All Ancient History: Egypt Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
Which of the following best describes the Elephantine papyri?
Funerary works written in hieratic Egyptian that consist of numerous spells and rituals that were used to aid the dead in their journey to the afterlife.
Diplomatic correspondences written in Akkadian cuneiform that illustrate the international relations between New Kingdom Egypt the other powers of the Fertile Crescent, including the Canaanites, Hittites and Mesopotamians.
A vast collection of documents, written primarily in Aramaic, which concern a Jewish community and military garrison stationed in the Nile fortress of Elephantine
Historical narratives commissioned by the Pharaoh Merneptah that recount his battles and campaigns against the Sea Peoples.
Liturgical texts written in hieroglyphic Egyptian during the time of the Pharaoh Akhenaten that consist of a series of hymns to the sun disk Aten.
A vast collection of documents, written primarily in Aramaic, which concern a Jewish community and military garrison stationed in the Nile fortress of Elephantine
The Elephantine papyri are a collection of brief papyri written in Aramaic by the Jewish community of Elephantine, on the Nile in Upper Egypt. They were written over a long period, but especially during the 5th century BCE, and it is likely that the Jewish community of Elephantine originated as an Israelite garrison which was sent centuries earlier by the King of Judah in order to assist its weak Egyptian ally against incursions from the Nubians. The papyri show that the Elephantine Jews worshiped the Israelite god Yahweh but within a polytheistic Egyptian setting and constructed their own temple to Yahweh at Elephantine, while still keeping in close contact with the Jews of the Land of Israel and sending contributions to the Jerusalem Temple. The other answers roughly correspond to the Great Hymn to the Aten (commissioned by Pharaoh Akhenaten), the Book of the Dead (the funerary texts), the Amarna letters (the diplomatic correspondence) and the Great Karnak Inscription (Merneptah's narration of his battles against the Sea Peoples).
Example Question #1 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
Which of these became a vassal state of ancient Egypt as a result of the Battle of Megiddo in the seventh century?
the Kingdom of Punt
the Mittani
the Neo-Babylonian Empire
the Kush Kingdom
the Kingdom of Judah
the Kingdom of Judah
The Battle of Megiddo was fought in the seventh century BCE, between the forces of Egypt (led by Necho II) and the Kingdom of Judah. It was part of a larger war between Assyria and the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The Battle of Megiddo ended in victory for the Egyptians and allowed Necho II to claim the Kingdom of Judah as a vassal state.
Example Question #2 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
What was the Brooklyn Papyrus?
An official decree from the ruling pharaoh.
A list of taxes from different areas of the kingdom.
An order for the construction of the canal from the Nile to the Red Sea.
A detailed description of the Egyptian Lunar Calendar.
A record of remedies (magical and medical) for snakebites.
A record of remedies (magical and medical) for snakebites.
The Brooklyn Papyrus is an ancient medical text dating from around 450 BCE. It is significant as one of the oldest existing medical documents, and it systematically described different types of snakes, then provided possible remedies for the bite of each. It also has remedies for spider and scorpion bites. The means of curing the snakebites included practical remedies as well as spells to be performed by a healing priest.
Example Question #2 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
Earl of Carnarvon is notable in popular culture because __________.
he discovered the Valley of Kings
he translated Egyptian hieratic writing for the first time
he discovered the Rosetta Stone
he discovered the Sphinx
his death led to the belief in the “curse of the mummy”
his death led to the belief in the “curse of the mummy”
The Earl of Carnarvon funded an archaeological expedition in Egypt in the early twentieth century. It was on this expedition that the legendary tomb of Tutankhamun was found and opened. The Earl died shortly after, which encouraged the spread of the “curse of the mummy” in popular culture. The “curse of the mummy” suggests that anyone who opens a dead Pharaoh’s tomb risks incurring the wrath of the deceased and will certainly die shortly thereafter.
Example Question #3 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
Which of these ancient Egyptian rulers fought at the Battle of Carchemish?
Psamtik I
Khufu
Sneferu
Pseunnes
Necho II
Necho II
The Battle of Carchemish was fought in 605 BCE between the combined forces of Egypt and Assyria against the combined forces of Babylon, Persia, and the Medes. The Egyptian forces were led by Necho II, an Assyrian puppet ruler. The Egyptian forces were completely destroyed and the Assyrian Empire was obliterated.
Example Question #1 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
Which of these statement about royal palaces is most accurate?
The most elaborate royal palaces date from the Old Kingdom.
The vast majority of royal palaces are found in the Nile Delta.
Most surviving royal palaces were built during the New Kingdom or Late Period.
Only the wealthiest and most important Egyptian rulers lived in royal palaces.
None of these statements about royal palaces are accurate.
Most surviving royal palaces were built during the New Kingdom or Late Period.
The vast majority of surviving royal palaces were built either during the New Kingdom, the Third Intermediate Period, or the Late Period. Egyptologists speculate that royal palaces were commonly built during the Old and Middle Kingdoms, but that they have left behind little in the way of archaeological evidence. Much of our knowledge about the lives of Egyptian rulers and their subjects comes from excavations carried out on royal palaces.
Example Question #4 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
As a prosperous and thriving society, Ancient Egypt produced numerous cultural and scientific advancements. Which of the following is NOT one of Ancient Egypt’s many accomplishments?
The development of papyrus
The invention of door locks
Artificial mummification
Algebra
A system of time-keeping
Algebra
Ancient Egyptian society is rightfully lauded by modern historians for its many cultural and scientific achievements, all of which were made possible by the Empire’s long periods of economic and political stability. The most well-known of Ancient Egypt’s advancements is, undoubtedly, mummification (aka the process of preserving a dead body through the careful removal of the body’s organs and fluids). Other notable Ancient Egyptian accomplishments include the development of: a numerical system, a hieroglyphic writing system, a system of keeping time, and a technique of creating papyrus (an early form of paper) out of river weeds. The Ancient Egyptians also invented door locks and eye makeup, as well as a complex system of legal courts and criminal justice laws.
Example Question #5 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
The ancient Egyptian practice of incubation emerged during the __________.
Old Kingdom
Second Intermediate Period
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
Late Period
Late Period
The ancient Egyptian practice of incubation emerged during the Late Period. The practice of incubation involved an ancient Egyptian individual sleeping in a temple complex overnight. The individual expected to be visited in his sleep by God. It was expected that God would pass on a prophetic message.
Example Question #6 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the process of embalming usually lasted __________.
one year
one-hundred and forty days
seventy days
four years
fourteen days
seventy days
A good deal of our understanding about ancient Egyptian culture and religious practices comes from the writings of the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus. Herodotus visited Egypt during the Late Period and wrote extensively about its history. Embalming was a part of the mummification process and is thought to have usually lasted around seventy days.
Example Question #7 : Late Period (664 332 Bce
The encaustic portrait on the front of this mummified individual indicates the influence of what culture over the art and religion of Egypt in the Late Period?
Greek
Macedonian
Nubian
Roman
None of these
Roman
This image shows a Roman-style portrait of a young man that replaces the sculpted funerary masks of older mummified individuals. This is seen in the large eyes, idealized features, and position of the head that all point to conventions typical of Roman portraits.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fayum-71.jpg
All Ancient History: Egypt Resources
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