Today is your first day exploring the Valley of the Kings and you have been digging most of

the day under the hot sun. Suddenly, your spade hits something solid. You scrape away the hot
sand to uncover what looks like the entrance to an undiscovered tomb. Strange symbols cover
the ancient stone surface. There are four cartouches filled with hieroglyphs. What if I were to
press one?
A B C

Choosing the right cartouche will

open the tomb but choosing the
wrong cartouche will destroy the
tomb forever!

Can you decipher the puzzle and

unlock the mysterious tomb door?

Instructions
Use your knowledge of ancient Egypt, or any of the following resources, to decipher the
puzzle. The resources are different in levels of difficulty but the answers can be found by
working at any level.

Ancient Egypt Non-Fiction Differentiated Reading Comprehension Activity

Tutankhamun Differentiated Reading Comprehension Activity

Cleopatra: Queen of Egypt Differentiated Reading Comprehension Activity

Mythical Stories from Different Cultures: The Legend of Isis and Osiris
(Ancient Egypt) Differentiated Reading Comprehension Activity

of Egypt The Legen

Cleopatra: Queen d of Isis and
Osiris
Did You Know Life in Ancie
...? nt Egypt

s Tomb
Tutankhamun's Tomb

• here were
over 2, Tutankhamun' The burial chambe
with the
1. rWhich
Questions Cleopatra and
Mark Antony
Cleopatra
Life in• The
Ancient
people believ Egypt
gods and godde year was Tutankhamun’s tomb discovered? Tick
one. Roman

s and Osiris
sses. unusual resting from another
body was a very getting letters
Quee
ed that 1992 the ship with
Cleopatra started
Who Isi
they would after her relation
n of Egypt
The Legend of
forever in an it was
afterlife when live place for a king because1922 general named
Mark Antony had
they died. in the tomb. Egypt and they
• When someo only decorated room 1912 He moved to
he an ient Egyptian period began over 5,ne died,
years ago and lasted or around Caesar had ended.
3,
their body
years. uring this time, an ient Egyptian li e saw manywas mummified.
hanges. Found His Tomb? walls would
ormally, all o the 1299 is three children
together.
found by a , whi h Cleopatra day
The tomb was be arved or painted oneVII was the Seth had put
hers lead by 2. Where
Tutankha mun
did Howard Carter find the tomb? about his children
She ruled last ruler of the heavy
Glossary group of researc how we know that began talking for around ancient Egypt Isis. Osiris’s
Mark Antony es within the Roman Empire. 21 years in . it into the
river.and
Osiris
lid on
his wife, the valuable
Society Howard Carter. . The images of countri the city of a pharaoh named The box quickl
Egypty instead
. box. He ordere
died very suddenly being in charge Rome and they named
Who Was Alexandria was ruled by the leader of floated out d his servan
climate – Weath from a ritual some people in Cleopatra? . Long ago, Egypt For he were
wished that weeks of sight. ts to throw
er conditions on the walls were This angered enemies of the
empire.
was jealous and
, Isis search
ed the riverb
Ancient Egyptians were skilled hieroglyph in a place of theismouth’.
3. What What Was and Cleopatra as brother, Seth, it trapped
between the ank for the
ics – Langu over a period called the ‘opening the name of the room that had the sarcophagus
in? Tick one. Mark Antony Cleopatra Cleopatra
was thoug open the box. reeds. Howev golden box.
farmers and strong believers in age using of time. as a Leade like er, the lid Eventually,
mum mified – Wrap symbols and tomb r? She became a part of ht to have been As she tried was too heavy she found
pictures. over and took over as the born aroun had tra ed other townofwhen
theways
religion. They made one ofvizier the ped inPharaoh
cloth to keep Cleopatra Egypt was taken ra’s rule.ruler of Egypt d 69 BC. her down.around opening it, and she couldn

What
– An impor burial chamber Not long after,
was an intelligent Wome to Cleopat
end n were not when her beforewere walking He was angry a shadow ’t
first solar calendars as well as a tant persoVizier safe and dry. and succe This brought an time. allowed to father died. One day, Isis
and Osiris scattering Seth said. “I am .having
He tore the fell across
her. Seth
n below the sarcophagus area the RomanssfulEmpire.
leader. She Therefore, rule on their
them. “Hello Osiris,” them across Egypt agreed bo and
siris
language called hieroglyphics. pharaoh. lots of differe spoke Cleop own at Seth approa ched in?” Osiris
. into
Inside called Ptolem atra’s young the able to join 14 pie es
Would you be
Nobles and Priests nt languages. er brother,
The ancient Egyptians were great Soldiers and Scribes
They Found
Tutankhamun of these langu
ages was ancien
One y XIII, ruled
with her. who was a party next week. see him next
week.
over that he would
inventors, and some of the things 4. Draw they found Egyptian. t and told Seth
Inside the tomb, three lines and
Craftsmen in 1922, match each person to their role in the discovery.
they invented are still in use today. t was dis overed o Tutankhamun
Farmers that all of t asu s m ant and measured
which means Lord th a t into his room
People of ancient Egypt were put Slaves and the body to tak th h m ntoCarnarvon Paid all the workers who discovered the tomb. Cleopatra
is thought night, Seth climbed
the treasures to have sleeping that Seth disappeared.
into different classes. This was left in very
offered stored When Osiris was Osiris woke up,
inside had been Howard
were Carter grain to peopl
to toe. Before through the doors
shown as a pyramid with the Many of the items Found a cup that led to the discovery. the city durin e in him from head made their way
good condition. overed in, g a bad droug
and the guests end of the night,
Seth
pharaoh at the top. made rom, or Theodore for This mean
t that every ht. party arrived ful time. At the
out from perfect Davies one had Did You Know The night of the had a wonder ,” he said. “Before
Howard worked gold which was Discovered the tomb. something
to eat and …? Isis and Osiris for coming tonight
nt finds that was split nobody of Seth’s home. you all
other importa a king. The tomb went hungr
y. Cleopatra
was born in cement. “Thank
Markets and Merchants be in the t rooms.
5. Tick the boxes to say whether the sentences are true or false. made an announ surprise.”
the tomb would into many differen family were Egypt but
her I have one final
A man rooms were
originally
from Greec you go home, of
Markets were important to life in ancient Egypt. The Valley of the Kings. Most of the Sentence rom e. his fingers, asisgroup
named Theodo
re Davis found or the ob e ts, apart True False When Seth clicked spent
box.the ne t
people grew lots of grain and used a ‘barter system’.
Some people r which
think mummies can curse people who find them. Cleopatra in a heavy, golden ew months
amun
the burial chambe and Julius servants carried she was able inding all
Stones named ‘debens’ were used to value items. a cup with Tutankh Caesar for silence before
saying, to make
Osiris whole 14 pie es.
With the help
it. This was ed stonecat Seth waited his journe
Trading with other countries made sure people got and his wife on just held Lord
a decorat
Carnarvon’s died the same night as the canary. Ptolemy XIII inside this
fit perfectlyone
y to the under
world. Isis
again and
he was mumm o the god,
a,
helped Howard
coffin called a sarcophagus. decided that “If anyone can day. hoped that ified. Osiris
the food and other items they needed. a clue that When Lord Carnarvon died, the lights went out in with his sister he no longe
r wanted to keep it.” they would began
Egypt. so he had box, they can see each other
to find the tomb. Some people say Lord Carnarvon died from He had also her thrown
out of Alexa
rule
to climb again
Some of the most popular items included linen, a germ. managed to ndria. people queued
the Mumm y! Julius Caesa anger a Roma Immediately, down. Each
The Curse of
papyrus, grain and precious metals and stones. r at the same n general and lie
named
6. What is the name been thought that can be seen in the paintings
Mummies have of the ritual
Alexandria time. Caesa inside the box either
tomb was opened. It in the burial chamber? and demanded r travelled
to that they were
Transport and the Nile disturbs them. to speak to person was told
after Tutankhamun’s curse anyone who Glossary Ptolemy XIII.
short. It was Osiris’s
turn
mummy started that they can soon a ter it was too tall or too
The curse of the people believe ut s tomb, died Cleopatra in the box,
ue to the hot climate, ancient Egyptian life grew around the river Nile. l powers and some or the dig o ing7. Do
heard what as he lay down
ue to the hot climate, ancient Egyptian life grew around the river Nile. to have magica man who paid he died.the mummy’s
youasbelieve drought: A speak to Caesa had happe next. As soon y.
out as soon ned and wante he fit inside perfectl
age 2 o 2
For transport, trade and day-to-day activities, the Nile was key. Carnarvon, the mysteriously went
curse? Use the text to support your answer. long time witho r before
it was clear that
started when Lord d to
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For transport, trade and day-to-day activities, the Nile wasagekey. on’s dog rainfall that ut her brother
lights in Cairo and Lord Carnarv
herself in a could. She ing went dark.
that all of the
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2o 2 leads to a shorta duvet and wrapped Suddenly, everyth
Page 2 of 2 m
owns and ities sprung up all along the river s ban s. uring the summer, opened. It is said killed by a cobra the tomb was in water. ge was impre had hersel
owns and ities sprung up all along the river s ban s. uring the summer, visit twinkl.co
Carter’s pet canary was was released when ssed and offere f sent to Caesa
r. He
wet weather would cause the Nile to flood, which made the ground perfect that Howard unusual germ d to help her
m
wet weather would cause the Nile to flood, which made the ground perfect for Other stories are believe that an that it was magic. brother. This
to challenge
night. Some people people believe was successful
for growing crops.
died that same become ill. Other ruler of Egypt and Cleopatra her
growing crops. Carnarvon to again. became the
this caused Lord
opened and that visit twinkl.com

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age 1 o 2
age 1 o 2 visit twinkl.com visit twinkl.co
m

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Each question is answered by a letter. Convert this letter into hieroglyphs using the table
below. When you have all the hieroglyphs, rearrange them to solve which of the cartouches
will open the tomb when pressed.

Which group of items best represents goods that were traded in ancient
1. Egyptian markets?

A R E F
linen, papyrus,
linen, papyrus, linen, papyrus, furs, animal skins,
grain, precious
potatoes grain, precious chocolate and
metals and
and stones metals and stones precious metals
mobile phones

The answer is .

Ancient Egyptians used stones to value items. What letter is missing from the name of
2. the stones?

e b e n s The answer is .

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 Who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun? Colour all the letters of his name
3.
each time they appear in the grid to reveal your next clue.

B Z Y B G I P Q M

I W J K L M P R Q

F N O M I S D S Z

B F G T M H N P Q

N Z F J C N M L Y

M M P U A X Z B X

L K J I R G U F V

M N V U E F G I Q

G I M N R L K J P

F B I J A V F U N

The answer is .

4. Fill in the missing words. Take the first letter of each answer to find your next clue.

a) Tutankhamun’s tomb was found in the Valley of the .

b) The stone coffin his body was found in is known as a .

c) The tomb was filled with precious items, many of them made from, or covered
in, .

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 d) We can tell that Tutankhamun may have died suddenly as many of the walls inside
his tomb had not yet been carved or .

e) The expedition that found Tutankhamun’s tomb was paid for by

Lord .

KSGTC AVTUC KSGPC

A U P The answer is

Join the answers to the correct questions. The first letter of the answer left over is your
5. next clue.

Roman
A city that Cleopatra was thrown out of.

Drought
The country Cleopatra’s family were originally from.

Ptolemy
A long period of time without rain.
Greece
The person Cleopatra’s brother angered was this nationality.
Julias
Caesar
Cleopatra’s brother, who she ruled alongside.
Alexandria

Mark A Roman general that Cleopatra’s brother angered.

Antony

The name left over is . The answer is .

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 Arrange the hieroglyphs to spell the word CLEOPATRA. The leftover hieroglyph
6.
represents the letter of the next clue.

The table at the start of the resource will help. You may either draw the hieroglyphs
or cut and stick.

The leftover hieroglyph is and represents the letter .

The answer is .

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Hieroglyph cut-outs.
 1.
7.
2.

3.

4. 5.

6.

Across Down

2. How many pieces did Seth tear the box 1. After Osiris’ body was reformed, what
and Osiris into? was done to it?

3. What was the name of Osiris’ wife? 5. Who wanted to be the leader of Egypt?

4. What was the name of the pharaoh?

6. What was the box made of?

Count how many times each of the following letters appears in your completed crossword.

i m t

The letter that appears the most is .

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 Osiris has been ripped into 14 pieces by his brother Seth. Cut out the pieces from the
8. next page and see if you can rebuild him.

The final clue is the letter on the piece left over.

The letter on the final piece is .

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Osiris cut-outs.

I
O C
E
C
M
F K

R
U H

L A
P
Answers to All Your Clues
Write all your answers here.

A B C

The cartouche that

will open the tomb is

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