The Lost Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt: Lesson 1 and 2
Lesson #1:
Blog Assignment:
The Egyptians had some very specific thoughts about what would happen to them upon their death. Based on what you know of the pharaohs, take on the point of view of a particular Egyptian pharaoh and write a 100-300 word description of the design and contents of "your" tomb. What scenes might be painted on the walls? Would you replicate your army? Would you take your jewels? Your furniture? What use might these items be in the afterlife? Be sure to give the reasons for choosing the items you will take with you, and if you’d like, describe the physical structure of the tomb in which you wish to be placed when you leave this world for the next. [Feel free to refer to the online historical resources about pyramids offered by PBS and others found in Want to Learn More about Ancient Egypt? located in the top section of the HomePage.]
Ethan’s Response:
My Diary,
To God-King Pharaoh Cheops, From God-King pharaoh Cheops.
It is the time of the harvest, and I am writing this if anyone should come across this journal. In case you haven’t noticed, there is an extraordinarily large pyramid tomb that is being built in Giza. Mine, in fact. In a couple years, hopefully less, I will be joining my Godly friends in the Underworld. Oh, you don’t know about that? Well then, I’ll just tell you. First off, you know the place Ra goes every night when Nut eats him? Oh, you don’t know that either? (People these days, I mean, seriously.) Well, it’s called the Underworld, and it’s filled with perilous creatures of all size, but most importantly, it houses our souls when we die.
So firstly, when we die, we have to go down to the Underworld (I have a boat to take me there), and we meet up with Osiris. Then, when we’re in his magnificent hall, he weighs our heart against the feather of truth, to see if we have made any major sins. If we have, Osiris gets his pet monster to gobble up our heart so we won’t live ever after. (Oh, that’s the reason they keep our heart in our body when we get mummified.) But if our heart is lighter than the feather of truth, then we get to live ever after. But, before you get all excited about going to the underworld, you have to remember that you’ve got to bring your daily Items to actually LIVE there. Normal people usually get buried with their tools, but since I’m not normal in any way (Godly or not), I get to make a list of what I’m going to have down in the Underworld.
The first thing on my list, (besides my signs of honor, the crook and the flail), would be my sweet golden horse chariot to ride around in (I wonder if your allowed to conquer anyone in the Underworld, I mean, who would dare oppose a Pharaoh? Perhaps a full God, maybe. Hmmm... I’ll think about that later.) The second thing on my list would be my emerald pendant encased in a gold ring, I would look beautiful with that. The third thing that would be on my list would be my perfectly carved bow, with my iron and flint tipped arrows for hunting. And my fourth thing I would bring would be my golden throne of Ra, that would be a good thing to have down there. I’d also have the best God statuettes made in our kingdom. And then of course, I would take the rest of my best jewelry (to make me even more beautiful, if that’s possible), and most importantly, my most devoted soldiers in my personal army. Now that’s a good list. But then, I have to make the scenes in which I’m going to live in in the Underworld. Those scenes are painted on the side of the wall, and come to life in the next life. So, about the scenes. The first scene would be our ceremony to Ra, and the second scene about me encouraging brother Hapi to send the floods down our river. The third scene would be me inspecting Thebes on my golden chariot, and the fourth scene about me hunting down game in the cliffs beyond the river. Oh yeah, and the final scene would be about me marrying my wife. Now I think I’m fit for the Underworld, and I hope I’ll be able to see you there.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, your have chosen a most interesting way to format your blog! I love that you used a diary entry. It fits the parameters of the prompt, but the presentation makes your blog stand out from others. Your tomb sounds very regal and befitting of a Pharaoh! You have done a wonderful job of describing the items you would place in your tomb. You also explained the use for each object, which really helps your reader to understand why they are so important to you. You have incorporated many specifically Egyptian vocabulary words, which makes your description sound very authentic and knowledgeable. Your elaborations are well done! I especially liked, “The first thing on my list, (besides my signs of honor, the crook and the flail), would be my sweet golden horse chariot to ride around in (I wonder if your allowed to conquer anyone in the Underworld, I mean, who would dare oppose a Pharaoh? Perhaps a full God, maybe. Hmmm... I’ll think about that later.)” I like that you added some of Cheops’ personality with wanting to expand territory and conquer new lands even in the underworld. You have a nice style of writing that makes your blog enjoyable and easy to read. You are off to a wonderful start to our course! I look forward to reading your post next week!
Discussion Questions:
b. The Rosetta Stone. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone was very important to the uncovering of the “lost history of ancient Egypt” (6). Why was this discovery so pivotal to the recovery of the civilization of Ancient Egypt? What was so important about the discovery of the repetition of Pharaoh Ptolemy’s name? What do you think of the story of Jean Francois Champollion?
Ethan’s Response:
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone was a big step forward in the archeology of ancient Egypt. It allowed us to look at hieroglyphics and see their meaning, and when we understood what the hieroglyphics meant, we could understand more about the people who wrote them. The
repetition of Pharaoh Ptolemy's name is important, because since the hieroglyphics were so advanced (they even had signs for different sounds!), the Egyptologists couldn't match up the words until then.
Teacher’s Feedback:
Ethan, you have done a great job of explaining what the Rosetta Stone is, its purpose and its importance! You were very thorough and clear. Your explanation of the Rosetta Stone is well done. Until the translation of the Rosetta Stone, Egyptologists had to merely guess at the meanings of what happened from daily activities to the laws that were passed. You have done a nice job of stating your opinion and then explaining it to the rest of your classmates. Keep up the insightful posts! Well done!
The River. Why was the Nile River such a big part of the ancient Egyptian civilization? What were the key features of the Nile Valley that made it perfect for Egypt’s development? Why was the invention of irrigation so important? What do you predict would happen if the Nile River dried up?
Ethan’s Response:
Hi Emma!
I agree that irrigation was extremely important in the rise of ancient Egypt because it allowed the Egyptians to think of other things besides food, shelter, and water. It still amazes me that the idea of irrigation didn't fade away with the Egyptians. In fact, most of the desert areas in the western US use it to this day. I also wonder if the river played another role in the rise of the Egyptians. For example, the Egyptian's ancestors were only around the river for some 2000 years before they became civilized, compared to the hundreds of thousands of years the rest of the world lived as hunter gatherers. Maybe the river sped up their path to civilization, or at least helped them.
Thanks for writing a post that made me think!
Ethan
Teacher’s Feedback:
Ethan, it is great that you found many ways that the Nile was important to the Egyptians. You did an excellent job of explaining why river is important and how it helped the Egyptians to thrive as a society. You added value to the discussion! This is what I am looking for in a discussion post to your classmates. You went beyond their ideas and gave your own. You fully explained your thoughts. To make it perfect, try to find a text citation! I can tell that you have many ideas from the text, but a direct quote is very valuable to bolster your viewpoint. An example of one I found is, “Without kemi [the Egyptians’ name for the fertile silt] there would be no Egypt at all. The Nile Valley would be as barren and unproductive as the deserts that surround it” (25). Nice thinking!
!I look forward to reading your next posts! Your challenge for this week - try to include a specific text quote or reference, with page numbers, in each of your discussion posts. A format for your discussion posts could be: give your opinion, support it with your quote and be sure to explain how the quote relates to your opinion. You want to choose a quote that makes your opinion seem stronger.
All the Best, Mrs. Conway
Lesson 2
Blog Assignment:
a. Pretend you are living in ancient Egypt at the time when Hatshepsut was replaced by Thutmose III and write a 100-300 word letter to a trusted relative explaining your thoughts about the transition. While the content of the letter is totally up to you, you may want to start by answering some of the following questions: Are you pleased that Hatshepsut is no longer acting as pharaoh? What do you think about her treatment of Thutmose III? Are there any actions that she took that you particularly liked or disliked? Do you expect Egypt to be a better place to live now that Thutmose III is in power? Do you have concerns about him as pharaoh?
Ethan’s Response:
Dear Allun, my trusted relative,
I am pleased that Pharaoh Thutmose III is now in power, and I am happy that he got rid of that scandalous Pharaoh for many reasons, the first being that she was a FEMALE Pharaoh, a GIRL!!! I hope the scribes do not include that part of our history in the records, it would be embarrassing for our whole kingdom! And her treatment of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first stealing the throne from him, then trying to banish his memory from the WORLD, even when Amon clearly showed that he thought him the proper Pharaoh. I expect Egypt to be a much better place now that we have a proper God-King in place, (I can’t believe the other Gods didn’t join up with Amon to prove that they thought Thutmose III the right Pharaohs).
I only have one concern about Thutmose being Pharaoh, and that is that I hope he can finish off those vile Syrian princes quickly and be done with them. And I also hope that he will make the Godly world better again. It became all confused when Hatshepsut was in power, and I do think that he was in the right mind when he destroyed Deir el Bahri and Hatshepsut’s pink sphinxes, I mean, she literally STOLE the throne from him.
Write me back soon please, I want to hear your thoughts on this. Praise be to Amon,
Orick, your faithful cousin
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you have written a very thoughtful letter to your cousin. You have done a nice job of making your letter very readable and persuasive. I like the character you created! He has personality! Also, you did well to incorporate historical details into your writing like, “And her treatment of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first stealing the throne from him, then trying to banish his memory from the WORLD, even when Amon clearly showed that he thought him the proper Pharaoh.” You did a nice job of showing the turmoil many feel at the time when power transitions from one long-term ruler to the next, even if you didn’t think Hatshepsut was the rightful ruler. I’m sure many were uncertain of the future when a new pharaoh ascended to the throne. My recommendation for you is to try to incorporate figurate language like similes, metaphors and hyperbole. Adding more expressive language will allow your work to come alive to your reader. If you need examples, please refer to the literary guide in the classroom. Well done! You have wonderful ideas!
Discussion Questions:
b. Thutmose III vs. Hatshepsut. When Thutmose III took the throne, why did he attempt to destroy all memory of Hatshepsut in Egypt? Do you think this was a wise move or simply motivated by his anger and resentment? Explain. Do you think that Hatshepsut or Thutmose III was the better ruler for the Egyptian people? Explain your answer by using examples and evidence from the book to support your points.
Ethan's Response:
Hi Saira,
I like your thoughts and mostly agree with you on this topic. I agree that Thutmose III was very angry at Hatshepsut taking the throne from him, so, when he finally took the throne at long last, he tried to destroy every memory of her in Egypt. I also think that the crowning of Hatshepsut at that time might have been fine with the people of Egypt, but later on in the story, some people started to think that Thutmose III might have been a better ruler.
That is shown when the priests of Amon bent down and knelt before Thutmose, during the daily procession of Amon. After that, some of the more religious people might have gone over to Thutmose's side, thinking that that was Amon telling them that he thought Thutmose to be a better ruler. I also think that, as you said, Hatshepsut could've put her money to better use then building Pink sphinxes outside her temple. Even though Hatshepsut was ruler by blood and flesh, I think that she could've been a better ruler.
From,
Ethan
Teacher Feedback: Ethan, I agree with you! I think Thutmose III knew how much Hatshepsut wanted her legacy to survive, so he was going to do everything he could to make it harder for future generations to know her. Also, he probably wanted to prove to the Egyptian people that he was the rightful Pharaoh. To do that, he had to show his force. With Hatshepsut’s death, even under mysterious circumstances, they were left with just Thutmose III. You have done a great job of stating how you agree with the others and expanding on their ideas. It shows that you put a lot of thought into your post and your readings. Keep up the nice work!
f. Rameses the Second. Why did early archaeologists give Rameses the Second the name of "Rameses the Great"? Why did the archaeologists change their minds? Why did Rameses use stones from former Pharaohs’ temples and buildings for his own temples? What is meant by, “He even braved superstition and made off with marble and granite blocks from Akhnaton’s crumbling City of the Horizon” (164)? Do you think this “re-purposing” of building materials was a good idea in ancient Egypt? Why or why not?
Early archeologists named Rameses the Second 'Rameses the Great', because when they were exploring the Nile, they saw his name on many stone steles, obelisks, and temples. They then made the logical conclusion that the reason his name was seen on many buildings was because he was an amazing Pharaoh, and, after that conclusion, they dubbed him the name 'Rameses the Great'. But, as the embarrassed archeologists later figured out, the real reason that his name was found on so many buildings, obelisks, and temples, is because Pharaoh Rameses “was not so much a mighty Pharaoh as a mighty egoist and self-publicizer” (Payne 160). The only thing the supposedly awe-inspiring 'Rameses the Great' did do, (besides fighting a befuddled war with the Hittites, and then, sixteen years later, marrying the daughter of the prince he once fought), was take stones from former Pharaohs temples to build all the obelisks, steles, and temples with his name on them. I do not think that this re-purposing of temples for archeologists was such a good thing, because they would not know about what what was written on the past Pharaohs temples, but at the time it probably saved lots of time AND building materials.
Ethan, your discussion post is very well thought out! You gave a nice summary of how Rameses got the title “Great.” You even explained his real actions of just modifying existing monuments and structures. He seems to have been a master of early advertising! I guess he thought if he got his name out there, he would be remembered for something, even if it had to be embellished! You did an excellent job of explaining your opinion clearly and completely! Your text quote is well chosen and supports your ideas very well. Great job!
You have done a wonderful job with Lesson 2! I am excited to begin combining our factual knowledge of ancient Egypt with the fictional story of Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh. Your challenge for this week is to incorporate dialogue into your blog or one of your discussion posts. Also, don’t forget to find those important text details and quotes for your discussion posts!
If you need help writing dialogue, you can use the link below, if you have your parents’ permission. It is from a classroom teacher that gives the rules for writing dialogue and some extra practice doing it. If you have any struggles, let me know and I will be happy to help!
http://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/dialogue---quotation-marks.html
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Conway
Blog Assignment:
The Egyptians had some very specific thoughts about what would happen to them upon their death. Based on what you know of the pharaohs, take on the point of view of a particular Egyptian pharaoh and write a 100-300 word description of the design and contents of "your" tomb. What scenes might be painted on the walls? Would you replicate your army? Would you take your jewels? Your furniture? What use might these items be in the afterlife? Be sure to give the reasons for choosing the items you will take with you, and if you’d like, describe the physical structure of the tomb in which you wish to be placed when you leave this world for the next. [Feel free to refer to the online historical resources about pyramids offered by PBS and others found in Want to Learn More about Ancient Egypt? located in the top section of the HomePage.]
Ethan’s Response:
My Diary,
To God-King Pharaoh Cheops, From God-King pharaoh Cheops.
It is the time of the harvest, and I am writing this if anyone should come across this journal. In case you haven’t noticed, there is an extraordinarily large pyramid tomb that is being built in Giza. Mine, in fact. In a couple years, hopefully less, I will be joining my Godly friends in the Underworld. Oh, you don’t know about that? Well then, I’ll just tell you. First off, you know the place Ra goes every night when Nut eats him? Oh, you don’t know that either? (People these days, I mean, seriously.) Well, it’s called the Underworld, and it’s filled with perilous creatures of all size, but most importantly, it houses our souls when we die.
So firstly, when we die, we have to go down to the Underworld (I have a boat to take me there), and we meet up with Osiris. Then, when we’re in his magnificent hall, he weighs our heart against the feather of truth, to see if we have made any major sins. If we have, Osiris gets his pet monster to gobble up our heart so we won’t live ever after. (Oh, that’s the reason they keep our heart in our body when we get mummified.) But if our heart is lighter than the feather of truth, then we get to live ever after. But, before you get all excited about going to the underworld, you have to remember that you’ve got to bring your daily Items to actually LIVE there. Normal people usually get buried with their tools, but since I’m not normal in any way (Godly or not), I get to make a list of what I’m going to have down in the Underworld.
The first thing on my list, (besides my signs of honor, the crook and the flail), would be my sweet golden horse chariot to ride around in (I wonder if your allowed to conquer anyone in the Underworld, I mean, who would dare oppose a Pharaoh? Perhaps a full God, maybe. Hmmm... I’ll think about that later.) The second thing on my list would be my emerald pendant encased in a gold ring, I would look beautiful with that. The third thing that would be on my list would be my perfectly carved bow, with my iron and flint tipped arrows for hunting. And my fourth thing I would bring would be my golden throne of Ra, that would be a good thing to have down there. I’d also have the best God statuettes made in our kingdom. And then of course, I would take the rest of my best jewelry (to make me even more beautiful, if that’s possible), and most importantly, my most devoted soldiers in my personal army. Now that’s a good list. But then, I have to make the scenes in which I’m going to live in in the Underworld. Those scenes are painted on the side of the wall, and come to life in the next life. So, about the scenes. The first scene would be our ceremony to Ra, and the second scene about me encouraging brother Hapi to send the floods down our river. The third scene would be me inspecting Thebes on my golden chariot, and the fourth scene about me hunting down game in the cliffs beyond the river. Oh yeah, and the final scene would be about me marrying my wife. Now I think I’m fit for the Underworld, and I hope I’ll be able to see you there.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, your have chosen a most interesting way to format your blog! I love that you used a diary entry. It fits the parameters of the prompt, but the presentation makes your blog stand out from others. Your tomb sounds very regal and befitting of a Pharaoh! You have done a wonderful job of describing the items you would place in your tomb. You also explained the use for each object, which really helps your reader to understand why they are so important to you. You have incorporated many specifically Egyptian vocabulary words, which makes your description sound very authentic and knowledgeable. Your elaborations are well done! I especially liked, “The first thing on my list, (besides my signs of honor, the crook and the flail), would be my sweet golden horse chariot to ride around in (I wonder if your allowed to conquer anyone in the Underworld, I mean, who would dare oppose a Pharaoh? Perhaps a full God, maybe. Hmmm... I’ll think about that later.)” I like that you added some of Cheops’ personality with wanting to expand territory and conquer new lands even in the underworld. You have a nice style of writing that makes your blog enjoyable and easy to read. You are off to a wonderful start to our course! I look forward to reading your post next week!
Discussion Questions:
b. The Rosetta Stone. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone was very important to the uncovering of the “lost history of ancient Egypt” (6). Why was this discovery so pivotal to the recovery of the civilization of Ancient Egypt? What was so important about the discovery of the repetition of Pharaoh Ptolemy’s name? What do you think of the story of Jean Francois Champollion?
Ethan’s Response:
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone was a big step forward in the archeology of ancient Egypt. It allowed us to look at hieroglyphics and see their meaning, and when we understood what the hieroglyphics meant, we could understand more about the people who wrote them. The
repetition of Pharaoh Ptolemy's name is important, because since the hieroglyphics were so advanced (they even had signs for different sounds!), the Egyptologists couldn't match up the words until then.
Teacher’s Feedback:
Ethan, you have done a great job of explaining what the Rosetta Stone is, its purpose and its importance! You were very thorough and clear. Your explanation of the Rosetta Stone is well done. Until the translation of the Rosetta Stone, Egyptologists had to merely guess at the meanings of what happened from daily activities to the laws that were passed. You have done a nice job of stating your opinion and then explaining it to the rest of your classmates. Keep up the insightful posts! Well done!
The River. Why was the Nile River such a big part of the ancient Egyptian civilization? What were the key features of the Nile Valley that made it perfect for Egypt’s development? Why was the invention of irrigation so important? What do you predict would happen if the Nile River dried up?
Ethan’s Response:
Hi Emma!
I agree that irrigation was extremely important in the rise of ancient Egypt because it allowed the Egyptians to think of other things besides food, shelter, and water. It still amazes me that the idea of irrigation didn't fade away with the Egyptians. In fact, most of the desert areas in the western US use it to this day. I also wonder if the river played another role in the rise of the Egyptians. For example, the Egyptian's ancestors were only around the river for some 2000 years before they became civilized, compared to the hundreds of thousands of years the rest of the world lived as hunter gatherers. Maybe the river sped up their path to civilization, or at least helped them.
Thanks for writing a post that made me think!
Ethan
Teacher’s Feedback:
Ethan, it is great that you found many ways that the Nile was important to the Egyptians. You did an excellent job of explaining why river is important and how it helped the Egyptians to thrive as a society. You added value to the discussion! This is what I am looking for in a discussion post to your classmates. You went beyond their ideas and gave your own. You fully explained your thoughts. To make it perfect, try to find a text citation! I can tell that you have many ideas from the text, but a direct quote is very valuable to bolster your viewpoint. An example of one I found is, “Without kemi [the Egyptians’ name for the fertile silt] there would be no Egypt at all. The Nile Valley would be as barren and unproductive as the deserts that surround it” (25). Nice thinking!
!I look forward to reading your next posts! Your challenge for this week - try to include a specific text quote or reference, with page numbers, in each of your discussion posts. A format for your discussion posts could be: give your opinion, support it with your quote and be sure to explain how the quote relates to your opinion. You want to choose a quote that makes your opinion seem stronger.
All the Best, Mrs. Conway
Lesson 2
Blog Assignment:
a. Pretend you are living in ancient Egypt at the time when Hatshepsut was replaced by Thutmose III and write a 100-300 word letter to a trusted relative explaining your thoughts about the transition. While the content of the letter is totally up to you, you may want to start by answering some of the following questions: Are you pleased that Hatshepsut is no longer acting as pharaoh? What do you think about her treatment of Thutmose III? Are there any actions that she took that you particularly liked or disliked? Do you expect Egypt to be a better place to live now that Thutmose III is in power? Do you have concerns about him as pharaoh?
Ethan’s Response:
Dear Allun, my trusted relative,
I am pleased that Pharaoh Thutmose III is now in power, and I am happy that he got rid of that scandalous Pharaoh for many reasons, the first being that she was a FEMALE Pharaoh, a GIRL!!! I hope the scribes do not include that part of our history in the records, it would be embarrassing for our whole kingdom! And her treatment of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first stealing the throne from him, then trying to banish his memory from the WORLD, even when Amon clearly showed that he thought him the proper Pharaoh. I expect Egypt to be a much better place now that we have a proper God-King in place, (I can’t believe the other Gods didn’t join up with Amon to prove that they thought Thutmose III the right Pharaohs).
I only have one concern about Thutmose being Pharaoh, and that is that I hope he can finish off those vile Syrian princes quickly and be done with them. And I also hope that he will make the Godly world better again. It became all confused when Hatshepsut was in power, and I do think that he was in the right mind when he destroyed Deir el Bahri and Hatshepsut’s pink sphinxes, I mean, she literally STOLE the throne from him.
Write me back soon please, I want to hear your thoughts on this. Praise be to Amon,
Orick, your faithful cousin
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you have written a very thoughtful letter to your cousin. You have done a nice job of making your letter very readable and persuasive. I like the character you created! He has personality! Also, you did well to incorporate historical details into your writing like, “And her treatment of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first stealing the throne from him, then trying to banish his memory from the WORLD, even when Amon clearly showed that he thought him the proper Pharaoh.” You did a nice job of showing the turmoil many feel at the time when power transitions from one long-term ruler to the next, even if you didn’t think Hatshepsut was the rightful ruler. I’m sure many were uncertain of the future when a new pharaoh ascended to the throne. My recommendation for you is to try to incorporate figurate language like similes, metaphors and hyperbole. Adding more expressive language will allow your work to come alive to your reader. If you need examples, please refer to the literary guide in the classroom. Well done! You have wonderful ideas!
Discussion Questions:
b. Thutmose III vs. Hatshepsut. When Thutmose III took the throne, why did he attempt to destroy all memory of Hatshepsut in Egypt? Do you think this was a wise move or simply motivated by his anger and resentment? Explain. Do you think that Hatshepsut or Thutmose III was the better ruler for the Egyptian people? Explain your answer by using examples and evidence from the book to support your points.
Ethan's Response:
Hi Saira,
I like your thoughts and mostly agree with you on this topic. I agree that Thutmose III was very angry at Hatshepsut taking the throne from him, so, when he finally took the throne at long last, he tried to destroy every memory of her in Egypt. I also think that the crowning of Hatshepsut at that time might have been fine with the people of Egypt, but later on in the story, some people started to think that Thutmose III might have been a better ruler.
That is shown when the priests of Amon bent down and knelt before Thutmose, during the daily procession of Amon. After that, some of the more religious people might have gone over to Thutmose's side, thinking that that was Amon telling them that he thought Thutmose to be a better ruler. I also think that, as you said, Hatshepsut could've put her money to better use then building Pink sphinxes outside her temple. Even though Hatshepsut was ruler by blood and flesh, I think that she could've been a better ruler.
From,
Ethan
Teacher Feedback: Ethan, I agree with you! I think Thutmose III knew how much Hatshepsut wanted her legacy to survive, so he was going to do everything he could to make it harder for future generations to know her. Also, he probably wanted to prove to the Egyptian people that he was the rightful Pharaoh. To do that, he had to show his force. With Hatshepsut’s death, even under mysterious circumstances, they were left with just Thutmose III. You have done a great job of stating how you agree with the others and expanding on their ideas. It shows that you put a lot of thought into your post and your readings. Keep up the nice work!
f. Rameses the Second. Why did early archaeologists give Rameses the Second the name of "Rameses the Great"? Why did the archaeologists change their minds? Why did Rameses use stones from former Pharaohs’ temples and buildings for his own temples? What is meant by, “He even braved superstition and made off with marble and granite blocks from Akhnaton’s crumbling City of the Horizon” (164)? Do you think this “re-purposing” of building materials was a good idea in ancient Egypt? Why or why not?
Early archeologists named Rameses the Second 'Rameses the Great', because when they were exploring the Nile, they saw his name on many stone steles, obelisks, and temples. They then made the logical conclusion that the reason his name was seen on many buildings was because he was an amazing Pharaoh, and, after that conclusion, they dubbed him the name 'Rameses the Great'. But, as the embarrassed archeologists later figured out, the real reason that his name was found on so many buildings, obelisks, and temples, is because Pharaoh Rameses “was not so much a mighty Pharaoh as a mighty egoist and self-publicizer” (Payne 160). The only thing the supposedly awe-inspiring 'Rameses the Great' did do, (besides fighting a befuddled war with the Hittites, and then, sixteen years later, marrying the daughter of the prince he once fought), was take stones from former Pharaohs temples to build all the obelisks, steles, and temples with his name on them. I do not think that this re-purposing of temples for archeologists was such a good thing, because they would not know about what what was written on the past Pharaohs temples, but at the time it probably saved lots of time AND building materials.
Ethan, your discussion post is very well thought out! You gave a nice summary of how Rameses got the title “Great.” You even explained his real actions of just modifying existing monuments and structures. He seems to have been a master of early advertising! I guess he thought if he got his name out there, he would be remembered for something, even if it had to be embellished! You did an excellent job of explaining your opinion clearly and completely! Your text quote is well chosen and supports your ideas very well. Great job!
You have done a wonderful job with Lesson 2! I am excited to begin combining our factual knowledge of ancient Egypt with the fictional story of Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh. Your challenge for this week is to incorporate dialogue into your blog or one of your discussion posts. Also, don’t forget to find those important text details and quotes for your discussion posts!
If you need help writing dialogue, you can use the link below, if you have your parents’ permission. It is from a classroom teacher that gives the rules for writing dialogue and some extra practice doing it. If you have any struggles, let me know and I will be happy to help!
http://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/dialogue---quotation-marks.html
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Conway