You may or may not know that the Ancient Egyptians were masters of marketing. When they weren’t building pyramids and worshipping gods, Egyptians were pioneering marketing techniques that are still used today. This penchant for promoting products in unique ways is one of the reasons why Ancient Egypt remains a staple trope for companies around the world.
Companies Draw Inspiration from Egypt
From Givenchy and Hollywood studios to gambling companies, Ancient Egypt has become a popular marketing tool over the years. Drawing from the companies we’ve just mentioned, Paddy Power has a selection of Egyptian-inspired slots. Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness slot continues this tradition by offering players an immersive experience within the walls of an ancient tomb.
Among the gems and 800x prizes are ancient artefacts, including rings, swords, and amulets. Like other slots from the Rich Wilde franchise, the atmospheric soundtrack harks back to a bygone era as the main character embarks on an archaeological adventure. This combination of entertainment and historical reverence makes this game more than a slot. In essence, the developers have used the Ancient Egyptian motif to create a game that goes beyond a typical gambling experience.
The same can be said for Universal Pictures. The American film production company has made millions from Ancient Egypt. The company first dug down into the roots of this famous civilisation in 1932. The original Mummy movie starring Boris Karloff started a trend that’s seen Universal release dozens of Egyptian-themed movies. Like Paddy Power, Universal has drawn on the enduring appeal of a civilisation famed for its love of gold, gods, and innovations.
Ancient Egyptian Posters Created the Blueprint
But what of the Ancient Egyptians themselves? We know they’re popular with marketers wanting to give their products a certain reverence, but what direct links do Ancient Egyptians have to advertising? According to Gelmont Consulting, the Ancient Egyptians were the first civilisation to make advertising posters using a material known as papyrus.
Made from the papyrus plant, the paper-like material allowed business owners to advertise their products beyond their local areas by putting up posters. Moving away from word-of-mouth advertising increased sales, but that’s not the most interesting aspect of this marketing method. Early entrepreneurs understand the power of language and imagery. Posters didn’t simply list the product or service offered.
Instead, they incorporated a variety of persuasive devices that the marketers of today will recognise. As noted in an article by Medium, Ancient Egyptians would use colourful language, images and incentives. Posters started with simple headings that conveyed the main message in a few seconds. Then comes some descriptive language, followed by a proposition.
Age-Old Market Techniques
Perhaps unintentionally, these posters became the blueprint for how advertising campaigns have been constructed for centuries. We’re not saying you need to do exactly what the Egyptians did or, indeed, that you should use this trope in your campaigns. However, time has shown that Ancient Egypt wields a lot of power when it comes to marketing.
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