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Deir el-Madinah (Arabic: دير المدينة) is an ancient Egyptian village which was home to the artisans who built the temples and tombs ordered by the Pharaohs and other dignitaries in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom period (18th to 20th dynasties) The settlement's ancient name, Set Maat her imenty Waset, means "The place of Ma'at (or, by extension, "place of truth")[1] to the west of Thebes." The village is indeed located on the west bank of the Nile, across the river from modern-day Luxor. The Arabic name Deir el-Madinah (and variants on the transcription) means "the convent of the town": this is because at the time of the Muslim conquest of Egypt, the village's Ptolemaic temple had been converted into a Christian church. One legend maintains that the inhabitants of the village worshiped Amenhotep I as the founder and protector of the artisans' guild. The people of Deir el-Madinah were responsible for most of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens and the temples of the Theban necropolis. The workmen of the village often referred to themselves as "servants in the place of truth". The tombs they constructed included the famous tombs of Tutankhamen and Nefertari, and the memorial temples of Ramses II, Amenhotep III, and Hatshepsut – all of which, in their various states of preservation, can still be seen today. The patron of the village was the cobra-goddess Meretseger, who was said to dwell atop the pyramid-shaped mountain al-Qurn that stands between Deir al-Madinah and the Valley of the Kings. Other deities worshiped in the settlement included Maat, goddess of justice and balance, Thoth, the protector of scribes and painters, and Chnum, the ram-headed god of potters and sculptors. At its peak, Deir el-Madinah covered 5600 m² and contained some 70 artisans' homes with another 40 or so outside the perimeter wall. The village itself was built around one central avenue, with occasional alleyways leading off. Most of the houses were single-storey, mud brick constructions, although stone was used towards the end of the village's existence. The village was abandoned, and then ransacked, during the period of instability that followed the death of Ramses XI at the end of the 20th dynasty. 
The archaeological site was first excavated by Ernesto Schiaparelli (1905-1909) and Bernard Bruyère (1917-1947). Its importance largely lies in the large number of ostraca found there, which provided revolutionary insights into matters of everyday society and economics in the New Kingdom. The site is also noteworthy for a number of tombs belonging to local artists that have been excavated, the sumptuous decorations of which indicate that the village residents placed no less importance on their own afterlife than on that of their employers.
[edit] Historical texts of Deir el-MadinahBased on information provided on ostraca historians were able to learn a great deal about the way this group of workers lived. They and their families inhabited mud brick houses. Many households were quite large with 15 children noted in some cases, and pets such as cats, monkeys, baboons and gazelles were common. [edit] Village lifeThe wives of the workers cared for the children and baked bread. Under Egyptian law they had property rights more advanced than some of the British and American wives studying them. They had title to their own wealth and a third of all marital goods. This would belong solely to the wife in case of divorce or death of the husband. If she died first it would go to her heirs, not to her spouse. The workers lived in small stone huts near the tomb site for 8 working days then they went home to their familys for 2 days off. When they missed work they recorded their excuses on the ostraca one of which is that one of the workers couldn't come to work because he was embalming his mother.[2] [3] [edit] DreamsA book of dreams was found in Scribe Kenhirkhopeshef's library which was old even in his time. This book was used to interpret various types of dreams. These interpretations lacked precision and similar dreams often had different meanings. In many cases the interpretation was the opposite of what the dream depicted, for example a happy dream often signified sadness, a dream of plenty often signified scarceness etc. Examples of how the dreams are interpreted include the following: If a man sees himself dead this is good; it means a long life in front of him. If a man sees himself eating crocodile flesh this is good; it means acting as an official amongst his people. (i.e. becoming a tax collector) If a man sees himself with his face in a mirror this is bad; it means a new life. If a man sees himself uncovering his own backside this is bad it means he will be an orphan later. [4] [edit] OracleThe people of Deir el-Madinah often consulted with oracles about many aspects of their lives including justice. The oracle was a god that resided in a statue which would be taken out and carried around the village during a festival. They would ask the oracle simple questions and the statue would respond by nodding or moving back and forth. When a matter of justice came up and it wasn't resolved by other means they may carry the statue to the accused and ask "Is it he who stole my goods" and if the statue nodded the accused would be considered guilty however at times the accused would deny guilt and demand to see another oracle or in at least one case when that failed as well he asked to see a third. When the third also nodded indicating guilt a judgment would be passed and he would have to make reparations and receive punishment. They also believed the oracle could punish or reward by bringing disease or blindness to people as punishment or miracle cures as rewards. [5] [edit] StrikeIn about the 25th year the reign of Ramses III the laborers were so exasperated by delays in supplies they threw down their tools and walked off the job in what may have been the first sit down strike in history. They wrote a letter to the Vizier complaining about lack of wheat rations. Village leaders attempted to reason with them but they refused to return to work until their grievances were addressed. They responded to the elders with "great oaths". "we are hungary", the crews claimed; "eighteen days have passed this month" and they still had not received their rations. They were forced to buy their own wheat. They told them to send to Paraoh or vizier to address their concerns. After the authorities heard of their complaints they addressed them and they went back to work the next day. There were several strikes that followed after one of them when the strike leader asked the workers to follow him they told them they had enough and returned to work. This was not the last strike but they soon restored the regular wheat supplies and the strikes came to an end for the remaining years of Ramses III. However since the chiefs supported the authorities the workers no longer trusted them and chose their own representatives. [6] [edit] Tomb RobbingAfter the reign of Ramses IV the conditions of the village became increasingly unsettled. At times there was no work for fear of the enemy. The grain supplies became less dependable and this was followed by more strikes. Gangs of tomb robbers increased often tunneling in through the back so they wouldn't break the seal and be exposed. A tomb robbing culture developed that included fences and even some officials who accepted bribes. When the Vizier checked the tombs if the seals were undisturbed they wouldn't report it as being opened. When they finaly did catch tomb robbers they used limb twisting tactics to interogate the tomb robbers and obtain information about where the plunder was and who their acomplices were. On one occasion when some officials were looking for a scapegoat they obtained a confession from a repeat offender after tortureing him. However the Vizier was suspicious at how easy he was produced and asked him to lead them to the tomb he robbed. He led them to a unfinished tomb that was never used and claimed it was the tomb of Isis. When they retrieved the plunder they didn't return it to the tombs instead they added it to the treasury. [7] [8] [edit] References
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