A Great Deal of Things in the Egyptian Tomb! Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first thing you may run across in the tomb are the remains of the deceased individual. How did the ancient Egyptians care for the dead as part of the burial process?

Answer: Mummified the corpse and placed it in a sarcophagus

After death, the body was taken to an embalmer to be mummified. This was important because the Egyptians believed a preserved body helps the soul move forward in the afterlife. Various organs were removed and the corpse was preserved with a briny mixture and wrapped in cloth.

This was then placed inside a coffin, or sarcophagus, and sometimes joined with a "mummy board" inside to lie upon. The sarcophagus protected the body and usually contained a variety of inscriptions and pictures such as the person's name and title, a list of food offerings, a false door for the soul to utilize, and a painted pair of eyes for the dead to keep watch.

The sarcophagus was then placed into the tomb.

2. Next in the tomb perhaps you would stumble across some canopic jars. What was contained within these vessels?

Answer: Internal organs

During the embalming process, a corpse's internal organs were removed through a cut. The liver, intestines, lungs, and stomach were all placed in salt to dry them out and then each is tucked into a separate canopic jar. The heart was believed to have been the source of both feeling and intelligence so it was left in the body.

The brain was pulled out with a hook and destroyed. The canopic jar featuring Imsety, the human-headed god, holds the liver. The jar depicting Hapy the baboon-headed god holds the lungs.

The stomach goes into the jar of Duamutef who is the jackal-headed god. Lastly, Qebehsenuef, who is the falcon-headed god, sits atop the jar holding the intestines.

3. Upon going through the tomb, you may notice writing on the walls and columns. It appears to be a series of pictures and symbols. What kind of alphabet did the ancient Egyptians use?

Answer: Hieroglyphic alphabet

Hieroglyphics were being written by the Egyptians starting around 4000 BC. There are over 1000 types of symbols and they are sorted in various ways. Logograms represent words, phonograms represent sounds, and determinatives help further define each word. Hieroglyphcs could be written left to right or right to left and the character at the beginning of the word points in the direction of the word flow.

There were abbreviated forms of these hieroglyphs called hieratic and demotic alphabets. For thousands of years the writing could not be translated until, in the early 1800s, the Rosetta Stone was interpreted where the same script was written in full hieroglyphics, in shortened demotic alphabet form, and in Greek.

4. While in the tomb, you might also come across some food and drink! The ancient Egyptians sent off their dead with plenty of meals and refreshments to enjoy in the afterlife. What common drink, pictured here, was often poured in a container and placed near the coffin?

Answer: Beer

The Egyptians actually mummified food such as meats by salting it and covering it with a type of resin. They would then place this meat, such as veal, beef, or antelope, into the tomb along with breads and fruits and vegetables. Treats from the garden such as scallions or garlic would be added as well as fruits like dates or figs. Desserts sweetened with honey would also be placed in the tomb. Finally, containers of beer would be brought into the location.

The people believed that Osiris taught humanity how to brew beer and it was an everyday drink that provided nutrition and hydration.

At funerals, a beer with a very strong alcohol content would be served to the guests and sealed into the tomb near the sarcophagus.

5. You will probably see many pieces of jewelry as it was expected that the dead should take these to not only look powerful but, in many cases, to be protected. One such symbol often found on jewelry is the one seen in the picture which is thought to protect people from harm. What is it called?

Answer: Eye of Horus

The Eye of Horus dates back to an Egyptian belief in which Horus, a god of the sky, lost his eye in a fight. When the moon god restored the eye to Horus, it became a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. It is believed to grant healing and protective powers and was often placed in amulets or jewelry.

The different segments of the design also represent the different senses people have such as smelling, sight, thoughts, etc. The Eye of Horus was found on several pieces of jewelry in King Tut's tomb and was depicted multiple times on his coffins.

6. In the tomb you will probably also find many household items. Many everyday necessities were placed with the mummy so it may be comfortable in the afterlife. In both life and death, Egyptians used beds and pillows. Of what were these bed pillows typically made?

Answer: Stone

The ancient Egyptians used not so much a pillow as a head rest during the nights! A base supported a couple of pillars that held a curved stone or ivory curved section. The person then lay on his or her back and the head was raised above the body. This also symbolized the fact that one's head, similar to the sun, rose above the rest. Since death was considered a form of eternal sleep, beds and these "pillows" were often placed in the tomb.

The person's name was inscribed on the headrest along with any special message.

7. While walking through the tomb you might see, and smell, some wonderful perfumes in alabaster jars. Egypt was famous for its fine oils and many people were buried with containers of it. There was a common ingredient in most of the oils that was obtained from a resin found in the area. What is it?

Answer: Myrrh

Egyptians believed that the god of perfume, Nefertem, originated from a lotus flower and was responsible for delightful smells as well as for healing powers. This was one of the first forms of aromatherapy. The ancient Egyptians used several ingredients in their oils and perfumes but myrrh is a common ingredient found in their most popular.

It is a resin from a thorny tree that grows in Egypt. It was mixed with cinnamon, mixed with henna, mixed with lily, and even mixed with sweet wine! The final product was stored in alabaster jars and glass bottles.

8. Once you are in the tomb, you might stumble across the corpse of an animal. Why would it usually be found in there?

Answer: It was the mummified family pet

Ancient Egyptians of all social levels often kept family pets. The most popular were dogs and cats but exotic pets such as monkeys and falcons were also kept. Dogs were thought to be linked to Anubis, the dog god who guided the dead in the afterlife. When the family dog passed away, the family kept a period of mourning and often mummified the animal to be buried in a temple or buried with the owner later. Cats were honored as not only companions but as creatures to help keep the house free of vermin and were also mummified to consort with their owners after death. Wealthier citizens kept varied pets such as falcons, ibises, gazelles, and hippos! All of these, even the pet fish, have been found mummified in various tombs.

9. Next in the tomb you come across what looks like a board game. This is because the Egyptians believed it was important to be entertained in the afterlife. This 30 square board game with throwing pieces could be played on elaborate carved rectangles or simply drawn into the earth. What is it?

Answer: Senet

Senet was a popular game and was played by two people over a board with throwing sticks or "knucklebones" which were actually the ankle bones of sheep. The squares had symbols on them which represented good or bad luck and the movement of the pieces corresponded to throws of the knucklebones.

The specific rules have been lost to time but it appears the object was to be blessed with luck from the gods and pass through the squares to the afterlife. The pieces that moved around the board were highly prized by the players and were carved or made distinctively for that owner.

10. Finally, you interpret the warnings on the outside of the tomb entrance and on various markers within. These inscriptions were often used in ancient Egypt. What were they?

Answer: A mysterious curse if you invade the tomb

Curses were often placed on tomb entrances in Egypt to deter grave robbers from robbing the tomb. These curses warned the would-be thieves that the dead would return and seek revenge and that bad luck and even death could follow. Pharaohs, in particular, had curses inscribed on tables and placed on their mummified bodies to warn people to not disturb them in the afterlife. Through the centuries, the stories grew to include tales of mummies coming to life and bad luck following entire families of anyone who dared to disturb the tomb!

Source: Author stephgm67

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Imagine you have trekked through Egypt and have just run across an ancient tomb there. There are actually quite a number of things you might run across in the burial site. Let's investigate some of them!

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