Unit 2
Lesson 4
Student’s Book pages 21
Before reading
Look at the pictures
-What is this precious stone?
Emeralds
-Guess.
Where can the oldest emeralds be found and why are they important for the Ancient Egyptians?
The oldest emeralds were found in Egypt, near the Red Sea. The Ancient Egyptians believed that emeralds were not only beautiful but were also able to cure disease.
The key words
|
The word |
The meaning |
The part of speech |
|
cure |
to get rid of diseases |
Verb |
|
disease |
an illness which affects a person, animal or plant |
Noun |
While reading
Emeralds in Egypt
The value of emeralds has been known for centuries and even in ancient times. The Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas in Peru held them in high regard. However, the oldest emeralds were found in Egypt, near the Red Sea. Many Egyptian pharaohs took emeralds from the mines there. The mines were actually known as ‘Cleopatra’s mines’ because Cleopatra liked to wear the stones. She wore jewellery made from emeralds and decorated many ornaments with the jewel. Cleopatra presented noble visitors with carved emerald sculptures that looked like the Queen.
The Ancient Egyptians believed that emeralds were not only beautiful but were also able to cure disease. Historians know that these emeralds were a lighter colour green than many emeralds found today, but they were highly valued in Ancient Egypt.
There were many emeralds in these mines. In later times, the Romans and the Turks took emeralds from these mines, so overall the ‘Cleopatra mines’ were in use for over 1,500 years! When these mines were found again in the early nineteenth century, there were no emeralds left. There are now no more emeralds left in Egypt, but the Ancient Egyptian era represents the beginning of the jewel’s long history. Now, the majority of the world’s emeralds can be found in Colombia.
The text talks about:
- The civilisations that valued emeralds.
- How Cleopatra used emeralds.
- Why Ancient Egyptians valued emeralds.
- The colours of emeralds that were found in Egypt.
- The duration of mining emeralds in Egypt.
- The Ancient Egyptian era represents the beginning of the jewel’s long history.
- The majority of the world’s emeralds can be found in Colombia.
After reading
Who held emeralds in high regard?
The Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas in Peru held them in high regard.
Where were the oldest emeralds found?
In Egypt, near the Red Sea.
THERE line 2 refers to: Egypt.
Where did many Egyptian pharaohs take emeralds from?
Many Egyptian pharaohs took emeralds from the mines in Egypt.
What were the mines known as?
The mines were actually known as ‘Cleopatra’s mines’.
Why were the mines known as ‘Cleopatra’s mines’?
Because Cleopatra liked to wear the stones.
Cleopatra liked to wear the stones. Explain.
She wore jewellery made from emeralds and decorated many ornaments with the jewel.
Why did Ancient Egyptians value emeralds?
Because they believed that emeralds were not only beautiful but were also able to cure disease.
What colours were emeralds ?
Emeralds were a lighter colour green than many emeralds found today.
How many years were ‘Cleopatra mines’ in use?
the ‘Cleopatra mines’ were in use for over 1,500 years!
who took emeralds from ‘Cleopatra mines’ mines?
the Romans and the Turks took emeralds from these mines.
When were these mines found again?
In the early nineteenth century.
What does the Ancient Egyptian era represent?
The Ancient Egyptian era represents the beginning of the jewel’s long history.
Are there now emeralds in Egypt? Why?
There are now no more emeralds left in Egypt because the ‘Cleopatra mines’ were in use for over 1,500 years!