Why were the workers of dier el medina so important to ancient egyptian society?

Question

i need to an assignment on the workers of the ancient egyptian society of Dier El Medina and i need to find an example of a tomb of a royal in Dier El Medinan society that will help me explain why they were so important. It can't be the tomb of Inerkhau because that is the source we need to use as well

Answer 1

I'm afraid I can't help you with a specific tomb, as it is a long time since I have read anything on 'Medina!

As for the importance of 'Medina, it was crucial in the construction of the the Royal Tombs of Thebes, of which the town was a part. The Ancient Egyptians placed great emphasis on the importance of death and the afterlife, as I am sure you are aware, and so it was crucial that their tombs were completed to almost exacting standards. The workers of 'Medina, skilled artisans, were amongst the only people capable of such good craftsmanship.

If you get time, I'd recommend you read Robert Morkot's 'The Egyptians'. This is a very helpful, if somewhat brief book; Morkot was my tutor a long time ago.

PS, It's Deir el-Medina (or 'Medina for short, but don't write that in an essay!), not Deir el medina.

Answer 2

Deir el Medina is a small settlement 2 km west of the Nile (see maps). It was home to workers of the royal necropolis and might be viewed as a microcosm of life in Ancient Egypt even though although the workers were at the 'top' of their profession.

The ancient name of the site was Set Maat, 'the Place of Truth' and the workmen were 'servants' in the Place of Truth. The community seems to have been established near the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, at least by the reign of Tuthmosis I (whose name has been found on bricks in the walls surrounding the village) or perhaps a few years earlier - since the villagers through many generations held Amenhotep I, and his mother Queen Ahmose Nefertari, in high esteem (maybe as patrons).

From research over the last century we know much about the people, how they lived and where they were buried and what they owned. Many finds were removed in the free-for-all of previous centuries and pieces are found in nearly every major museum in the world. It is ironic that more is known about the workmen who cut the New Kingdom tombs than we do about the kings who commissioned them.

The great pit (see map) or town dump (from a later period) contained thousands of ostraca with texts. The decipherment and publication of many of the non-literary ostraca form the basis for of the published information about the community.

Drinking water could be obtained only in the Nile valley - a journey of 2 km. Drilling wells of 52 metres was beyond their capabilities. Regular supplies were to be brought to the village and stored in large jars in the houses. It was like the skilled laborer city of the old and new kingdom. This town was setled by the best skilled workers of the Pahroahs (see site for which ones). The workmen who lived at Deir el Medina included the quarrymen or stonecutters who excavated the royal tombs in the limestone hills and cliffs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens, and also the sculptors, draftsmen and painters who decorated the tombs. Although limestone is generally soft, the extent of the excavations and the fine finish of the delicate carving show the high quality of the work.

Answer 3

Just to clarify, they were important for constructing and decorating (artwork and reliefs) mortuary temples and tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of Kings, main burial site of the New Kingdom Theban Pharaohs. There are plenty of tombs that the workers constructed and decorated and you shouldn't have too much trouble finding one, just research a bit on the internet.

If it's any help Amenhotep I and his mother, Ahmose Nefertari were responsible for the construction of Deir el-Medina and were worshiped as local deities throughout the whole 18th Dynasty. I think the worship of Amenhotep I and Ahmose Nefertari in Medina ended during the 19th Dynasty.