A Craftsmen's Life
On this page you will find it is rich with information, full to bursting with all the interesting factfiles and history, which formed a craftsmen's life. I hope you will find it fulfilling, pleasing and an enjoyably fun read, which takes you deep into the heart of one of the people who lived in the time of Ancient Egypt.
Information
Artists and scribes of Egypt were considered third highest on the chain of Ancient Egypt's society.
They were respected and made a pretty good living. They weren't wealthy or really rich but they weren't poor either.
They had a good life. They might of had a few cattle and servants but not lots like a rich man in Ancient Egypt.
Craftsmen in Egypt had to be trained and skilled workers. Their own life, payment and respect from other people depended on the qualities of their own skills and how much they were liked and admired. Some artists had a harsher life than others to scrape together a living. This probably meant they weren't as skilled or learned or as taught at their art and skill. Local craftmen had their own workshops in the villages sometimes, and if they were wealthy, lucky or well-known enough, they could sculpt or create artworks for the Pharoah or for interior decorating inside the palace. Wealthier artists could afford quite a nice place to live in and poorer craftsmen lived in less magnificent dwellings, that were smaller in size too.
Craftsmen's wives probably sometimes helped with their crafting when they needed it unless they had servants. They would help look after the kids and cook meals and clean the house. This was mainly their job.
Craftsmen sold their art or made art for customers orders and this was basically the way they got their earnings and living.
They were respected and made a pretty good living. They weren't wealthy or really rich but they weren't poor either.
They had a good life. They might of had a few cattle and servants but not lots like a rich man in Ancient Egypt.
Craftsmen in Egypt had to be trained and skilled workers. Their own life, payment and respect from other people depended on the qualities of their own skills and how much they were liked and admired. Some artists had a harsher life than others to scrape together a living. This probably meant they weren't as skilled or learned or as taught at their art and skill. Local craftmen had their own workshops in the villages sometimes, and if they were wealthy, lucky or well-known enough, they could sculpt or create artworks for the Pharoah or for interior decorating inside the palace. Wealthier artists could afford quite a nice place to live in and poorer craftsmen lived in less magnificent dwellings, that were smaller in size too.
Craftsmen's wives probably sometimes helped with their crafting when they needed it unless they had servants. They would help look after the kids and cook meals and clean the house. This was mainly their job.
Craftsmen sold their art or made art for customers orders and this was basically the way they got their earnings and living.
Sketch Of a Craftsman's House A Craftsman's Wife
Narrative Recount: A made-up story based on historic facts
" It’s early morning and the sun is rising over Thebes, one of the great cities of the ancient world. Nebtawi is still asleep. He lives in a simple house, set among tradesmen, craftsmen, metalworkers, scribes and stonemasons.
Nebtawi is a master craftsman, so he gets a little extra time in the morning because he doesn’t have to show up at work until the others have all arrived. Finally he gets up, gets dressed and joins his family for breakfast. As usual, they sit on the ground and eat with their fingers. Their breakfast is typical: figs, dates and bread, butter and honey, all washed down with fresh milk.
The kids go off to school, then it’s time for Nebtawi to go to work. He opens the door to the sounds and smells of the nearby butchers, bakers and shopkeepers getting ready for the day.
Like most other Egyptians, Nebtawi walks to work – a building site where he is supervising the construction of a new temple. The building is complete now, so the site is swarming with artists, who are decorating the fresh plaster on the walls.
It’s another hot day and, by mid-morning, Nebtawi needs a break. He finds some shade and drinks some cool wine from a pitcher. But soon he’s back on site, checking on the work and stopping occasionally to give some advice or correct some mistakes.
Afternoon
Lunchtime has always been important for site workers and Thebes is no different. Nebtawi joins some other workers for bread and fish, caught earlier that day from the Nile.
Then it’s off to a meeting with other master craftsmen, who are working on a number of different projects throughout the city. Before he knows it, work is over. Nebtawi packs up and walks home. When he gets back, he finds his two sons doing their math homework on small pieces of papyrus.
Evening
It’s time for dinner and the family sits down to a good meal of roasted meats, lentils and carrots. By the time they’re finished, it’s getting dark, so Nebtawi lights a small oil lamp and sits back with a cup of beer.
His kids persuade him to play senit, a popular board game. Each player has six wooden cones and must get them to the other side of the board and then back again. They throw four wooden sticks to determine how far each piece can move at any one time.
His sons are getting better at this game and Nebtawi is lucky to win. By the time they finish, it’s time to put his boys to bed. Then he and his wife blow out the lamp and hit the sack: time for sleep. "
Nebtawi is a master craftsman, so he gets a little extra time in the morning because he doesn’t have to show up at work until the others have all arrived. Finally he gets up, gets dressed and joins his family for breakfast. As usual, they sit on the ground and eat with their fingers. Their breakfast is typical: figs, dates and bread, butter and honey, all washed down with fresh milk.
The kids go off to school, then it’s time for Nebtawi to go to work. He opens the door to the sounds and smells of the nearby butchers, bakers and shopkeepers getting ready for the day.
Like most other Egyptians, Nebtawi walks to work – a building site where he is supervising the construction of a new temple. The building is complete now, so the site is swarming with artists, who are decorating the fresh plaster on the walls.
It’s another hot day and, by mid-morning, Nebtawi needs a break. He finds some shade and drinks some cool wine from a pitcher. But soon he’s back on site, checking on the work and stopping occasionally to give some advice or correct some mistakes.
Afternoon
Lunchtime has always been important for site workers and Thebes is no different. Nebtawi joins some other workers for bread and fish, caught earlier that day from the Nile.
Then it’s off to a meeting with other master craftsmen, who are working on a number of different projects throughout the city. Before he knows it, work is over. Nebtawi packs up and walks home. When he gets back, he finds his two sons doing their math homework on small pieces of papyrus.
Evening
It’s time for dinner and the family sits down to a good meal of roasted meats, lentils and carrots. By the time they’re finished, it’s getting dark, so Nebtawi lights a small oil lamp and sits back with a cup of beer.
His kids persuade him to play senit, a popular board game. Each player has six wooden cones and must get them to the other side of the board and then back again. They throw four wooden sticks to determine how far each piece can move at any one time.
His sons are getting better at this game and Nebtawi is lucky to win. By the time they finish, it’s time to put his boys to bed. Then he and his wife blow out the lamp and hit the sack: time for sleep. "
Reflection
I wouldn't of minded being an artist or a craftsmen in those days. It wouldn't of been that much of a hard labour and I think it seemed like a good job to have. Back then, at least it would of been better than being a slave or a farmer, who had to work endlessly and endure hard pain. Of course, everyone wants to be Pharoah but not when someone wants to assassinate you and your family. Creating art for people to enjoy and trying to get people to like your art. Being a craftsmen would of been a pretty nice job, I think. Don't you just think so too?