Many ancient Egyptians marked the first month of the New Year by singing, dancing and drinking red beer until they passed out, according to archaeologists who have unearthed new evidence of a ritual known as the Festival of Drunkenness.

During ongoing excavations at a temple precinct in Luxor that is dedicated to the goddess Mut, the archaeologists recently found a sandstone column drum dating to 1470-1460 B.C. with writing that mentions the festival.

The discovery suggests how some Egyptians over 3,000 years ago began their New Year, which for them started around the end of August to coincide with seasonal, desired flooding that drenched farmlands where they would grow crops, such as barley and wheat. The Festival of Drunkenness usually occurred 20 days after the first big flood...

Ancients Rang In New Year with Dance, Beer, Discovery Channel News, USA, December 26, 2005.

The ancient Egyptians respected dwarfs, and did not see them as having a physical handicap, according to a study by US researchers.

A team from Georgetown University Hospital looked at biological remains and artistic evidence of dwarfism in ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians worshipped dwarf gods, and many dwarfs held positions of authority in households.

The research was published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

In modern times, doctors have identified over 100 medical conditions that cause short stature...

Ancient Egypt 'respected dwarfs', BBC News, UK, december 27, 2005.