All  

Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ Mobile

 Discovered by Gaston Maspero in 1885–86, this wooden shabti box was inscribed for Paramnekhu, a ‘Servant in the Place of Truth’ who was a son or grandson of the famous Sennedjem and Iineferti. Families of artisans such as this brought the king’s tombs to life. 19th Dynasty. Thebes, Deir el-Medina, Tomb of Sennedjem (TT1).

Heart of the Pharaoh Part II

Print

The artisans and builders who resided at Set Ma’at (‘The Place of Truth’) were among the most valued workers in all of Egypt. Yet, there came a time when the economy of the country was on the verge of breaking down completely. Droughts, lack of tributes from Near Eastern vassal states that were decimated by the Sea Peoples; and corruption at home, resulted in driving the laborers to the very edge. The unprecedented outcome reveals a turbulent time in the lives of commoners who were forced to take matters into their own hands to ensure justice was served.

A view of the remains of massive pillars in the Hypostyle Hall in the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu. While the pharaoh dined off gold and silverware, his subjects struggled to eke out a living; and could not even afford one square meal a day.

A view of the remains of massive pillars in the Hypostyle Hall in the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu. While the pharaoh dined off gold and silverware, his subjects struggled to eke out a living; and could not even afford one square meal a day.

(Read Part I here)

Trouble in Artistic Paradise

The residents of Deir-el-Medina encountered immense hardship during the reign of Ramesses III and matters came to a head in his 28 regnal year, when the payment of monthly wages of the highly skilled royal tomb-builders and artisans in the village of Set Ma’at (‘Place of Truth’, modern Deir-el-Medina) - payment which also included their food rations - were not provisioned. When there was no sign of any help forthcoming by the 20th day, the workers knew something was seriously amiss. This led to much dismay and anger amongst them.

The Turin Strike Papyrus, written by the scribe Amennakhte provides a blow-by-blow account of the workers’ struggle, and the corruption which had spread throughout the administration. Amennakhte wasted no time in rushing to the mortuary temple of Horemheb to negotiate with local officials for the distribution of 46 sacks of corn to the workers; but this was a stop-gap solution to a pressing issue. The administration did not get to the root cause: the enormous delay in payment. This matter would rear its ugly head sooner than one could have imagined.

Shabtis come in many shapes, sizes and colors, as do their containers. This interesting shabti urn made of baked clay and its figurines are inscribed for the construction worker, Mesmeni. 20th Dynasty. Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy. (Image: Petra Lether)

Shabtis come in many shapes, sizes and colors, as do their containers. This interesting shabti urn made of baked clay and its figurines are inscribed for the construction worker, Mesmeni. 20th Dynasty. Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy. (Image: Petra Lether)

READ MORE… 

Like this Preview and want to read on? You can! JOIN US THERE with easy, instant access ) and see what you’re missing!! All Premium articles are available in full, with immediate access.

For the price of a cup of coffee, you get this and all the other great benefits at Ancient Origins Premium. And - each time you support AO Premium, you support independent thought and writing.

 Independent researcher and playwright Anand Balaji, is an Ancient Origins guest writer and author of Sands of Amarna: End of Akhenaten

[The author thanks Leslie D. Black, Heidi Kontkanen, Petra Lether and Richard Dick Sellicks for granting permission to use their photographs.]

Top Image: Discovered by Gaston Maspero in 1885–86, this wooden shabti box was inscribed for Paramnekhu, a ‘Servant in the Place of Truth’ who was a son or grandson of the famous Sennedjem and Iineferti. Families of artisans such as this brought the king’s tombs to life. 19th Dynasty. Thebes, Deir el-Medina, Tomb of Sennedjem (TT1). (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.)

By  Anand Balaji

 
anand balaji's picture

Anand

Anand N. Balaji is an independent researcher who has a special interest in the Amarna era.

Next article