The Village Workers
Village Workers on Duty
The workers that were selected to construct the Valley of the Kings were viewed as being 'the top of their profession'. They were called 'servants in the place of truth' and had a variety of different skills. They were middle class citizens, and not classed as slaves as they were paid for their work in provisions. This pay was significantly greater than that of a field worker. Because the Pharaoh provided all the villagers with government housing and food provisions, the inhabitants of Deir el-Medina were significantly better off than those who lived in other places in Egypt, and had possessions that only the very wealthy in Egypt could hope to afford. These workers were avid moonlighters in order to make their standard of living greater. It was determined that over 100 different people lived in the village at one time, and there was also the discovery of foreign named in the village. Most of these villagers were literate. The workers were organized the same way that a ship's crew is, with left and right rowers. Because they were in such large groups, they were also referred to as a gang, and organizing them the same way as a ships crew ensured that the men were in two groups. Because of their 'gang' title, 'right gang' and 'left gang', were there official names.
Each group had to have a member of each craft/trade. This included a foreman and his deputy, a scribe, stonemasons, carpenters, plasterers, draughtsmen and a master-draughtsmen, painters, sculptors, guardians and doorkeepers. They were assisted by a group called 'servants of the tomb' who lived outside of the village, but were instructed to supply the village with much needed supplies while the men were away. When the workers were assigned to a location to work on, they would only work there for ten days, not returning to the village but sleeping in small shelters that were located above the Valley of the Kings. Their work hours were separated from morning sessions to afternoon sessions, and each session lasted four hours. from On the tenth day, they would return to Deir el-Medina and celebrate various events such as religious festivals and national holidays, birthdays of the gods and New Year's Day. They would repeat this cycle until they were finished with their assignments, every tenth day returning to the village. They work was tough and had to be exact, and the workers were frequently checked upon to make sure that they were pulling their weight. When the workers returned home, they were also in charge of constructing their own tombs. These tombs highlighted the skill of the workmen, as they often put in slightly more effort for their own tombs as they did for the tombs of their Kings and Queens.
There was not room for apprentices in the community, as this role was filled by the workmen's sons who took over from their fathers after their deaths.
While under the rule of Ramesses III, the workers at Deir el-Medina went on a strike due to the corrupted administration that they felt they had, and all of the struggles that they were facing. The workers did not receive their rations when the strike broke out. This occurred because Ramesses III was in various wars and also had a huge building campaign. Here is an account of the strike that was written by Egyptian scribe Amennakhte at Deir el Medina, who was present at the time. These accounts were written on papyrus.
Each group had to have a member of each craft/trade. This included a foreman and his deputy, a scribe, stonemasons, carpenters, plasterers, draughtsmen and a master-draughtsmen, painters, sculptors, guardians and doorkeepers. They were assisted by a group called 'servants of the tomb' who lived outside of the village, but were instructed to supply the village with much needed supplies while the men were away. When the workers were assigned to a location to work on, they would only work there for ten days, not returning to the village but sleeping in small shelters that were located above the Valley of the Kings. Their work hours were separated from morning sessions to afternoon sessions, and each session lasted four hours. from On the tenth day, they would return to Deir el-Medina and celebrate various events such as religious festivals and national holidays, birthdays of the gods and New Year's Day. They would repeat this cycle until they were finished with their assignments, every tenth day returning to the village. They work was tough and had to be exact, and the workers were frequently checked upon to make sure that they were pulling their weight. When the workers returned home, they were also in charge of constructing their own tombs. These tombs highlighted the skill of the workmen, as they often put in slightly more effort for their own tombs as they did for the tombs of their Kings and Queens.
There was not room for apprentices in the community, as this role was filled by the workmen's sons who took over from their fathers after their deaths.
While under the rule of Ramesses III, the workers at Deir el-Medina went on a strike due to the corrupted administration that they felt they had, and all of the struggles that they were facing. The workers did not receive their rations when the strike broke out. This occurred because Ramesses III was in various wars and also had a huge building campaign. Here is an account of the strike that was written by Egyptian scribe Amennakhte at Deir el Medina, who was present at the time. These accounts were written on papyrus.
