DWELLINGS

Whilst temples, the houses of the gods, were built of stone to last, the homes of ancient Egyptians were made of mud-brick - even the palace of the pharaoh - as these were not intended to last forever.  Supports for the roof were in the form of palm logs and wood was usually used for doorways.
 

Houses in the towns could be multi-storey to make the most of limited land. Homes would have been sparsely furnished.  Some of the country villas of the rich were equipped with gardens and a decorative pool in which sweet-smelling lotus flowers would grow. The pool also was stocked with fish from the Nile. Palm trees would have provided welcome shade in the hot summers.  At the site of Deir el-Medina (at right) in Upper Egypt, one can see the lower walls and preserved layout of a New Kingdom village. It was inhabited by the workers who built the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

With the dry and dusty conditions often encountered in Egypt, appearance and cleanliness were important.  Hair was often kept short and wigs made of human hair would be worn for special occasions.
 

Bronze mirrors were used when applying makeup. The one on the left has a handle with the image of the goddess Hathor.  Examples of cosmetic containers, such as the one on the right, survive from tombs.  Kohl, an eye-paint made from powdered galena (lead ore), and green copper oxide, was used around the eyes and applied with an applicator stick.

Clothing was generally in the form of simple linen tunics which were woven very finely. Their light nature was ideal for the hot climate. Sandals were made from plaited palm leaves.

Doctors were well respected in ancient Egypt and surgeons used various knives, tweezers and needles.

Surviving medical papyri list many treatments for ailments suffered by the Egyptians. Honey was often applied to wounds, however, not all treatments sound like they would have made one feel better. For example, swallowing a dead mouse to cure a bad cough may have been slightly off-putting!

TIME TO PLAY

Children had toys to play with and some of the surviving examples would give much pleasure to young children today.

Toys included dolls, spinning tops and some that had moving parts operated with a string, e.g. cats or crocodiles with moving jaws.
 

The Egyptians enjoyed games, including a board game called senet. Examples of senet survive in the form of rectangular boxes on top of which are 30 squares, some of which were meant to represent hazards. Small draws in the box contained the gaming pieces.  Tutankhamun's tomb was well equipped with examples of senet board games (one shown at right) - he may have intended to spend a lot of time playing! Ball games also were popular as they are with children in modern Egypt. The game involved going piggy-back and throwing the balls.

MUSIC
 

Music was obviously enjoyed, judging by the many paintings of musicians playing at banquets. Instruments included tambourines, oboes, lutes and harps.  Female dancers and musicians are shown in some New Kingdom paintings wearing only their jewellery.  Music and song would have played a large role in the rituals of temples in ancient Egypt.

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Copyright © 2000 Mark T. Rigby