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The daily life in ancient Egypt
was actually much different than the vision that
commonly comes to mind. Relics found in
archeological digs as well as paintings and
drawings on pyramid and tomb walls depict images
of life in ancient Egypt that was, in some
regards, not that much different than life in
Egypt today.
Life in ancient Egypt was primarily
centered toward a polytheistic religion,
the pharaoh and the importance of family. In
ancient Egypt family life began early. Men and
women tended to marry quite young in ancient
Egypt and everyday life reflected their
commitment to the sanctity of the family unit.
Divorce was known to have existed but does not
appear to have been that prevalent or common.
Marriages were generally polygamous; at
least in the royal and noble circles, with the
husband having several wives. In most cases
there was usually a senior wife or chief wife;
however it is apparent that husbands were quite
fond of all their wives.
Children were a very important
component of life in Egypt and were considered
to be a great blessing from the gods. Also in
the noble and royal families, children were
highly regarded. Paintings of King Akhenaten and
his wife, Queen Nefertiti, indicate they had a
very close and loving bond with their six
daughters.
The role of women in ancient Egyptian
society is often a surprise. It is usually
assumed that women were relegated to the role of
a second class citizen, when actually the
opposite was true. Women were allowed to own
property, testify in court and conduct business
dealings. More than one woman even ruled the
Egyptian land as pharaoh. While women were
highly regarded and given rights that most of
their contemporaries in other lands could only
dream of, daily life in ancient Egypt for women
also involved responsibilities for most of the
duties of the home. It was the woman's
responsibility to raise the children, see to the
home and prepare the meals.
The daily life of people of ancient Egypt was
very involved with the various gods and
goddesses who ruled Egyptian mythology. It was
quite acceptable to worship more than one deity
and most towns and villages throughout Egypt did
so, although a city would normally claim a
patron god. Temples were built and scattered
throughout Egypt, reflecting a religion that
involved frequent rites, rituals and
practices.
Peasant life in ancient Egypt was not
always pleasant. Most peasants made their living
off the land through agricultural means. Grain,
particularly wheat, was a staple crop of life in
ancient Egypt. As a result of few grazing lands
and the expense of meat, most peasants subsisted
off a diet of ground wheat foods, subsidized
with meager vegetables. The Egyptians were one
of the first people to introduce the use of the
ox-drawn plow; however the work of plowing,
planting and harvesting would have still been
very difficult. Taxes were also imposed
on the crops, which would have also made it
difficult for most peasant families to move
beyond their poor means.
Modern views on slave life in ancient
Egypt are largely contradictory. Many
scholars theorize that slaves in ancient Egypt
actually performed more in the role of servant
than actual slave; while other others have
contended that those who were less fortunate in
ancient Egyptian society were forced to work in
humiliating and degrading positions. A long held
theory indicates that the great pyramids of
ancient Egypt were built upon slave labor,
although this theory has been open to much
conjecture.
Life in Egypt today is a reflective blend of
a modern society who still appreciates a rich
and cultured past. In many ways, not much has
changed. The Egyptian people still have a very
strong regard for family and children and feel
very bonded to the land. |
