What You Can Learn About Ancient Egypt From Online Slots

Ancient Egypt – perhaps the most popular online slots theme – continues to mesmerise players with its alluring magic and reel aesthetic. From ancient tombs and mummies, to gold treasures and pictographic writing systems, Ancient Egyptian-themed slot games can be found at the best online casino sites and brick-and-mortar casinos. Would slots be the same if we didn’t have the sounds of the Nile River civilisation in the background throughout gameplay, or beautiful goddesses and regal Pharaohs appearing on our screens?

Whether or not you’ve already had fun playing online slots with this theme, such as Book of Ra Deluxe and the Book of Dead, let’s take a look at what you can learn about Ancient Egypt when you spin the reels.

The history of Ancient Egyptian games at casinos

These games focus on the civilisation that formed around 3100BC in what is now the northeast-most African country of Egypt. This incredible ancient civilisation, known as Kemet – meaning “the black land”, from the fertile soil of the Nile River – lasted about 30 centuries until the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332BC, when the reign of the Ptolemaic (Greek) Pharaohs began and the Egyptian New Kingdom formally came to an end.

The Western world was originally introduced to Egypt through the Roman Empire, which perceived the country as being exotic – a magical place, filled with treasures. Later, classical texts would go on to describe Egypt as a place brimming with wisdom, philosophy, and science. Adorned with the iconic pyramids and enigmatic statues of royalty and gods, it became a destination of desire for many conquerors, who wanted to get their hands on its treasures.

Towards the end of the 18th century, the obsession with Ancient Egypt began to rise again. Thanks to the many archaeological digs happening in Egypt at the time, its wonders were of great concern to many people around the world.

The Western world still associates Ancient Egypt with hidden treasures and mystery. The concept is so deeply ingrained that it has become the perfect theme for casino games, and has been around since online slots began to take form in the 1990s. Game developers saw an increasing fascination with this subject matter, and continued to roll out even more slot titles that highlighted Ancient Egyptian culture and mystery.

Many slot fans are pulled in by the charm and mystery that’s presented in this theme, and playing them brings this iconic ancient civilisation right to our screens.

Cool facts online slots have taught us about Ancient Egypt

Who was Cleopatra?

Cleopatra VII ruled Ancient Egypt as co-regent for approximately three decades. She formed part of a dynasty of Macedonian rulers, which was founded by Ptolemy (pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt from 305/304BC). Cleopatra was extremely well-educated: she spoke multiple languages, and was the dominant ruler in all three of her co-regencies.

Cleopatra has charmed us in books and plenty of films, and now she is immortalised in the slots world too. Developed by IGT, Cleopatra is one of the first and most popular Ancient Egypt-themed slots online. The 5x3 reel slot has 20 paylines and a tasty jackpot to keep players entertained. As well as having games based around her, Cleopatra appears on symbols of many other slots within this genre, so it won’t be long before you spot her!

Ancient Egyptians used powerful imagery to symbolise their beliefs

Egyptian symbols and hieroglyphics are some of the most recognisable motifs seen on the reels. Let’s take a look at what some of these renowned symbols mean.

• Eye of Horus: In Ancient Egypt, the Eye of Horus represented health, protection, and restoration. According to mythology, Horus (a god in the form of a falcon) lost his eye during a struggle with another god. The eye was magically restored, and this magical process symbolised healing and the ability to make something whole again.
• Pyramids: These monumental man-made structures have stood the test of time. The sheer power and skill it took to build these one-of-a-kind structures, millennia before the industrial revolution arrived, has fascinated the modern world for as long as we’ve known about them. Pyramids are symbols of permanence in a modern world where the lifespan of many things is short. They are also a visual symbol of power.
• Scarab: The scarab beetle was one of the most popular amulets in Ancient Egypt because it was a symbol of the divine manifestation of the early morning sun, Khepri (a scarab-faced god). The name Khepri was written with the scarab hieroglyph. The scarab beetle was associated with manifestation, development, growth, and effectiveness.

Cats were worshipped

It is a common sight to see a black or golden cat statue in many mobile slots games with an Ancient Egypt theme. Ancient Egyptian citizens worshipped cats, and were among the first people to domesticate them. Egyptians loved their cats so much that they were often mummified along with their guardians when they died! Today, you can find cat figurines in wood, stone, and bronze in museum collections, as well as on some Egyptian-inspired reels!

The popular sphinx character was used for protection

Ancient Egyptians used sphinxes – mythological creatures with the head of a human and body of a lion – as bodyguards for sacred sites. They certainly make quite an impression! The pharaoh Khafre built the most recognisable one, known as the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Music was an integral part of Ancient Egyptian culture

Beyond the visual aspects of Ancient Egyptian slots games, the audio experience is worthy of a mention, too – not least The 100,000 Pyramid and Eye of Horus Megaways. It is said that music was integral to creation and communion with the gods, as well as to the everyday life people experienced in that part of the world back then. Many players are drawn to this theme because of the calming sounds of Ancient Egypt.

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