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'''Egypt, especially as it appears in the pre-Classical period''', is an important part of the some of the earliest ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' lore, as it pertains to the the history and plot arc of one of the first protagonists, [[Yami Yugi]], as well as the in-universe development of the [[Duel Monsters]] card game. The setting continues to exert an aesthetic influence on the modern day ''OCG/TCG'' through themes such as "[[Triamid]]" and "[[Ogdoadic]]".
==Historical Contextcontext ==The fertile Nile River, cutting through the harsh Sahara Desert, is one of the cradles of human civilization, with multiple of the very first true states rising along its course. Approximately 5000 years before the present day, King Narmer/Menes unified Upper Egypt in the south with Lower Egypt in the north, forming the unified polity recognized as the official start of Egypt as it has been known throughout history. Narmer is considered the first "pharaoh" in historiography, though the term only acquired its modern meaning long after his life. Ancient Egypt experienced three "golden ages" referred to as the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom, with the comparative "dark ages" in-between being referred to as Intermediate Periods, and each of these ages is traditionally further divided into Dynasties (similar to imperial China).
The iconic pyramids, mausoleums for pharaohs wishing to project power, were mostly completed during the Old Kingdom, with the Great Pyramid of Giza being the tallest man-made structure for most of recorded human history. These were later abandoned in favor of excavated burials tombs such as those at the [[Valley of the Kings]] near Luxor, largely to help deal with the threat of grave-robbing (such tombs can be seen in-franchise with Pharoah [[Atem]] and [[Anubis]]). Other distinguishing features of Egyptian civilization that are sometimes seen in ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' media include: Ancient Egyptian religion (from which deities such as "[[Horus]]" and "[[Nephthys]]" originate), including the use of magical amulets and other items (analogues to the [[Millenium Items]]), as well as [[Wandering Mummy|mummification]] of the deceased; hieroglyphic writing (as seen in places such as video game loading screens and backgrounds); the Afro-Asiatic Egyptian languages (such as chanted by Anubis in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light]]''); music that includes instruments such as the ney, simsimiyya and local drum varieties (influencing soundtracks e.g. that of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monster Coliseum]]''); and use of a stylized eye as a motif of magic and power (from which the franchise's [[Eye of Wdjat]] symbol is derived).
In an epilogue to the original manga series, Yugi and Kaiba must stop [[Aigami]], the disciple/foster son of [[Shadi]] (who was an Egyptian who as a spirit aided and directed Yugi and others during the plot of the original series). Shadi's death and Bakura's acquisition of the Millenium Ring take place in Egypt, in the ruins where the Items are kept. Sand and deserts appear in several places not explicitly set in Egypt. The ending features Seto Kaiba traveling to a dimension that seems to be intended to be the afterlife as depicted in ancient Egyptian religion.
=== ''Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light''=== Anubis, a being known as the Lord of Death, awakens after his tomb in Egypt is excavated. He seeks revenge against [[Yami Yugi]] for a previous defeat in the distant past.
Further References to ancient Egypt include:
*Prominently featured is the Pyramid of Light, a magical item modeled after a traditional Egyptian pyramid, including being light colored on the sides and metallic on top, with gold accents (which is how the pyramids were decorated after construction). * Anubis himself being named after an Egyptian god of death, and using a similar canine motif.
* Anubis' "[[Sphinx]]" deck being a reference to a famous ancient structure in Egypt.
* The inner world of the Pyramid containing reanimated mummies.
===Places in Ancient Egypt===
* The [[Winking Camel]]
* [[Kul Elna]]
===Characters from Ancient Egypt===*[[Mahad]]*[[Mana]]*[[Shimon Muran]]
== Spin-off material ==
[[Tragoedia (character)|Tragoedia]], the final antagonist of the [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (manga)|''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX'' manga]], was formerly a citizen of [[Kul Elna]] that survived the Pharaoh [[Aknadin]]'s massacre of the population, and uses another Egyptian-themed Deck.
==In the ''OCG/TCG''==
{{Incomplete}}
===Themes===
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" | Theme
! scope="col" | Reference
|-
|[[Egyptian God]]|Cards representing in-franchise Egyptian deities. Ra and Osiris (in the Japanese name of Slifer) are deities found in ancient Egyptian religion. Obelisks are stone monuments shaped like free-standing square pillars; ancient Egyptians erected them for commemoration, covering them with hieroglyphic writing.
|-
|"[[Exodia]]"|Exodia features motifs such as ankhs and a head-dress themed after pharaonic death masks. Its name alludes to the Exodus, an event from Abrahamic religion where former Hebrew slaves escaped from Egypt, as depicted in the Biblical book of the same name.
|-
|"[[Gravekeeper's]]"|Based on the Tomb Keepers from the original manga, who live underground in Egypt and trace themselves back to those who served the Nameless Pharaoh after his death.
|-
|"[[Horus]]"|Derived from the falcon-headed Egyptian deity of the same name, and his four sons, the latter being associated with canopic jars (vessels to contain a mummy's eviscerated organs).
|-
|"[[Nephthys]]"|Based on an Egyptian goddess associated with magic, death and dusk. The western phoenix (a mythical bird), which resurrects after dying is said to have its origins in Egypt. Cyclical resurrection and the practice of magic are important themes in ancient Egyptian religion.
|-
|"[[Ogdoadic]]"
| Based on eight highly archaic Egyptian deities, depicted as amphibians and reptiles, associated with the chaotic primordial waters from which the world emerged in many ancient religions.
|-
|"[[Palladium]]"|Depicts ancient Egyptian characters from the manga in appropriately-inspired fantasy garb. "[[Ankuriboh]]" has an ankh.
|-
|[[Sarcophagus]]|Themed around mummies and such-like.
|-
|"[[Sphinx]]"|The Great Sphinx of Giza is, besides the pyramids, often considered the most iconic of ancient Egyptian architectural feats.
|-
|"[[Triamid]]"|Depicts a what-if scenario regarding the pyramids being transforming machines. The monsters feature Egyptian animalistic and pharaonic aesthetics.
|}
===Individual Cardscards ===
Not including those that feature the Eye of Wdjat as their only reference.
! scope="col" | Reference
|-
|"[[Three-Eyed Ghost]]"|Part of a broader theme used by Tragoedia in the ''GX'' manga. Resembles the death mask of a pharaoh.
|-
|"[[Monster Reborn]]"|Original artwork is simply an ankh, a symbol that has its origins in ancient Egyptian religion, and appropriately refers to "Life" (as opposed to Death). International artwork censors this for reasons of religious sensitivity.
|-
|"[[Nubian Guard]]"|Nubia was the area to the south of Egypt along the Nile, it's people having a distinct language and being depicted as darker in physical appearance. Nubia and Egypt interacted extensively, including conquering each other, such as during the Kushite Empire.
|}
==Trivia==*Like in the original manga and anime, a Pharaoh's name was considered magically and spiritually significant, as it was one component of the soul. Various historical pharaohs and their administrations would try to posthumously harm predecessors they didn't appreciate by trying to commit ''damnatio memoriae'' against their names, such as what happened with Hatshepsut (for usurping power from her successor Thutmose III and proclaiming herself queen regnant instead of merely acting as a regent) and Akhenaten (for formulating the heresy of Atenistic monotheism and consequently persecuting traditional religious authorities).
{{Ancient Egypt}}
[[Category:Locations in Egypt]]