Discover the Secrets: Top 10 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Priests in Ancient Egypt

1. Hygiene Obsessed Priests

In ancient Egypt, priests were the original hygiene enthusiasts, showering so much that they would put modern germophobes to shame: These diligent bathers not only washed themselves more frequently than the average Egyptian, but also practiced daily rituals involving the cleaning of hands, face, and feet, and even rocked some seriously ahead-of-their-time cosmetics. In fact, the knowledge and expertise behind Egyptian beauty products, deodorants, breath mints, and toothpaste was so advanced that today's term 'chemistry' has its roots in Kemet, the land of the ancient Egyptians.
Source => worldhistory.org

2. Girl Power in Priesthood

Who runs the world? Girls, even in ancient Egypt: Priestesses held essential roles, such as the "God's Wife," who liaised with the god Amun at Karnak, led sacred processions with the king or high priest, performed protective magic, and could even delegate on the king's behalf in religious and political matters.
Source => historyanswers.co.uk

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=> Fun Facts about Egypt

3. Holy Bath Time

Talk about a holy bath time: priests in ancient Egypt had to undergo extensive purification procedures, not for spiritual sin-cleansing, but for physical cleanliness - even sporting Old Kingdom-approved linen attire to maintain their unblemished status!
Source => touregypt.net

4. Multitasking Holy Bureaucrats

Ancient Egyptian priests moonlighted as holy paper-pushers, juggling mummy-making and dream-sleuthing, just in case pyramids and body preservation didn't keep them busy enough: These multitasking holy men were actually part-time bureaucrats, handling vital tasks such as writing religious texts, orchestrating funeral services, mastering the art of mummification, and decoding dreams and omens for their adoring masses.
Source => ancient-origins.net

5. Divine Food Butlers

When they weren't busy discerning the delectable from the distasteful to appease their divine clientele, ancient Egyptian priests were actually more like divine butlers than food critics: Serving as caretakers of the gods, they kept temples in tip-top shape, performed rituals to honor the deities, and offered a whole array of services, from high-ranking clergy duties to humble wab priests who ensured everything ran smoothly during divine festivals. And just to make it clear, their job wasn't to critique the food but to guarantee its ritual purity and punctual presentation.
Source => worldhistory.org

6. Mummy-Making Magicians

In ancient Egypt, priests did everything from running the show to preparing mummies for their big debut in the Underworld: These holy caretakers were responsible not only for maintaining divine order through the power of heka, but they also had "sem" on their resume as the ones in charge of mummifying and uttering spells to secure eternal bliss in the afterlife for the dearly departed.
Source => worldhistory.org

7. Hogwarts-Style Magic Wielders

When ancient Egyptian priests weren't busy moonlighting as Hogwarts professors: they wielded magic to heal and ward off evil spirits, employing apotropaic, defensive, and even sympathetic magic, like vanquishing foes by illustrating them on door sockets.
Source => penn.museum

8. Divine Animal Funeral Directors

It's a wrap, folks – Ancient Egyptian priests had the market cornered on divine fur babies: They meticulously mummified and laid to rest sacred animals like Apis Bulls, ibises, baboons, and falcons in specially designated catacombs, believing these critters to embody powerful deities.
Source => mdpi.com

9. Costume-Party Haters

Move over, superheroes in disguises: ancient Egyptian priests weren't known for their costume parties either! Despite their crucial role in society, serving as the only ones allowed to serve the gods, recite hymns, and administer the daily needs of the temples, they generally frowned upon donning elaborate costumes, shaking it out to music, or performing their best dance moves during festivals.
Source => tripsinegypt.com

10. Bald and Beautiful Elite

Before the days of dandruff shampoo and disposable razors, Ancient Egyptian priests were the bald and beautiful elite: These holy men had to undergo regular purification rituals, which included washing with natron water, abstaining from certain foods, and shaving their entire bodies before entering the sacred inner sanctums of their temples.
Source => touregypt.net