The ancient Egyptians are among the first early civilizations to learn how to grow roses. In 1888, two-thousand-year-old roses were found in ancient Egyptian graves. The discovery suggested roses were an important part of the burial ceremonies, which took place when an important person died. The roses found in the tombs are thought to be the oldest preserved flowers ever found in the entire world. They must have been cut and dried before opening to remain undamaged. On careful examination, it was discovered that the petals themselves were hardly damaged.
Egypt's expertise in mass-cultivation of roses in early times led to the flowers becoming an important export product. At the height of the Roman Empire, Egypt exported enormous quantities of the blooms to the Roman courts. Wealthy Romans loved to indulge in the beautiful colours and smells of roses and they would strew the floors of their main halls with layers of rose petals