The ancient Egyptians, and their modern descendants, exhibited a range of skin complexions, including both brown and black. There isn't a single skin color that defines them.
Here's a breakdown of the complexities:
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Ancient Egypt: Ancient Egyptian populations, like modern Egyptians, likely had varying skin tones depending on geographical location and ancestry.
- Northern Egypt: Populations closer to the Mediterranean often had lighter complexions. The depiction of Nefertiti, for example, often shows a lighter Mediterranean complexion.
- Southern Egypt (Upper Egypt): Populations in Upper Egypt, particularly around Aswan and the First Cataract, likely had darker brown skin tones, reflecting closer interaction with Nubian populations.
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Modern Egypt: Modern Egyptians are similarly diverse in skin tone.
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The Concept of "Race": It's important to remember that the modern concept of race is a social construct, not a scientific one. Attempting to categorize ancient populations based on modern racial categories is problematic and inaccurate.
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Regional Variation: Just as today, ancient Egypt was a geographically diverse area, and people in different regions had different complexions.
In conclusion, skin color in ancient and modern Egypt is diverse, encompassing shades of both brown and black. Reducing the complexity to a single label is inaccurate and misleading.
