A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt The Real Lives of the People Who Lived There

Spend a year in the company of the ancient Egyptians, during the twenty-sixth and final year of the reign of Amenhotep II (c.1400 BC), which saw a royal transition bringing Thutmose IV to the throne of Upper and Lower Egypt. While builders from the secluded village of royal tomb workers rush to complete Amenhotep's tomb, and craftsmen labor to finish the numerous extravagant objects to accompany the god-king in his burial, most Egyptians go about their daily lives in ways unchanged for eons. Following the Egyptian calendar year, which was divided into three seasons (inundation, sowing and harvest), we will meet a farmer and his family, an embalmer, an artisan, a royal physician, a priest and even a royal wife as they live their lives in Thebes and Memphis during the eighteenth dynasty of the New Kingdom in this remarkable year in ancient Egyptian history. Perfect for: • Readers interested in history, particularly ancient Egypt • Readers of the 24 Hours series • Taking advantage of a potential uptick in interest in ancient Egypt with the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb

Contents
Introduction
1
THE FIRST MONTH OF THE RIVER’S FLOODING
A farmer and his family celebrate the
Egyptian new year’s festival
Bakers and brewers prepare Egypt’s staples
2
THE SECOND MONTH OF THE RIVER’S FLOODING
The ruler reviews his impressive accomplishments
The priests of Amun facilitate the Opet Festival
3
THE THIRD MONTH OF THE RIVER’S FLOODING
The fishermen launch their skiffs
The potters spin out a variety of vessels
The farmer is pressed into service
to work on a royal project
The priestesses of Hathor prepare for the
festival honouring their goddess
4
THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE RIVER’S FLOODING
The scribe visits the paper-makers
The vinter sells wine for a party
The families of the herdsman and the
overseer of works celebrate weddings
Musicians and dancers entertain
5
THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SOWING
The farmer prepares his land for planting
The vizier receives updates
The vizier visits his own tomb and dies
The embalmers receive a project
The ruler mourns
The commander and his troops visit towns in Canaan
6
THE SECOND MONTH OF THE SOWING
The physician
The royal physicians address the ruler’s declining health
The Queen confers with the Crown Prince
The farmer and the herdsman collaborate
THE SOWING
The ruler dies
The embalmers are recruited
The royal artisans construct exquisite buria l equipment
The Overseer of Works supervises the royal tomb
8
THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE SOWING
The Crown Prince
The Overseer of Works makes final
preparations for a royal funeral
9
THE FIRST MONTH OF THE HARVEST
The Captain of the Royal Bark sets sail with a mummy
The deceased ruler is interred
The new ruler commissions his own royal tomb
10
THE SECOND MONTH OF THE HARVEST
The ruler contracts a stone-cutter
The priests carry out the Beautiful
Festival of the Valley
The farmer begins to harvest
11
THE THIRD MONTH OF THE HARVEST
The commander returns from Canaan
The Overseer of the Treasury
assesses tribute and booty
The fates of the captives are determined
12
THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE HARVEST
The accountants and tax collectors
arrive to tally and take
The captives are introduced to their work
The priests celebrate the birthdays of several gods
The ruler plans his next moves
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Picture credits
Bibliography
Index