Lost Voices of the Nile: Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt

by Charlotte Booth

  What of their places? Their walls have crumbled and their places are gone as though they had never been. None comes from there, to tell of their state, to tell of their needs to calm our hearts until we go where they have gone.

  Make holiday, do not weary of it!

  Lo, none is allowed to take his gods with him.

  Lo, none who departs comes back again!59

  As the last line states, ‘none who departs comes back again’, and therefore the best that the Egyptians could hope for was that their names would not be forgotten, for to repeat their name was to make them live again. Perhaps the previous chapters have gone some way to ensure this happens.

  1. The village of Deir el-Medina, looking towards the Ptolemaic temple. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  2. The abandoned public well at Deir el-Medina.

  3. View of Deir el-Medina, showing the cemetery in the background.

  4. An Amarna house, Tell el-Amarna.

  5. Shower stall at the palace at Medinet Habu.

  6. Funerary banquet of Paheri, El Kab. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  7. Boat Jousting, tomb of Iymery, Giza.

  8. Sennedjem and his wife playing senet. Photograph courtesy of Mamienefer, Wikimedia Commons.

  9. The Queen of Punt, Deir el-Bahri.

  10. Depiction of famine sufferers from the Causeway of Unas, Saqqara.

  11. Perfume Making, Tomb of Iymery, Giza.

  12. Osiris as as king, showing the people how to farm, Medinet Habu.

  13. Terraced temple of Amenhotep I, Deir el-Medina.

  14. Bes, the dwarf god, Denderah.

  15. Hathor columns, Kalabsha.

  16. The mountain, Meretseger, seen from the Valley of the Kings.

  17. Min Festival, Medinet Habu. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  18. The Seven Hathors, Medinet Habu.

  19. Niankhkhnum and Khnumnakht embracing. Photograph courtesy of the Egypt Archive and Jon Bodsworth.

  20. Hatshepsut’s mother when pregnant, Deir el-Medina. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  21. Hieroglyph showing childbirth, Edfu. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  22. A family portrait showing a small naked child standing before his father, Giza.

  23. Hathor breastfeeding the king, Edfu.

  24. Ahmose’s wife’s pet monkey, tomb of Ahmose son of Ebana, El Kab.

  25. Circumcision in the tomb of Ankhmahor. Photograph courtesy of Werner Forman Archive via Heritage Image Partnership Ltd.

  26. Farmers gathering the harvest, tomb of Khaemhat (TT57). Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  27. Military training, Deir el Bahri. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  28. Priests carrying the god in procession, Edfu. Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  29. Mourners with mourners in training, tomb of Khaemhat (TT57). Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  30. Ay’s wife, Tiy, a royal wet nurse, Tell el Amarna.

  31. A blind harpist from the tomb of Nakht. Photograph courtesy of the Yorck Project, Wikimedia Commons.

  32. Funerary procession, tomb of Khaemhat (TT57). Photograph courtesy of BKB Photography.

  33. Ramses II offering Maat to the god Amun, Karnak temple.

  34. Relief showing surgical instruments, Kom Ombo.

  35. Double false doors of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. Photograph courtesy of Horemweb, Wikimedia Commons.

  36. Opening of the Mouth ceremony, tomb of Remini, El Kab.

  NOTES

  1. Living with the Ancient Egyptians

  1. Houlihan, P., 1996: The Animal World of the Pharaohs. London. Thames and Hudson. p. 83.

  2. Černy, J., 1973: A Community of Workmen at Thebes in the Ramesside Period. Cairo. Bibliotheque D’Etude. p. 325.

  3. Graves-Brown, C., 2010: Dancing for Hathor; Women in Ancient Egypt. London. Continuum. p. 8.

  4. Ibid., p. 51.

  5. McDowell, A. G., 1999: Village Life in Ancient Egypt: Laundry Lists and Love Songs. Oxford. Oxford University Press. p. 61.

  6. Snape, S., 2014: The Complete Cities of Ancient Egypt. London. Thames and Hudson. p. 6.

  7. Quirke, S., 2005: Lahun: a Town in Egypt 1800 BC, and the History and its Landscape. London. Golden House Publications. p. 48.

  8. Quirke, 2005, p. 47.

  9. Snape, 2014, p. 67.

  10. Ibid., p. 64.

  11. David, R., 1986: The Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt. London. Guild Publishing. p. 201.

  12. Romer J., 1984: Ancient Lives: Daily Life in Egypt of the Pharaohs. New York. Henry Holt and Company. p. 60.

  13. Ibid., p. 6.

  14. Meskell, L., 2002: Private Life in New Kingdom Egypt. Oxford. Princeton University Press. p. 40.

  15. Peet, T. E., 1930: The Great Tomb-Robberies of the Twentieth Egyptian Dynasty: being a critical study, with translations and commentaries, of the papyri in which these are recorded. Oxford. Clarendon Press. p. 14.

  16. Meskell, 2002, p. 53.

  17. Ibid., p. 76.

  18. Davies, B., 2011: ‘Misdemeanours at Deir el-Medina’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 11 No. 4 Issue 64. p. 30.

  19. Romer, 1984, p. 16.

  20. Paulin-Grothe. E. and T. Schneider, 2001: ‘New Workmen’s Huts in the Valley of the Kings’ in Egyptian Archaeology No. 19. p. 4.

  21. Romer, 1984, p. 17.

  22. Paulin-Grothe and Schneider, 2001, p.5.

  23. Booth, C., R. Janssen and J. Janssen, 2009: ‘The Market on the Riverbank’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 9 No. 5 Issue 53. pp. 50–1.

  24. Snape, 2014, p. 83.

  25. Boundary stela. Snape, 2014, p. 156.

  26. Reeves, N., 2005: Egypt’s False Pharaoh. London. Thames and Hudson. p. 120.

  27. Meskell, 2002, p. 44.

  28. Snape, 2014, p. 87.

  29. Petrie, F. W. M., 1889: Illahun, Kahun and Gurob. Meidum. Warminster. Aris and Phillips. p. 8.

  30. Szpakowska, K., 2008: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. Oxford. Blackwell Publishing. p. 19.

  31. Meskell, 2002, p. 30.

  32. Ibid., p. 31.

  33. Ibid., p. 40.

  34. Snape, 2014, p. 80.

  35. Meskell, 2002, p. 41.

  36. Szpakowska, 2008, p. 26.

  37. Graves-Brown, 2010, pp. 119–20.

  38. Meskell, 2002, p. 74.

  39. Meskell, 2001, p. 119.

  40. Snape, 2014, p. 80.

  41. Toivari-Viitala, J., 2001: Women at Deir el-Medina: A study of the Status and Roles of the Female Inhabitants in the Workmen’s Community During the Ramesside Period. Leiden. Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten. p. 190.

  42. Hobson, M., 2005: ‘Dogs in Ancient Egypt’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 5 No. 5. p. 36.

  43. Szpakowska, 2008, p. 60.

  44. Houlihan, 1996, p. 77.

  45. Ibid., p. 78.

  46. Janssen, R. and J. Janssen, 1989: Egyptian Household Animals. Princes Risborough. Shire Egyptology. p. 11.

  47. Houlihan, 1996, p. 81.

  48. Van Neer, M., et al. 2014: ‘More Evidence for Cat Taming at the Predynastic Elite Cemetery of Hierakonpolis (Upper Egypt)’ in Journal of Archaeological Science Vol. 45. pp. 103–11.

  49. Houlihan, 1996, p. 83.

  50. Meskell, 2002, p. 121.

  51. Romer, 1984, p. 68.

  52. Ibid., p. 70.

  53. Tyldesley, J., 1994: The Daughters of Isis. London. Viking. p. 148.

  54. Wente, E. F. and E. S. Meltzer, 1990: Letters from Ancient Egypt. Atlanta. Scholars Press. p. 138.

  55. Green, L., 2002­–3: ‘Feasting with Tutankhamun; Fine dining in the Late-18th Dynasty’ in KMT Vol. 13 No. 4. p. 63.

  56. Samuel, D., 2000: ‘Brewing and Baking’ in Nicholson, P. and I. Shaw (eds.), Ancient Egyptian Material and Technology. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. p. 565.

  57. Murray, M. A., 2000: ‘Cereal Production and Processing’ in Nicholson, P. and I. Shaw (eds), Ancient Egyptian
Material and Technology. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. pp. 505–36.

  58. Romer, 1984, p. 61.

  59. Guasch Jané, M. R., 2006: ‘Ancient Egyptian Wine’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 6 No. 6. p. 21.

  60. Bierbrier, M., 1982: The Tomb Builders of the Pharaohs. New York. Charles Scribners Sons. p. 29.

  61. Ibid., p. 110.

  62. Lichtheim, M., 1976: Ancient Egyptian Literature: Volume II. Berkeley. University of California Press. p. 137.

  63. Graves-Brown, 2010, p. 168.

  64. Meskell, 2002, p. 24.

  65. Szpakowska, 2008, p. 97.

  66. Touzeau, A., et al., 2014: ‘Diet of Ancient Egyptians Inferred from Stable Isotope Systematics’ in Journal of Archaeological Science vol. 46. pp. 114–24.

  67. Green, 2002–3, p. 65.

  2. Passing the Time

  1. Graves-Brown, 2010, p. 168.

  2. Green, 2002–3, p. 67.

  3. Watterson, B., 1991: Women in Ancient Egypt. Gloucestershire. Sutton Publishing. p. 136.

  4. Graves-Brown, 2010, p. 168.

  5. Szpakowska, 2008, p. 92.

  6. Manniche, L., 1991: Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt. London. British Museum Press. p. 15.

  7. Ibid., p. 17.

  8. Ibid., pp. 17–18.

  9. Ibid., 1991, p. 20.

  10. Decker, 1992, p. 164.

  11. Ibid., p. 166.

  12. Ibid., p. 150.

  13. (Cairo JE 87742). Decker, W., 1992: Sports and Games of Ancient Egypt. London. Yale University Press, p. 92.

  14. Graves-Brown, 2010, p. 111.

  15. Decker, 1992, p. 91.

  16. Ibid., 1987, p. 95.

  17. Ibid., pp. 101–2.

  18. Booth, C., 2007: ‘The Temple of Khonsu at Karnak’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 7 Issue 5. p. 27.

  19. Decker, 1992, p. 131.

  20. Ibid., p. 135.

  21. Szpakowska, 2008, p. 114.

  22. Decker, 1992, p. 128.

  23. Ibid., p. 124.

  24. Polz, D. 1997: ‘The Egyptian Painter’s Utensils from Dra’Abu el-Naga’ in Egyptian Archaeology No. 10. pp. 34–5.

  25. Houlihan, P., 2001: Wit and Humour in Ancient Egypt. London. Rubicon Press. p. 112.

  26. Ibid., p. 115.

  27. Ibid., p. 66.

  28. Janssen, J., 1975: Commodity Prices from the Ramessid Period: an Economic Study of the Village of Necropolis Workmen at Thebes. Leiden. Brill. p. 250.

  29. Ibid., p. 249.

  30. Ibid., p. 250.

  31. Vogelsang-Eastwood, G. M., 1999: Tutankhamun’s Wardrobe: Garments from the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Rotterdam. Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn & Co. p. 22.

  32. Ibid., p. 24.

  33. Janssen, 1975, p. 260–1.

  34. Ibid., p. 251.

  35. Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1999, p. 15.

  36. Janssen, 1975, p. 250.

  37. Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1999, p. 52.

  38. Janssen, 1975, pp. 250–1.

  39. Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1999, p. 36.

  40. Janssen, 1975, pp. 283–4.

  41. Veldmeijer, A. and E. Endenburg, 2008: ‘Footwear from Qasr Ibrim’ in Egyptian Archaeology No. 33. p. 20.

  42. McDowell, 1999, p. 41.

  43. McDowell, 1999, p. 96.

  44. Romer, 1984, p. 102.

  45. Lichtheim, 1976, p. 182.

  46. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 161.

  47. Cilli, D., 2006: ‘Hathor in Front on Ra; a New Reading’ in Proceedings of the Second International Conference for Young Egyptologists. Lisbon. Centro de Historia (Faculdade de Letras da Unniversidade de Lisboa). p. 175.

  48. Janssen, R., 1996: ‘An Ancient Egyptian Erotic Fashion: Fishnet Dresses’ in KMT vol. 6 No. 4. p. 41.

  49. Gardiner-Wilkinson, J., 1854: The Ancient Egyptians. London. John Murray. p. 350.

  50. Sélincourt, A. (Translator), 1972: Herodotus. London. Penguin. p. 158.

  51. Booth, C., 2002: Multi-Cultural or Xenophobic Society: The Study of the Egyptian Attitude to Foreigners through Non-Stereotypical Art. Oxford. British Archaeological Reports. p. 28.

  52. Halioua, B. and B. Ziskind, 2005: Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs. London. Harvard University Press. p. 164.

  53. Dayagi-Mendels, M., 1989: Perfumes and Cosmetics in the Ancient World. Jerusalem. p. 15.

  54. Montserrat, D., 1996: Sex and Society in Graeco-Roman Egypt. London. Kegan Paul. p. 70.

  55. Sélincourt, 1972, p. 143.

  56. Lichtheim, M., 1975: Ancient Egyptian Literature Vol. I. Berkeley. University of California Press. p. 233.

  57. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 66.

  58. Manniche, L., 1989: An Ancient Egyptian Herbal. London. British Museum Press. p. 46.

  59. Dayigi-Mendels, 1989, p. 14.

  60. Ibid., p. 29.

  61. Manniche, L., 1999: Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt. London. Opus Publishers Ltd. p. 134.

  62. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 97.

  63. Manniche, 1999, p. 63.

  64. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 152.

  65. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 36.

  66. Lichtheim, 1976, p. 183.

  67. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 44.

  68. Humber, C., 2008: ‘Ancient Egyptian Eye Paint’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine Vol. 8 No. 6 issue 48. p. 41.

  69. Tyldesley, 1989, p. 159.

  70. Stetter, C. 1993: The Secret Medicine of the Pharaohs: Ancient Egyptian Healing. Chicago. Edition Q. p. 41.

  71. Taylor, J. and D. Antoine, 2014: Ancient Lives: New Discoveries. London. British Museum Press. p. 131.

  72. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 155.

  73. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 60.

  74. Ibid., p. 66.

  75. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 156.

  76. Nunn, J., 1996: Ancient Egyptian Medicine. London. British Museum Press. p. 150.

  77. Ibid., p. 149.

  78. Ibid.

  79. Manniche, 1999, pp. 129–31.

  80. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 158.

  81. Lichtheim, 1975, p. 186.

  82. Ibid., p. 205.

  83. Manniche, 1999, p. 129.

  84. Lichtheim, 1976, p. 191.

  85. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 154.

  86. Collier, M. and S. Quirke, 2004: The UCL Lahun Papyri: Religious, Literary, Legal, Mathematical and Medical. Oxford. Archaeopress. p. 180.

  87. Dayagi-Mendels, 1989, p. 97.

  88. Montserrat, 1996, p. 73.

  89. Padgham, J., 2014: ‘The Cone on the Head and the Ba on Earth’ in Ancient Egypt Magazine, Vol. 14, No. 4. p. 49.

  90. Ibid., p. 53.

  91. Tyldesley, 1994, p. 151.

  92. Manniche, 1989, p. 44.

  3. Household Religion

  1. Mertz, B., 1966: Red Land, Black Land. Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. London. Harper Collins. p. 292.

  2. Faulkner, R. O., 1998: The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Oxford. Clarendon Press. p. 198.

  3. Ibid., p. 246.

  4. Ibid., p. 50.

  5. Meyer, M. W., 1999. The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts. Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 162.

  6. Mojsov, B. 2005: Osiris: Death and Afterlife of a God. Oxford. Blackwell. p. 37.

  7. Ray, J., 2001: Reflections of Osiris: Lives from Ancient Egypt. London. Profile Books. p. 139.

  8. Ibid., p. 140.

  9. Quirke, S., 1992: Ancient Egyptian Religion. London. British Museum Press. p. 57.

  10. Moran, W. L., 1992: The Amarna Letters. Baltimore. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 39.

  11. Meskell, 2002, p. 116.

  12. Robins, G., 1994–5: ‘Women and Children in Peril’ in KMT Vol. 5 No. 4. p. 31.

  13. Kemp, B., 2009: ‘A wall painting of Bes Figures from Amarna’ in Egyptian Archaeology No. 34. p. 19.

  14. Meskell, 2002, p. 170.

  15. Robins, G., 1993: Women in Ancient Egypt. London. British Museum Press. p. 162–3.

  16. Harer, B., 2013: ‘Obstetrics in Ancient Egypt’ in KMT Vol. 24
No. 2. p.49

  17. Lurker, M., 1974: The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Egypt. London. Thames and Hudson. p. 32–3.

  18. Robins, 1994–5, p. 29.

  19. Shaw, I. and P. Nicholson, 1997: The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. London. British Museum Press. pp. 53–4.

  20. Kemp, B., 2005: Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilisation. London. Routledge. p. 382.

  21. Janssen, R. and J. Janssen, 1990: Growing Up in Ancient Egypt. London. Rubicon Press. p. 6.

  22. Robins, 1994–5, p. 29.

  23. David, R., 2002: Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt. London. Penguin. p. 279.

  24. David, R., 2014: Voices of Ancient Egypt: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life. Westport. Greenwood Press. p. 94.

  25. Pinch, G., 1993: Votive Offerings to Hathor. Oxford. Griffith Institute. p. 251.

  26. Teeter, E., 2011: Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. p. 79.

  27. Pinch, 1993, p. 252.

  28. Silverman, D. P. (ed.), 1997: Ancient Egypt. London. Duncan Baird Publishers. p. 162.

  29. Lurker, 1974, p. 80.

  30. Quirke, 1992, p. 116.

  31. Mertz, 1966, p. 292.

  32. Meskell, 2002, p. 81.

  33. Faulkner, R.O., 1972: The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. London. British Museum Press. p. 137.