When it comes to Ancient Egypt, most people think of pharaohs, pyramids, mummies and gold artifacts.
And at the same time, the vast majority do not have the slightest idea about how the most ordinary people lived in this country.
1. Board games
After labor day simple people in ancient Egypt, too, sought to relax. The most popular leisure activity was Board games. Two or several players could play at once, and if there were no game boards, then the playing field was drawn directly on the ground. Favorite game was "sene". The field was divided into 30 squares - in 3 rows of 10, in some squares they drew symbols that meant something good or, on the contrary, failure.
The winner was the one whose chips entered the "afterlife" first, bypassing the squares of failure. The Seine was deeply intertwined with religion. The winner was said to be guarded by the gods, and tombs were often drawn on the board to protect the deceased during the transition to the afterlife.
In Aseb's game, there were 20 squares on the field. To free a chip from the "home" square, it was necessary to roll a four or six on a die. If a piece landed on a square held by the opponent, it was sent back to the home square. The rules of "mehen" and another game of "hounds and jackals" are unknown. The mehen board looked like a twisted snake.
2. Sense of humor
Today, little is known about ancient Egyptian humor, but this does not mean at all that the ancients did not have it. So, in Thebes around 2000 BC, a carver on the wall of the tomb created an image of the deceased pharaoh's vizier. He was a very important person during his lifetime and, most likely, should have been depicted with a noble face.
But the artist gave the vizier a dejected look with a raised eyebrow, as if Dagi was surprised that he had died. Carvings made during the reign of Amenhotep III (1389-1349 BC) show a scribe and a baboon (an animal associated with Thoth, the god of writing). The baboon has very funny eyebrows.
The artists did not hold back their sarcasm even when they portrayed the enemies of Egypt. An ivory plaque shows a captive Assyrian prince with a goofy look and bulging eyes. Tensions with the Nubians probably led the artist to make a relief showing a Nubian with exaggerated and ridiculous features.
3. Arthritis
When researchers recently examined the remains of those who created and decorated the famous Valley of the Kings, they discovered something strange. About 3,500 years ago, most of the carvers and painters who decorated the tombs of the pharaohs came from the village of Deir el-Medina. Usually, artists develop problems with their hands over time. Osteoarthritis among the studied remains of men was much more common in the ankles and knees.
After studying the ancient records of this village, the reason was revealed. Despite the hard work in the necropolis, people did not want to spend the night "on the bones" and every day they went to spend the night in another place. For a week they lived in huts near the royal tombs, and the road to them led through a steep hill, which they had to climb and descend twice a day.
At the end of the week, the masters went to Deir el-Medina, which had to be reached 2 kilometers through the hills. On Monday they again returned to the necropolis. This went on for years, and for some people for decades. In all likelihood, such long transitions led to the appearance of a disease that is not characteristic of this profession.
4. Diet
ABOUT recipes The ancient Egyptians will probably never be known. No records have been found, but you can learn about what the Egyptians ate from the works of art of that time. Some ingredients were consumed by all classes, but a number of foods were forbidden to the commoners. For example, smoking fish was strictly the lot of the priests. But the daily food of all strata of society was beer and bread.
Bread was fermented in water, producing a cloudy drink that was an essential part of the diet of the lower classes. In addition to grain dishes such as porridge, the diet included meat, honey, dates, fruits, and wild vegetables. The workers ate only twice a day.
For breakfast they had bread, beer, and sometimes onions. For lunch, cooked vegetables and meat were added to this. Priests and pharaohs ate immeasurably better. Images of banquets were found in the tombs, where tables were bursting with wine, gazelles baked in honey, roasted poultry, fruits and desserts.
5. Teeth
The Egyptians suffered from the destruction of enamel, because sand was constantly found in their food. The problem was really huge. A study conducted on 4800 teeth from Egyptian tombs showed that 90 percent of the teeth were very worn.
This has led to conditions such as cysts, multiple abscesses, and osteoarthritis of the jaw. Needless to say, chronic toothache was a daily part of life in ancient Egypt. Despite known love Egyptians to cleanliness, there is no evidence that the ancient Egyptians had developed dentistry.
6. Grain
monetary system ancient egypt not fully understood. It used to be thought that it was based on barter without any form of currency. But this conclusion was drawn solely from the surviving images, which showed the exchange of goods. While trade certainly existed, it could not support the state's commercial system as extensive.
One of the main commodities was grain, which was grown on a mass scale. Surplus grain was stored in a network of silos throughout Egypt and used to pay workers who worked on major public projects. But, for example, what was to be done if someone wanted to buy a house.
Indeed, in this case, a bag of grain will not do. The ancient Egyptians worked with a unit of value called a "shat". This currency standard existed in the Old Kingdom (2750-2150 BC), but today no one knows what it was. It is only known that one shat costs 7.5 grams of gold.
7. Family
In ancient Egypt, a traditional family with a large number of children was welcomed. Girls usually got married at an early age. adolescence. While examples of marriage for love did occur, marriage was primarily a way of mutual assistance in existence for a man and a woman. A man was considered imperfect until he married.
The frescoes traditionally depict men as dark from working on fresh air and the women pale as they only led household. Egyptian wives gave birth many and often, so they constantly faced the dangers that childbirth threatened them with. Effective contraception did not exist, and midwives could not do anything if something "went wrong" during childbirth.
Infants were breastfed until they were three years old. Boys were early trained in working professions, and girls in childcare, cooking and sewing clothes. It was expected that the eldest son (and if he was not there, then the daughter) would take care of his elderly parents, and when the time came, he would give them a decent burial.
8. Gender equality
Egyptian women were engaged not only in household chores, if they wished, they could work and have property. If in Ancient Rome women were not even considered citizens, then in Egypt women could live even without a male guardian. They could initiate a divorce and go to court.
Women were not forced into marriage, they could draw up and sign juristic documents and build your career. However, in most higher professions dominated by men. Only a small percentage of women became honorary priestesses, scribes, healers and pharaohs. In fact, the first region in which women's rights were expanded was Ancient Egypt, and not the West, as many believe.
9. Disabled
IN ancient world about a full medical care there was just no talk. And mental illness was considered so embarrassing that Chinese families kept feeble-minded family members hidden from the public. In Greece, they were left to the mercy of fate, and they roamed the streets. In ancient Egypt, such people had a completely different attitude.
Local moral scriptures taught respect for those who were physically handicapped. Dwarfs were not seen as handicapped and often worked as assistants, overseers, guardians, painters and entertainers. Among the skeletons of Deir el-Medina (village of artists in the Valley of the Kings), the remains of young man who was born with an atrophied leg. As the examination of his remains showed, this man was by no means an outcast, but lived well and occupied high position. With regard to mental illness, the Egyptians, instead of blaming or condemning such patients, tried to adapt them to society.
10 Violence
Many works of art from that period document scenes from domestic life. And although they look very idealistic and legal equality did take place in ancient Egyptian society, violence against women and children remained a reality. Scientists have become aware of horrifying cases. So, the 2000-year-old skeleton of a baby in the Dakhleh oasis had fractures of the back, pelvis, ribs and arms. Some were older than others and the bones had healed, a classic sign of long-term physical abuse.
In the ancient city of Abydos, a 4,000-year-old victim was discovered. The woman was about 35 years old when she was fatally shot in the back. Examination of her bones revealed that the woman had been physically abused all her life. She had old and new fractures, which clearly indicate that the unfortunate woman was repeatedly kicked or beaten in the ribs. She also had injuries on her arms, possibly from attempts to defend herself. Since her abuser had clearly been with the woman for a very long time, he could be her husband.
Thebes was divided into two parts: the city of the living on the east coast and City of dead- on the west. And if completely different Egyptians live on the east coast today, then the inhabitants of the west coast have not gone away with the rare exception of mummies that have ended up in museums around the world. According to some data, for the entire time of the existence of the ancient Egyptian civilization on west bank Nile, hundreds of millions of Egyptians were buried, so that in terms of population, the city of the dead is the most populous city on earth. How the dead lived - we can see in the numerous excavated tombs, but what was the life of the living?
Children and parents in ancient Egypt
The family is the basis of society in ancient Egypt
The Egyptians considered the family a great value. They were used to living surrounded by relatives and suffered greatly if they had to leave, they considered life in a foreign land a reference. Egyptian soldiers, courageously enduring the hardships of military life and brave in battle, wept from homesickness.
The mother was considered in ancient Egypt as the main member of the family, even in many funerary inscriptions, the genealogy of the Egyptian was based on the mother. And as a grandfather, the maternal grandfather was usually indicated. Wallis Budge: “The father demanded complete obedience from his son, but the Egyptians believed that the boy was more indebted to his mother, and he had to not only obey her, but also love her and constantly prove his feelings to her.” The scribe Ani warns the sons of Ancient Egypt against disobedience and resentment of their mother, believing that a mother's complaint to the gods about a disrespectful son will certainly bring divine and earthly troubles to him.
At the same time, of course, there was no matriarchy in Ancient Egypt - men were both warriors, earners, and rulers. Egyptian women ruled in their homes and tried to be less likely to be in public, although they were relatively free and educated. So, Princess Nesitanebtasha independently copied book of the dead, another woman made a fine copy of the Zuch manuscript, now in british museum. At the same time, women independently owned and disposed of their property, made deals, especially in the era of the New Kingdom.
Marriage in ancient Egypt was often concluded with the participation of older relatives, parents and matchmakers, however, based on the will of the future spouses themselves, coercion to marry was not common.
In everyday life, in home life, men carefully listened to the opinions and desires of their girlfriends. Modern men the instruction of the sage Ptahotep about the attitude towards his wife will be interesting: “... Love your wife in your house justly and properly. Fill her stomach and close her back; give oil for anointing - a medicine for her members. Make her heart rejoice all the time you live; she is a profitable field for you. Don't fight with her. May she avoid violence. Make it flourish in your home. If you become an enemy to her, she will swallow you up like an abyss ... ".
Another sage, the scribe Ani, gave his contemporaries even more specific advice: “Try not to command your wife in her house when you know that she is an excellent mistress. Don't tell her, "Where is this thing? Bring it to me" - when she laid it on Right place... A man who argues in his house only creates a mess in it and will never understand that in fact he is the real owner there always. Apparently, the “give-bring” problem has been living between a man and a woman since the time of Ancient Egypt, and Egyptian men solved it in favor of a woman.
The childhood of the ancient Egyptians depended on the level of prosperity of their parents. The children of slaves were forced to start working from the age of five, the infant mortality rate among slaves and poor peasants was high.
All children in the first years of their lives did not wear clothes. The children of wealthy Egyptians had toys - rag balls, dolls with moving arms and legs, figures of animals and even living animals. So, the son of one of the officials constantly carried a live hoopoe to school, and bird catchers loved to give songbirds to their children.
Education in ancient Egypt
The best profession in ancient Egypt is a non-dusty civil service
Children free people had the opportunity to get an education. The children of the king and members of the royal family were mainly taught at home. But it also happened that the sons of the pharaoh studied with ordinary children in temple schools. The priests attached great importance to the natural abilities of a person, and therefore not only the children of the rich, but also the children of the poor could go to school and study in it - everything depended on the talents of the child, and if the priests saw potential in him, then he was taken to state or temple maintenance . Therefore, in the history of Ancient Egypt there are many examples when people from poor, humble families made brilliant military, political and priestly careers.
In schools, they studied arithmetic, writing, reading, and land management. The skills of a scribe were considered valuable knowledge and skills. good knowledge agriculture, market prices for agricultural products. The role of military schools or cadet corps performed the stables of the pharaoh, where experienced veterans taught the boys how to ride, use weapons, command skills and tactics of warfare.
Boys in ancient Egypt studied about as much as their young peers in modern world from ten to twelve years old. After the temple school, they usually waited for a career as a scribe, priest or official, after the stable - military service. The girls studied at home. Boys were subjected to corporal punishment, which is well illustrated by the ancient Egyptian saying: "A boy has ears on his back and he listens when he is beaten."
It must be said that the Egyptians were very practical in their approach to choosing a profession, as well as to education and knowledge in general. With the exception of religious knowledge, the Egyptians were very concrete people. They highly appreciated public service, rightly believing that here you can earn good money and stay healthy. This was very different from the private sector, where hard physical labor prevailed, even if you had your own business - a weaving or pottery workshop, a laundry or a fishing gang.
For example, in the highest degree the work of a scribe was considered prestigious. But not because literacy itself was valued, but because the work of a scribe was not physically difficult and was well paid. So, a certain Duauf advised his son Pepi to become a scribe not for reasons of “study is light”, but for completely different reasons: “I thought about physical labor and came to the conclusion that books are the best subject for study ... the profession of a scribe is the greatest of all; she has no equal on earth. Even when a scribe is just starting to build his career, everyone consults with him. He is engaged state affairs and never undertakes what another entrusts him... every worker curses his occupation or craft, but not the scribe, to whom no one says: "Go and work in the fields for such and such." Very pragmatic and modern. This view of the profession of a scribe was shared by most of the fathers of ancient Egypt, and Duauf's teaching became a reader.
Egyptian clothing: fashion and hairstyles
The men of ancient Egypt wore wigs, and the ladies wore foxtrot haircuts.
Clothing of Egyptians and Egyptians
The most ancient Egyptians - both men and women - wore loincloths and short, straight, wraparound skirts. These garments were made from white linen, at first rather coarse, which then began to be dressed into thin flowing fabrics. In general, linen remained throughout the history of Ancient Egypt the main material for making dresses. Leather was used to make belts and jewelry, as well as sandals, which, however, were more often made from cane.
The skirts of men in different eras had different lengths. The older the skirt, the shorter it is. By the era of the decline of the ancient Egyptian state, the skirt gradually transformed into dresses and long tunics. By the way, the number of clothes on a person and its length increased in ancient Egypt over time, but for a long time The Egyptians liked to show their body in public and admire themselves, nudity did not bother them. In agricultural work, men and women worked naked, occasionally wearing only loincloths. The servants in the houses of wealthy Egyptians dressed the same way.
Noble Egyptians for a long time left their neck and chest bare: their dresses made of completely transparent material showed well other body shapes, the dress itself was supported by wide straps connected at the back. The colors of the dresses were mostly limited to white, sometimes red or yellow dresses were sewn. Only later, through cultural exchanges with other peoples, multi-colored and striped clothes came to Ancient Egypt. On the head of the queen they wore headdresses in the form of a neck, personifying the goddess Mut.
The pharaohs tried to dress like the gods. In the course were short skirts, tails and headdresses in the form of crowns and wigs. At different times, the tails were either jackals or artificial. Later, tunics, raincoats, wide collars began to be added.
The clothes of the pharaohs, members of their families and noble Egyptians were washed by special laundries. They laid out garments on flat stones and beat them carefully with stones or palm fronds. Clay was used instead of soap.
Shoes in ancient Egypt
Shoes were not in honor among the ancient Egyptians. It was only worn wealthy people, and even then not always. Mostly, shoes were worn for long journeys and travel to mountainous areas. Closed shoes, similar to shoes, appeared at the very end of the existence of civilization under the influence of the Greeks and Romans, and before that the Egyptians wore sandals, which were made from papyrus, less often from leather and even from wood. The Egyptians did not enter the house in shoes. It is noteworthy that under the pharaohs there was a special position - a sandal bearer - a person who carried his shoes behind the pharaoh. It must be assumed that the pharaoh preferred to walk barefoot, but the presence of shoes was a sign of prosperity and wealth. On the bas-reliefs and paintings in the tombs, one can often see behind the figure of the pharaoh the silhouette of his servant with sandals in his hands. It is also interesting that the ancient historian, who described the expedition of Queen Hatshepsut to the country of Punt, complained about the hardships of the journey, as the expedition members had to drag water, drive cattle and carry sandals. Sandals were also included in the set of things, necessary for the Egyptian in the afterlife.
Egyptian god fashion
A special "fashion" developed in relation to the robes of the gods. The Egyptians dressed the statues of the gods regularly, during many religious holidays and among the offerings to the gods there were always items of clothing, as well as in the temples there were special rooms where these items were stored. Interestingly, the Egyptians wore special fingertips made of pure gold on the hands of the gods and the dead pharaohs-gods. These fingertips reached down to the second knuckle and were held in place by thin strips of gold connected to gold bracelets at the wrists and ankles. This decoration is very reminiscent of modern sets. Arab women, consisting of rings attached by chains to bracelets - the so-called "zhadi". Thin overlays were applied to the nails, repeating the shape of the nail and made of lapis lazuli. Accordingly, modern women of fashion owe false nails and jade to the fashion of the Egyptian gods.
Jewelry of the ancient Egyptians
Other decorations and jewelry had a mystical, religious meaning. The Egyptians - both men and women - wore necklaces, amulets, pendants, bracelets, earrings. In the Old Kingdom, earrings were small and made of gold. Then the earrings were lengthened and stones were added to them. The Egyptians were very fond of rings, mostly gold. But if financial situation did not allow the Egyptian to wear gold rings, he still preferred to walk “ringed”, even if these rings were made of glass and even straw. Scarabs, images of goddesses and gods were depicted on the rings. The rings of the pharaohs reflected their cartouches (names enclosed in an oval in the form of a knotted rope).
Hairstyles of Ancient Egypt
Men shaved their beards and mustaches, cut their hair short, and the priests shaved their entire bodies. At the same time, Egyptian men were seen wearing beards and long hair a sign of power and might, and therefore wore false beards and wigs. Apparently, this was due to climatic features - the exhausting summer heat, in which the removed beards and hair were much more convenient and hygienic than natural ones. Over time, an intricately woven beard or beard in the form of a square tuft of hair in the center of the chin became an invariable attribute of the power of the pharaoh, and even Queen Hatshepsut in her ceremonial royal robes is depicted with a false beard. Also, beards were present in the images of the gods.
Most Egyptians' own hair was naturally curly and rather stiff, and therefore, in order to avoid difficulties with combing, all male Egyptians cut it short, replacing ceremonial hairstyles with wigs. Wigs are made from sheep wool, were short and long, curled, straight and braided. Women wore a wide variety of hairstyles, decorated themselves with ribbons, hairpins, flowers and tiaras. In the era of the New Kingdom, the foxtrot haircut was very popular, when hair to the shoulders descends in large waves.
The Egyptians were very clean people and greatly appreciated the physical comfort that cleanliness gives. simple peasants and artisans bathed in ponds, pharaohs and nobles took baths with incense. After washing, all the Egyptians anointed themselves with oils and ointments. An interesting way of anointing and moisturizing hair in ancient Egypt. During holidays and feasts, cone-shaped or spherical frames filled with a mixture of oils and incense were placed on the heads of men and women. Under the influence of heat, this mixture melted and dripped onto the hair, moisturizing it and giving it a beloved fragrance. The Egyptians loved their body and admired it, appreciated beauty and did not want to grow old, so they knew how to dye their hair black, hiding gray hair. And women took their cut hair with them to the grave, hoping that they would serve in the afterlife.
Much of what the ancient Egyptians used, we widely use in our modern life. Yes, and the teachings addressed to husbands sound relevant and fair for today's wives, and the profession of a civil servant has remained very attractive for many, many of our contemporaries, having not lost anything in the eyes of people for four and a half thousand years.
Literature:
- Erman A. Life in Ancient Egypt / Per. from English. I.A. Petrovskaya. - M .: CJSC Tsentrpoligraf, 2008.
- Avdiev V. I. History of the Ancient East. M.: graduate School, 1970.
- Budge W. Inhabitants of the Nile Valley / Per. from English. A.B. Davydova. - M .: CJSC Tsentrpoligraf, 2009.
When it comes to Ancient Egypt, most people think of pharaohs, pyramids, mummies and gold artifacts. And at the same time, the vast majority do not have the slightest idea about how the most ordinary people lived in this country.
Board games
After a hard day's work, ordinary people in ancient Egypt also sought to relax. Board games were the most popular pastime. Two or several players could play at once, and if there were no game boards, then the playing field was drawn directly on the ground. Favorite game was "sene". The field was divided into 30 squares - in 3 rows of 10, in some squares they drew symbols that meant something good or, on the contrary, failure.
The winner was the one whose chips entered the "afterlife" first, bypassing the squares of failure. The Seine was deeply intertwined with religion. The winner was said to be guarded by the gods, and tombs were often drawn on the board to protect the deceased during the transition to the afterlife.
In Aseb's game, there were 20 squares on the field. To free a chip from the "home" square, it was necessary to roll a four or six on a die. If a piece landed on a square held by the opponent, it was sent back to the home square. The rules of "mehen" and another game of "hounds and jackals" are unknown. The mehen board looked like a twisted snake.
Sense of humor
Today, little is known about ancient Egyptian humor, but this does not mean at all that the ancients did not have it. So, in Thebes around 2000 BC, a carver on the wall of the tomb created an image of the deceased pharaoh's vizier. He was a very important person during his lifetime and, most likely, should have been depicted with a noble face.
But the artist gave the vizier a dejected look with a raised eyebrow, as if Dagi was surprised that he had died. Carvings made during the reign of Amenhotep III (1389-1349 BC) show a scribe and a baboon (an animal associated with Thoth, the god of writing). The baboon has very funny eyebrows.
The artists did not hold back their sarcasm even when they portrayed the enemies of Egypt. An ivory plaque shows a captive Assyrian prince with a goofy look and bulging eyes. Tensions with the Nubians probably led the artist to make a relief showing a Nubian with exaggerated and ridiculous features.
Arthritis
When researchers recently examined the remains of those who created and decorated the famous Valley of the Kings, they discovered something strange. About 3,500 years ago, most of the carvers and painters who decorated the tombs of the pharaohs came from the village of Deir el-Medina. Usually, artists develop problems with their hands over time. Osteoarthritis among the studied remains of men was much more common in the ankles and knees.
After studying the ancient records of this village, the reason was revealed. Despite the hard work in the necropolis, people did not want to spend the night "on the bones" and every day they went to spend the night in another place. For a week they lived in huts near the royal tombs, and the road to them led through a steep hill, which they had to climb and descend twice a day.
At the end of the week, the masters went to Deir el-Medina, which had to be reached 2 kilometers through the hills. On Monday they again returned to the necropolis. This went on for years, and for some people for decades. In all likelihood, such long transitions led to the appearance of a disease that is not characteristic of this profession.
diet
Probably no one will ever know about the culinary recipes of the ancient Egyptians. No records have been found, but you can learn about what the Egyptians ate from the works of art of that time. Some ingredients were consumed by all classes, but a number of foods were forbidden to the commoners. For example, smoking fish was strictly the lot of the priests. But the daily food of all strata of society was beer and bread.
Bread was fermented in water, producing a cloudy drink that was an essential part of the diet of the lower classes. In addition to grain dishes such as porridge, the diet included meat, honey, dates, fruits, and wild vegetables. The workers ate only twice a day.
For breakfast they had bread, beer, and sometimes onions. For lunch, cooked vegetables and meat were added to this. Priests and pharaohs ate immeasurably better. Images of banquets were found in the tombs, where tables were bursting with wine, gazelles baked in honey, roasted poultry, fruits and desserts.
Teeth
The Egyptians suffered from the destruction of enamel, because sand was constantly found in their food. The problem was really huge. A study done on 4,800 teeth from Egyptian tombs found that 90 percent of the teeth were very worn.
This has led to conditions such as cysts, multiple abscesses, and osteoarthritis of the jaw. Needless to say, chronic toothache was a daily part of life in ancient Egypt. Despite the well-known Egyptian love for cleanliness, there is no evidence that the ancient Egyptians had developed dentistry.
Corn
Trade in Ancient Egypt.
The monetary system of ancient Egypt is not fully understood. It used to be thought that it was based on barter without any form of currency. But this conclusion was drawn solely from the surviving images, which showed the exchange of goods. While trade certainly existed, it could not support the state's commercial system as extensive.
One of the main commodities was grain, which was grown on a mass scale. Surplus grain was stored in a network of silos throughout Egypt and used to pay workers who worked on major public projects. But, for example, what was to be done if someone wanted to buy a house.
Indeed, in this case, a bag of grain will not do. The ancient Egyptians worked with a unit of value called a "shat". This currency standard existed in the Old Kingdom (2750-2150 BC), but today no one knows what it was. It is only known that one shat costs 7.5 grams of gold.
Family
In ancient Egypt, a traditional family with a large number of children was welcomed. Girls usually married in their early teens. While examples of marriage for love did occur, marriage was primarily a way of mutual assistance in existence for a man and a woman. A man was considered imperfect until he married.
The frescoes traditionally depict the men as dark from outdoor work and the women as pale as they were only doing household chores. Egyptian wives gave birth many and often, so they constantly faced the dangers that childbirth threatened them with. Effective contraception did not exist, and midwives could not do anything if something "went wrong" during childbirth.
Infants were breastfed until they were three years old. Boys were early trained in working professions, and girls in childcare, cooking and sewing clothes. It was expected that the eldest son (and if he was not there, then the daughter) would take care of his elderly parents, and when the time came, he would give them a decent burial.
gender equality
Egyptian women were engaged not only in household chores, if they wished, they could work and have property. If in ancient Rome women were not even considered citizens, then in Egypt women could live even without a male guardian. They could initiate a divorce and go to court.
Women were not forced into marriage, they could draft and sign legal documents and build their own careers. However, most of the higher professions were dominated by men. Only a small percentage of women became honorary priestesses, scribes, healers and pharaohs. In fact, the first region in which women's rights were expanded was Ancient Egypt, and not the West, as many believe.
Disabled
In the ancient world, there was simply no talk of full-fledged medical care. And mental illness was considered so embarrassing that Chinese families kept feeble-minded family members hidden from the public. In Greece, they were left to the mercy of fate, and they roamed the streets. In ancient Egypt, such people had a completely different attitude.
Local moral scriptures taught respect for those who were physically handicapped. Dwarfs were not seen as handicapped and often worked as assistants, overseers, guardians, painters and entertainers. Among the skeletons of Deir el-Medina (the village of artists in the Valley of the Kings) were found the remains of a young man who was born with an atrophied leg. As the examination of his remains showed, this man was by no means an outcast, but lived well and occupied a high position. With regard to mental illness, the Egyptians, instead of blaming or condemning such patients, tried to adapt them to society.
Violence
Many works of art from that period document scenes from domestic life. And although they look very idealistic and legal equality did take place in ancient Egyptian society, violence against women and children remained a reality. Scientists have become aware of horrifying cases. So, the 2000-year-old skeleton of a baby in the Dakhleh oasis had fractures of the back, pelvis, ribs and arms. Some were older than others and the bones had healed, a classic sign of long-term physical abuse.
In the ancient city of Abydos, a 4,000-year-old victim was discovered. The woman was about 35 years old when she was fatally shot in the back. Examination of her bones revealed that the woman had been physically abused all her life. She had old and new fractures, which clearly indicate that the unfortunate woman was repeatedly kicked or beaten in the ribs. She also had injuries on her arms, possibly from attempts to defend herself. Since her abuser had clearly been with the woman for a very long time, he could be her husband.
How did the ancient Egyptians live? This people, who so carefully observed the numerous complex ceremonies associated with the worship of deities and the afterlife, it turns out that in Everyday life there were eternal, unshakable rules. The daily routine was strictly scheduled and consisted of small events, most of which can be considered as a kind of ritual actions. This left an imprint on the life and customs of the Egyptians.
Clothing and jewelry
In hot weather, a man's clothing consisted of one loincloth. But leaving the house without bracelets and other jewelry was unthinkable. Countless rings were worn on the fingers, and several rows of beads adorned the neck. Sandals were very rare and highly valued. Shoes were woven most often from papyrus, less often from leather, sometimes they were even made from gold. A simple Egyptian made the main way, carrying his sandals in his hands. The outfit of the noble Egyptians was almost the same for both men and women. Their translucent dresses were worn directly on the shirt. severity long skirt brightened up the obligatory cut to the waist. Both men and women wore wigs that glittered with jewelry. Incense was put into one of the head ornaments.
Food and drink of the ancient Egyptians
The cuisine of the ancient Egyptians was varied. They loved meat and ate a lot of it. Meat was obtained mainly by hunting. On holidays they used sacrificial bulls and cows. The Egyptians raised ducks, geese and chickens. They did not dare to try the fish right away, because for a long time fishing was considered a dangerous trade: the river abounded with crocodiles. Of the vegetables, garlic was the most valued. The Egyptians loved melons and bananas. The Egyptians first tasted pears, peaches and cherries only during Roman rule. However, only the rich could afford to eat these sweets. The poor, on the other hand, were often forced to chew the core of papyrus stems. The most valuable and satisfying food was bread with various additives. Fruit or eggs were added to pies and buns. Flour was also different: barley, spelt and wheat. The leader among drinks was beer. It was made from barley or wheat. The Egyptians also loved wine, especially in the Nile Delta region, where grapes were grown.
morning toilet
The morning of the Egyptian began with washing. For this, there was a special basin - "shauti". Cleansing salt was poured into a special jug for rinsing the mouth. Then it was the hairdresser's turn. In the court of the pharaoh, the morning toilet was a divine ritual. Nome rulers and high officials imitated the pharaoh, gathering relatives during the morning ceremonies. Then came the turn of incense specialists. It was not only about beauty, but also health in a hot climate. Indispensable in the morning toilet for both women and men was eyeliner. For this, green powder was used - malachite and black - galena. They did this not only for the sake of beauty, the makeup protected the eyes and delicate skin of the eyelids from insects and the scorching sun.
feasts
The Egyptians were very fond of organizing feasts, at which a bull was usually slaughtered. Geese were roasted on skewers, and a whole line of jugs of wines and liqueurs lined up. Fruits were laid out in baskets and on stands, water was cooled in advance in jugs. Everything was covered with veils that protected the dishes from dust and insects. Guests were met and escorted by the owner of the house himself. Before the feast, they said a prayer, the first to pay tribute to Amun. The most honored guests were offered chairs inlaid with gold and silver. Simpler people got simple stools, and the poor - mats. Usually men and women sat opposite each other, spouses were allowed to sit side by side. Beautiful young maids in transparent robes served refreshments, and the feast began.
Everyday leisure. Games
The everyday leisure of the Egyptians was filled with the game. In the evenings, the couple often played checkers. The rectangular board was divided into thirty-three squares, white and black pieces moved. However, nothing is known about the rules of this game. The boys preferred power games. The competition in speed was also interesting: they arranged jumps on their knees, crossing their legs and holding them with their hands. Often competed in accuracy. Egyptian boys were far more severe than their current peers in regards to foul play. They tied the dishonest player and treated him with sticks. The girls loved to juggle. But their main and favorite pastime was dancing. Every Egyptian woman should have mastered this art.
Music
No holiday is complete without music. When musical instruments did not yet exist, the rhythm was beaten with palms. Already in the era of the Old Kingdom, the harp, flute and oboe appeared. The theme of death was invariable for the Egyptian musicians: "Think only of joy when you have to moor to the land that loves silence."
Family and wedding
The concept of "family" for the Egyptian meant "home". The expressions "marry" and "build a house" are synonymous. If young people were in love with each other, then parents most often did not interfere with them. A wedding for an Egyptian is the passage of a bride from her father's house to her husband's house. They tried to decorate the wedding procession richer. The marriage took place according to strict rules. It was also thought out legal side. The official wrote down the names of the spouses and registered them common property. A woman acquired a second, "additional" name - the wife of such and such. The husband contributed two-thirds of the common property, the wife one-third. After that, a feast was arranged, to which relatives were invited. After the death of one of the spouses, the survivor could use all the property, but sell or donate only one part of it.
Attitude towards a woman
Egyptian society treated women harshly. For adultery, a woman was waiting for death. If the husband was unfaithful, he was never punished for it, men were allowed to have concubines who were considered members of his family. According to Egyptian law, a husband had the right to beat his wife, brother - sister. If a divorced husband beat his wife so that she became disabled, he was summoned to court, where he swore an oath that he would never touch her again. If the spouse did not keep this promise, then he received a hundred blows with a cane and was forever deprived of the right to jointly acquired property. Severe authors (of course, men) considered women capricious, frivolous, unable to keep a secret. A man, according to the same authors, on the contrary, is always kind, caring, faithful to his wife even after her death, and always keeps his word. The scribe Ani advises: “Beware of a woman who goes out in secret. Do not follow her: she will claim that it was not her. A wife whose husband is far away sends you notes and calls you every day when there are no witnesses. If she lures you into her nets, that's a crime..."
Attitude towards children
The Egyptians loved children, but especially rejoiced at the birth of a son-heir. If there were no sons in the family, then they turned to the priests for help. Ramesses I was proud that he had more than 160 children. And no one, neither the pharaoh nor the simple Egyptian, was afraid that the child would die of hunger. Children ran around naked, with only beads around their necks, and ate papyrus stalks. The son was obliged to adequately bury his father and continue his work. However, the Egyptians were also happy with the girls. In all images of Pharaoh Akhenaten, he and his wife are accompanied by: v. all six of their daughters. The Egyptians always wanted to know what lay ahead for their children, so in anxiety for the future, they turned to the goddess Hathor. The name of the child was given by the parents themselves, but it had to be registered. The goddess Isis was considered the patroness of the family, motherhood and childbirth. It was she who was worshiped by childless women and men, as well as families in which there were no sons.
attitude towards the elderly
The Egyptians treated well not only children, but also the elderly. Everyone dreamed of living to old age, while maintaining clarity of thought and physical health- such people admired. The one who reached the title of “imahu” (“revered”) not only had food every day, but also counted on a magnificent funeral. Old age was respected even by the pharaohs, who transferred their aged faithful servants to easier posts. The rulers of cities and nomes tried to follow their example.
The ancient Egyptians were very clean people and always took care of the cleanliness of their body, clothing and housing. They made water procedures several times a day: in the morning, before and after meals.
After the morning bath, they went to the services of hairdressers. Usually women turned to them, while men entrusted themselves to barbers and people doing manicures and pedicures. The daily morning toilet of the pharaoh turned into an important ceremony, at which all the noble people of the state were present. The morning toilet of senior officials (viziers, supreme judges and rulers of nomes) also became a kind of ceremony.
All relatives and servants gathered near the owner of the house. The squatting scribes were ready to carry out any of his commands: while some held brushes in their hands to record orders, others held long papyrus scrolls with names, numbers and a list of works that had already been done or were still in the project.
After the necessary ablutions, the barber set to work. At the end of this procedure, the owner of the house appeared before his relatives and servants cheerful, fresh, with a clean-shaven head and a short square beard.
The Egyptians preferred elongated eyes. And this is not just a tribute to fashion, but also a preventive measure that protects the organs of vision from bright sunlight, wind and dust. The inhabitants of ancient Egypt used various cosmetics. So, to get rid of the smell of sweat on a hot day, they were rubbed with incense and a mixture of turpentine, incense and an unknown powder. There were all sorts of cleansing ointments that restore elasticity to the skin of the face and body. For this purpose, honey was added to the powder of alabaster, "northern salt" and natron.
There were also special cosmetics to get rid of spots and acne. Usually they were kneaded with donkey milk, after which they wiped the skin with a prepared lotion.
The morning toilet of the pharaoh's wife and any wealthy lady also turned into an event. Usually the hairdresser spent several hours to make a hairstyle for a noble person.
Unlike the rich Egyptians, the poor had to be content with the services of a street barber who sat somewhere under a tree, waiting for clients, who were always quite numerous. The barber conscientiously performed his duties: he shaved his head so cleanly that it became like pebbles rolled in by waves.
The Egyptian peasant woman usually did her hair on her own, without resorting to anyone's help. It is noteworthy that at this time all family members had to leave home so that the hairstyle turned out perfect, otherwise the woman had to start the morning toilet all over again.
Cloth
The morning attire of a man consisted of a short loincloth and a small amount of jewelry. In this form, he performed water procedures, received a barber and a manicure and pedicure master.
Preparing to leave the house, a rich Egyptian put on one or more bracelets on his wrists, a ring on his finger and a chest necklace of five or six rows of beads with clasps in the form of falcon heads. A pendant made of jasper or carnelian gave him a respectable look, and a loose straight skirt, which replaced the morning loincloth, and sandals gave completeness to the whole look. Sandals known since ancient times had special value in ancient Egypt. It is known that one of the unifiers of Upper and Lower Egypt, Pharaoh Narmer, going anywhere accompanied by faithful servants, always walked barefoot, and one of his associates carried his shoes.
The farmers did the same, only they had to carry the sandals themselves, tying sticks to the end. The poor put on their shoes only when they reached their destination. A law was even passed forbidding soldiers to snatch "precious" sandals from the hands of people passing by.
During the New Kingdom, the Egyptians made shoes from various materials: made of papyrus, leather or gold. From the toe of the sole, the strap stretched between the first and second toes to the ankle, where it was connected to others like a stirrup. All these straps were tied behind the heel.
Some wealthy Egyptians preferred straight, long dresses with straps and no jewelry. But most of the wealthy inhabitants of ancient Egypt walked in ruffled linen tunic dresses extended downwards, which, leaving the neck open, fitted the torso.
A mandatory attribute of the attire was a wide corrugated belt, which formed a trapezoidal apron in front.
In addition to this, in holidays the Egyptians wore large curled wigs, the curls of which covered the head and shoulders, ceremonial sandals and numerous jewelry (necklaces, chest pendants, bracelets).
The outfit of a rich woman, like that of her noble husband, consisted of a thin shirt and a white ruffled dress worn over it with a slit almost to the waist, which, unlike men's, was translucent and fastened on the left shoulder, while the right one remained open.
Wide fringed sleeves did not cover graceful hands, which allowed noble ladies to demonstrate their wrists with precious bracelets in the form of two plates of chased gold connected by clasps or gold rings, cords, ribbons.
Women's hair was adorned with sparkling tiaras of turquoise, lapis lazuli and gold, the ends of which were connected at the back of the head with two cords with tassels. Quite often, in the hairstyles of women and men, there was a cone-shaped fragrant decoration made of hair smeared with fragrant oils.
The outfit of the less wealthy Egyptians was distinguished by practicality. Farmers and artisans preferred to wear simple loincloths, tied with a palm-wide belt without any embroidery or tassels.
Like the rich inhabitants of Egypt, the poor liked to wear jewelry, only they were made not of gold, but of bronze and ceramics. However, these ornaments are artistic value, as well as gold products of jewelers, as they are monuments of ancient culture.
Food
A feature of the climatic conditions of Ancient Egypt was that the floods of the Nile, making the land fertile, were periodically replaced by dry and lean years. At such a time, products were valued much more than gold.
According to ancient sources, the Egyptian rulers during the fertile years were obliged to create food supplies that would last for several years, but quite often they neglected their duties.
In the Great Papyrus of Harris, there is information that food was no less valuable offering than precious metals, clothes, fragrant oils and incense.
The daily diet of wealthy residents included meat dishes, while ordinary Egyptians ate them only on holidays. On the walls of many tombs, archaeologists have found images of animals intended for slaughter and scenes of the slaughterhouses themselves.
Some phrases characterizing slaughter animals have not yet been translated into more understandable language(for example, “bull is the mouth of the herd” or “bull kite”), and the decoding of individual names is only approximate (perhaps the bull “herisa” was the best manufacturer offspring, but this is not certain).
At the slaughterhouse, butchers in the amount of 4-5 people set to work, who attacked the animal and quickly slaughtered it. Butchers' techniques remain unchanged to this day.
During the period of the Old Kingdom, most of the meat was obtained by hunting gazelles living in the desert, oryxes (oryxes) and other representatives of the artiodactyl order. Particularly skilled hunters tried to tame and domesticate the caught animals, but this was not always possible. Further this species animal husbandry has almost completely lost its significance.
It is not known whether the ancient Egyptians ate pork, lamb or goat meat, but that they were bred in Upper and Lower Egypt is known for certain.
The inhabitants of Egypt began to breed chickens only from the 2nd millennium BC. e., but poultry farming was widespread much earlier.
Special attention deserves such a food product as fish. IN different time in some Egyptian cities and nomes it was forbidden to eat certain types of fish. Sources report that the Ethiopian king who conquered Egypt, a Muslim by religion, refused to feast at the same table with the rulers of the Delta and the South, since they were not circumcised and ate unclean food (fish), which was a terrible insult to royal palace. Only a resident of the sacred city of the priests of Shmun, who, according to tradition, did not eat fish, was awarded the great honor.
The diet of the Egyptians also included various vegetables included in the annual calendar of Medinet Abu under the name "renput". Especially valuable products were onions, leeks and garlic. According to the "father of history" Herodotus, the builders of the pyramid of Cheops received radishes, onions and garlic for 1600 silver talents for their work.
However, scientists have not been able to find any evidence for this claim, although there is a hieroglyphic image of these plants in the Great Harris Papyrus.
Bunches of garlic have been found in some Theban tombs, testifying to the lavish gifts of Ramesses III. Watermelons, melons, and cucumbers often feature on sacrificial steles alongside bound papyrus stalks. And peas, beans, and chickpeas (chickpeas shaped like a falcon's head) are common tomb finds.
It is known that in their gardens the Egyptians grew lettuce, the plant of the fertility god Min, whose ithyphallic statue usually stood in front of a plot planted with lettuce. The Egyptians used this plant in large quantities, knowing that it restores sexual power to men, and fertility to women. Lettuce was usually eaten raw with salt and vegetable oil.
The gardens of ancient Egypt were not distinguished by a variety of fruit crops. Pears, peaches, almonds and cherries appeared here only after the Roman conquest, and the ancient Egyptians did not hear about oranges, lemons and bananas at all.
The most common crops were grapes, figs, dates and sycamore (fig tree). The latter plant was cultivated not only for its delicious fruits, but also for its durable wood, which is an excellent material for making mummy coffins.
Pomegranate, olive and apple trees, brought by the nomadic Asian tribes of the Hyksos, took root in Egypt and gave a good harvest with proper care. Olive oil, obtained from the pulp of olives, was used not only as a food product, but also as a material for lighting. Before the advent of the olive, the Egyptians cultivated other oilseeds, mainly the bak walnut tree.
Doum palm nuts and jujube fruits were good medicines, but only a select few ate coconuts, since their cultivation in Egypt was hampered by unsuitable climatic conditions. The poor inhabitants of Egypt feasted on the core of papyrus stems and the rhizomes of some aquatic plants.
Milk was considered a particularly valuable product. They kept it in pot-bellied earthenware vessels with a clogged neck, which prevented the penetration of insects. In some sources, there is a mention of such dairy products in the diet of the Egyptians as cream, butter, cottage cheese.
To give a drink or a sweet taste, they used honey or carob. The collection of wax and honey from wild bees was carried out by special people who went after them to distant deserts.
These people, like the collectors of turpentine resin, enjoyed the mercy of the pharaoh, who provided them with all kinds of help.
Some Egyptians kept bees in their own gardens using large earthenware jars as hives. The extracted honey was usually used not only for food, but also for sale. They kept it in carefully sealed stone vessels, which allowed the valuable properties of this product to remain unchanged.
meal
Very scarce information has been preserved about how the feasts of the ancient Egyptians were held. It was assumed that the head of the family, who woke up earlier than other household members, had breakfast alone, immediately after washing. His breakfast, served on a small table, consisted of meat, pie, bread and beer.
The mistress of the house had breakfast while combing her hair, or immediately after finishing the toilet. Her morning diet necessarily included fruits, perhaps some sweets and clean water.
Children ate separately from their parents. They were seated on a mat or pillows laid out right on the floor.
The lunch ration supposedly consisted of meat, poultry or fish, bread, pies, vegetables, fruit and beer. It cannot be said that meat was one of the constantly consumed foodstuffs. Even in fairly wealthy families, meat dishes were usually served only during dinner or festive feasts. Poor families were more likely to be satisfied with dairy products, vegetables, fruits and flatbreads.
On the walls of the tomb of Tell el-Amarna, a wonderful drawing is depicted, conveying the very atmosphere of a feast that took place more than three thousand years ago. Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV, a representative of the XVIII dynasty) sits at the head of the table, next to him are his wife, queen mother and little princesses sitting on small pillows. The king eats juicy meat, and his wife eats poultry. Around the table are several small tables with a variety of dishes and toiletries.
Among other things, during the excavations of temples dating back to the era of the New Kingdom, many utensils were found, intended for the preparation and use of soups, sauces, compotes, sweets and dairy products. There are also all kinds of plates, forks, spoons and knives. It can be assumed that toiletries (a jug of water and a basin) were necessary for the Egyptians to wash their hands, both before and after eating. This is explained by the fact that birds, pies, sweets and some other dishes were then eaten with their hands.
Around four or five in the evening, the Egyptians had a light supper, after which they returned to work or prepared for evening entertainment.
Egyptians
pyramid building
Rich Egyptians
Economy and crafts of Egypt
Parenting
bread baking
AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is the basis of the prosperity of Ancient Egypt. Every year, the Nile, overflowing, left a layer of the most fertile silt on the banks, thanks to which the Egyptians grew a wide variety of crops. River water used
Water lilies, along with papyrus and white and blue lotus, make up the decoration of the banks of the Nile. Flowers are needed to decorate temples and dwellings. They are collected by young girls. Perhaps these flowers are intended to decorate the table of the master, who (in the background)
