4 Things the Ancient Egyptians Invented

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One of my favorite subjects of research is Egyptology. I find their lives and cultures both intriguing and fascinating. They were one of the first to translate their spoken language into a written one. As well as erecting enormous stone pyramids they also had a rich and complex mythology. It is rather amazing to learn of some of things they invented. Here are just a few: * Marshmallows - They took the sap from the mallow plant which grew in the marshes. Mixing it with nuts and honey they made it into a treat suitable for the pharaohs and the divine. * Toothpaste - Said to be over 1,600 years old a formula for toothpaste was found on a piece of papyrus. It was a powder made from rock salt, mint, dried iris flower, and crushed pepper. * Scissors - There is proof that the Egyptians were using scissors long before Leonard di Vinci's time. (He is who many scholars' credits with the invention) Their scissors were made from a single piece of bronze formed into two blades. Those were held together by a strip of metal keeping the blades apart until squeezed together to cut things. * Prosthetic Appendages - After scientists tested a prostitute's toe from the foot of a mummy (from about 950-710 BCE) they realized just how advanced the Egyptian civilization really was. It had actually been used while the person was still alive, not just attached to the body for burial purposes. These just fainty scratch the surface of the Egyptian intellect. The picture is in my own collection.