Each post was very valuable to me, and I hope this topic gets added to in time. It may be hokey, but when I think of Egypt, I think of mummies, and they are a big topic of interest to me. I didn't think that the poor did much and cremation in any form made even less sense as I knew the Egyptians believed the Ka had to have a home within the mortal body, the longer preserved the better and all that. So I was very pleased to read that I wasn't completely off track in my own preconceptions.

Nitocris I did not know the dates mummification started around, that was very helpful. That the lesser monied folks buried their dead in the sand, since at least then they had a chance for the bodies to be preserved naturally makes so much sense I suspect I'm really showing my ignorance at not knowing that! eep

Now your post brings up another question; ok it makes sense that Mesopotamian culture or at least some portion of it migrated to Egypt. They did trade, they were earlier. But I never knew this! That is really fascinating to me. Is there more known about this? Do you all think there are distinct similarities? I must admit the ziggurat/step pyramid comes to mind, but there are differences of course. Well I dont want to speculate too much on topics like that, because frankly I know very little fact-wise.

I think the entire mysterious (well to me) beginnings of Egyptian history and where it evolved or derived from is the most fascinating topic to me. I know many are more enamoured of the middle kingdom and full dynastic times, where golden tombs let us peek in and visualize their lives.