagery of hieroglyphics, the great monuments like the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx or the luxurious lives and deaths of its dynasties and rulers like the boy pharaoh King Tut.
Live Science’s expert writers unearth the most compelling discoveries and facts about a civilization that stretched more than 3,000 years — from a guide to the afterlife to mummies covered in gold. Dig out the latest news, features and articles about the ancient Egyptians.
Latest about Ancient Egyptians
![An ancient Egyptian mummy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T5D6j8qfZvdbRm2tdU6zbM-320-80.jpg)
Could bacteria or viruses lurking in ancient Egyptian mummies unleash a plague today?
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Do mummies contain pathogens that could be transferred to humans today, and should we be worried?
![A glossy, blue statuette of a blue hippo.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9tbH8q3NAWehbrFMAAmykV-320-80.jpg)
'William the Hippo': The ancient Egyptian statuette deliberately crippled to prevent it wreaking havoc in the afterlife
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Ancient Egyptians feared hippos, to the point that they removed three of the statuette's legs so it wouldn't cause chaos in the afterlife.
![A selection of statues depicting ancient Egyptians.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dPseTJV3A6cjmVxXqiLTvg-320-80.jpg)
Ancient Egyptian 'office workers' had terrible posture just like us, disfigured skeletons reveal
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
The development of osteoarthritis was more common among scribes than their ancient Egyptian peers, a study finds.
![A faded funerary mask against a black backrgound.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Av7Mss4DGUdpgomFQHAh4A-320-80.jpg)
'Exceptional' discovery reveals more than 30 ancient Egyptian tombs built into hillside
By Kristel Tjandra published
The more than 30 tombs include family burials, such as children buried with their parents, in a hillside in Aswan, Egypt.
![The Step Pyramid with a blue sky in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uSHaCwCWFF764bszMVqckC-320-80.jpg)
Why are so many ancient Egyptians buried at the Saqqara necropolis?
By Owen Jarus published
The ancient Egyptians buried their dead at Saqqara for thousands of years. Why was the necropolis so important to them?
![Picture of a male skull against a black background. The skull is angled to the right with the right eye socket closest to the camera. There is a white scale bar reading 2cm to the left of the skull](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XVsaLt7MBhTpEbcLwsXje8-320-80.jpg)
Ancient Egyptians tried to treat cancer 4,000 years ago, cut-marked skull indicates
By Emily Cooke published
Cut marks discovered surrounding cancerous lesions on an ancient Egyptian skull suggest that humans were conducting cancer surgery more than 4,000 years ago.
![A slab of granite etched with hieroglyphics](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mCpV4sHPTazV377cdJPbV3-320-80.jpg)
Ramesses II's sarcophagus finally identified thanks to overlooked hieroglyphics
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Archaeologists determined that a fragment of a sarcophagus hidden beneath a Coptic building's floor once belonged to Ramesses II.
![A large pyramid made of stone with five distinct levels.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ouSbTMDydeLvXUGjzka9CJ-320-80.jpg)
Long-lost branch of the Nile was 'indispensable for building the pyramids,' research shows
By Owen Jarus published
The Nile's now-extinct branch likely helped the ancient Egyptians move materials to pyramid building sites.
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