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Daily life in Ancient Egypt Family Life The only fertile land in Ancient Egypt was next to the river Nile. Each year the river flooded its banks and the land around it was called “The Black Land”. The desert around the Nile valley was called “The Red Land”. It was here that the ancient Egyptians built their homes. Egyptian homes were made mainly from bricks of sun dried mud, these were called adobe. Wood was scarce. The home was usually two or three storeys high. The first storey was usually reserved for business with the second and third stories providing living space. Because Egypt is such a hot country, many people slept on the roof during the summer because it was cooler. Most people had furniture. Many houses had a shrine to their ancestors in the front room. Here they would leave food and drinks for their forefathers and ask them to use their influence in the afterlife on behalf of the family. An Egyptian village would have probably had a market place but it is unlikely that it would have been open everyday. Most of the trade would be simple foods such as salt, barley, onions, peas and beans. You may also find goods such as leather, cloth, baskets and clay pots. A small market would not have sold any luxury goods. Family life in ancient Egypt was highly valued and children were seen as a blessing. In wealthy families children probably played most of the day and were looked after by servants. In lower class families the mother would stay at home to look after the children. If a couple did not have any children they would pray to the gods for help. Much of what we know about family life is from a male point of view because it was them who designed the sculptures and the paintings. Women were expected to obey their fathers and husbands. However they were equal in other ways. They could own their own land, participate in business deals and represent themselves in a court case. They also faced the same penalties as men. Queen Hatshepsut was the only woman who ruled by herself as a pharaoh. In ordinary families children had no education. They worked usually alongside their parents. Boys would help their fathers in the fields and girls would help their mothers around the house. Children were expected to look after their elderly parents and upon their death, boys would inherit the land and girls would inherit the household goods. If there were no boys, the girls could inherit the land. Food Egyptian peasants usually ate barley bread. Occasionally they may have been able to afford fish and vegetables. The cooking was done in a clay oven above a fire. Although it was scarce, wood was used for cooking. Much of the kitchen equipment used was left in tombs such as, storage jars, pots, bowls, pans and sieves. The wealthy used dishes made of bronze, silver and gold. The commoners used dishes made out of clay. Bread and Beer were the most popular types of food and drink. The beer was made from barley. Wine was also popular with the Egyptians but only the more wealthy people. The rich could choose from around 40 different types of bread to eat. Wheat bread was seen as a luxury. Sometimes a cooked meal was left inside a tomb for the departed soul. Tomb paintings show geese being plucked and salted before storage. The Egyptians were also fond of chicken but it did not reach them until the New Kingdom. The marshes of the Nile also provided food such as, wild celery, papyrus, stalks and lotus root. Clothing The Egyptians wore few clothes because of the climate and their style of clothing did not change much throughout ancient times. They were usually made out of linen. During the old and middle Kingdoms the men wore skirts called a kilt. Women wore a straight fitting dress. When a man was working he would wear a loincloth. A wealthy man would have worn a pleated kilt. Children would often run around nude in the summer months. Most people went barefoot but the king wore elaborately decorated sandals. Cosmetics were important to Egyptians. Women wore eye make up, lip paint and rouge. Favourite colours for highlighting the eyes were black or green because these symbolised fertility and life after death. People of all ages and classes wore make up, including men. The eye paint was made from green malachite and galena, which was a grey lead ore. They were ground into a powder and mixed with oil to make kohl. It was kept in storage jars and applied with a small stick. It was believed by some that make up had magical powers and could help fight infection. Women mainly wore their hair long. If they were wealthy a wig was often worn. This was to appear attractive for a man. They were usually worn at parties and official functions. They were made of human hair and traded to a wig maker by a poor woman. Everyone in Egypt wore jewellery, because they were seen to ward off evil spirits. Men and women wore earrings, bracelets, anklets and armlets. For the rich people their jewellery was made from gold or silver. It was laden with precious stones. Poorer people wore jewellery that was made of copper or faience, which was made by heating powdered quartz. Marriage Girls from poorer families usually married at around the age of 12. Boys and girls of richer families were a few years older. The parents of the children arranged the marriages. A pre-nuptial agreement was made before the ceremony stating that the wife was to receive an allowance from her husband. It also said that any material goods that the wife brought into the marriage would be hers if the marriage were to end. Divorce was not uncommon, if a husband treated his wife badly she would go to her family for help. They would try and change his behaviour, if it did not improve a divorce would take place. This was a simple procedure where the husband and wife made a simple statement in front of witnesses to annul the marriage. The wife was given custody of the children. Entertainment Many activities that the Egyptians took part in are showed on tomb walls. The most important source of relaxation was the river Nile. Activities included riverboat outings, fishing, swimming, boat games, hunting crocodiles. Hunting in the desert was also another pastime for men. By the New Kingdom, men were hunting not on foot but on chariots. Wealthier Egyptians would often hold parties with plenty of food, beer and wine. They played instruments such as the lute, harp and lyre. Festivals in Egypt were usually holidays in honour of the gods. A statue of god would be carried through the streets. On the day of a festival no work would be done and people would parade down the streets with dancers and musicians. Children would play games such as Hounds and Jackals. They would keep themselves entertained with toys like, balls, wooden horses on wheels and carved ivory animals. Government The Nile River valley was originally divided into two Kingdoms, Upper and Lower Egypt. In 3100bc the ruler of Upper Egypt, Menes, conquered the Lower Egyptian Kingdom. He united Egypt and became the first ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. Where the two Kingdoms met, he built a new capital called Memphis. The people of Egypt considered their Pharaoh to be a god. He was believed to be a living embodiment of the Egyptian gods. He was an absolute ruler, responsible for all Egyptian life such as, issuing laws, directing the army, economy, and trade. However he did need help, so officials were appointed to allow other people to act for him. These people were called Scribes. They were record keepers and administrators and were influenced by custom and tradition. Activity Write your own story about a day in Ancient Egypt. You may not be a Pharaoh, King, Queen or a God. You can be a Priest, worker, soldier, merchant, slave or a visitor. Write as if you were telling about your own life in Ancient Egypt.