The Art of Ancient Egypt | Publications for Educators | Explore & Learn

Agricultural Workers

More than 90 percent of the male population was employed in agriculture, or consisted of craftsmen, "slaves," and foreigners. The remaining men served as officials of some kind. All these people worked in institutional establishments, mainly royal, state, or temple estates, but there was also private ownership of land. For their work people received pay in food and other material goods. Craftsmen often had special status and were able to make some income "on the side" by selling products on their own.

All men were obliged to serve for a certain length of time (seventy-two days annually, according to one source) on royal building projects, irrigation projects, or expeditions that secured stone from the desert mountains.

Granary
The occupants of the main room of this granary are workers storing grain. Scribes can be seen in the small room to the left.

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