The golden age of ancient Egypt was actually founded by a female pharaoh, truly the Wu Zetian of Egypt!

Ancient Egyptian civilization roughly spanned from 3100 BCE to 30 BCE. Menes, the leader of Upper Egypt's Thinis, unified Upper and Lower Egypt and declared himself "Narmer."

During the Old Kingdom period (circa 2686–2181 BCE), pharaohs displayed their power by building pyramids, while in the Middle Kingdom period (circa 2055–1650 BCE), they flaunted wealth with jewelry.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser located in Saqqara is Egypt’s first pyramid. Pyramids of the Old Kingdom were step-shaped, later evolving into the familiar true pyramids with smooth sides, also called "true pyramids." The Red Pyramid was the first true pyramid, built during the reign of Sneferu, the first ruler of the Fourth Dynasty.

The Eighteenth Dynasty, established by Ahmose, was the most powerful dynasty of ancient Egypt, lasting from the 16th century BCE to the 13th century BCE. The monarch combined military, political, and divine authority, representing the sun god’s rule on earth, and the title "pharaoh" became exclusively used for Egyptian rulers.

Famous pharaohs such as the "Napoleon of Egypt" Thutmose, the "Boy King" Tutankhamun, and the female pharaoh Hatshepsut all came from the Eighteenth Dynasty. Pharaohs no longer used pyramids as tombs but were buried in the Valley of the Kings.

After the female pharaoh’s death, Thutmose III systematically erased traces of the queen, possibly as a warning to future generations.

Tutankhamun ascended the throne at age nine, ending the polytheistic worship promoted by his predecessor Akhenaten, who had elevated the sun god Aten exclusively and established the new capital Amarna. Tutankhamun died young at eighteen, after which traditional beliefs were restored and the capital moved back to Thebes.

The family of Ramesses ruled Egypt for about 110 years, known as the Nineteenth Dynasty. Ramesses II pursued expansionist policies, bringing ancient Egypt to its peak of power. He is suspected to be the pharaoh of the Exodus story and reached the earliest known peace treaty in human history with the Hittite Empire.

Ten years after Persia’s second conquest of Egypt, in 332 BCE, the Greek Alexander the Great expelled the Persians. The last dynasty of ancient Egypt, the Ptolemaic Dynasty, was established by Ptolemy, a general under Alexander the Great.

The last queen, Cleopatra VII, commonly known as "Cleopatra," was the final ruler before Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.

Among the Egyptian gods, the highest status belonged to the sun god Ra of Heliopolis. Egyptians used the sacred scarab beetle, or "dung beetle," to represent Ra. The god of death, Anubis, had a jackal head and was the god of mummification and the afterlife.

The "Underworld King" Osiris had a green face and hands; after resurrection, he fathered Horus, the "protector god of the pharaoh." Horus symbolized royal power and was a falcon-headed warrior god, wearing a linen kilt and holding the Was (power) scepter and Ankh (life) symbol.

Ancient Egyptians firmly believed that mummies preserved the body. As long as the name was spoken and offerings made, the soul would remain forever alive.

Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian living fossil, decorated with classic totem symbols like scarabs and the key of life, and is the best-selling souvenir at Egypt exhibitions every year.