by Terrence Aym

Created on: November 23, 2009

Did the ancient Egyptians invent the electric light?

Who discovered electricity and then harnessed it to create an artificial light source? Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison are the respective gentlemen - at least that's the answer which has been accepted as fact.

A Stunning Hypothesis

There's a growing contingent of researchers, however, claiming that we should no longer accept that popular version. They contend that electricity was originally discovered in the ancient world and the Egyptian priesthood was the first to harness the power to illuminate their underground tombs.

A series of reliefs cover the walls in an obscure corner of a crypt in the Hathor Temple in Dendera. One in particular caught the eye of a visiting Norwegian electrical engineer. He stared at it not sure he believed his own eyes. What he was certain he'd found was an Egyptian depiction of an electric light bulb.

His revelation was called to the attention of other electrical engineers. After studying the relief they agreed that it certainly seemed to depict an electric light. Comparing the design to types of bulbs they reached a consensus: ancient Egyptians had working bulbs called "Crookes tubes."

"When the [Crookes] tube is in operation, the ray originates where the cathode electrical wire enters the tube to the opposite end. In the temple picture, the electron beam is represented as an outstretched serpent. The tail of the serpent begins where a cable from the energy box enters the tube, and the serpent's head touches the opposite end. In Egyptian art, the serpent was the symbol of divine energy . . ." - Chris Dunn, "The Giza Power Plant."

To fully understand why the electrical engineers were excited by the discovery, and why they believe the ancient Egyptians had Crookes tubes, please study the two photos that are hyperlinked below:

Relief on the temple crypt wall at Hathor: click here

Two Crookes tubes in operation: click here

The similarity is undeniable, and it certainly seems like it could be true, yet could ancient Egypt really have possessed such advanced technology?

The proponents of the hypothesis argue that throughout ancient Egypt temples and crypts with intricate carvings, reliefs and wall paintings exist where no light was available. Torches or lamps may have been used, but no trace of soot can be found. Some tombs are deep underground and have a maze of tunnels and rooms that had to have been lit. There are no places to hold torches, however, and no traces of soot marks on the

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