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| On November the 19th 2005 the class of the Birkbeck College course "Real life at Deir el-Medineh" visited the British Museum with Rosalind and Jac Janssen. Eleven objects originating from Deir el-Medina were waiting for us in the Ancient Egyptian department's study area/library. All the photographs on this page are © of Steve Bayley, a colleague on the course, and were taken by kind permission of the Trustees of the British Museum. The accompanying text is written by Lenka Peacock. |
Stela of Paneb
EA272
19th dynasty, circa 1195 BC
Limestone
Rectangular shape
Height: 19.3 cm
Width: 17 cm
In the top register : Paneb, a foreman of the
tomb-workers, is depicted kneeling, worshiping the
goddess Meretseger, who is in the form of a
serpent. The coiled cobra is doubtless Meretseger,
the goddess of the Theban necropolis.
The lower register : there are three kneeling male
figures, Paneb's descendants. On the right there is
Aapakhte, Paneb's son, together with his two sons -
Paneb and Nebmehyt. Aapakhte was accused of
crimes as an accomplice of his father.
EA272
19th dynasty, circa 1195 BC
Limestone
Rectangular shape
Height: 19.3 cm
Width: 17 cm
In the top register : Paneb, a foreman of the
tomb-workers, is depicted kneeling, worshiping the
goddess Meretseger, who is in the form of a
serpent. The coiled cobra is doubtless Meretseger,
the goddess of the Theban necropolis.
The lower register : there are three kneeling male
figures, Paneb's descendants. On the right there is
Aapakhte, Paneb's son, together with his two sons -
Paneb and Nebmehyt. Aapakhte was accused of
crimes as an accomplice of his father.
Stela of Paneb
EA273
19th dynasty, circa 1195 BC
Limestone
Round-topped
Height: 20 cm
Width: 13 cm
Top register : kneeling Paneb depicted worshiping
Meretseger in the form of a cobra headed
goddess. Meretseger is seated on the throne.
Lower register: Paneb's sons Aapakhte and
Hadnakht are shown kneeling and worshiping.
EA273
19th dynasty, circa 1195 BC
Limestone
Round-topped
Height: 20 cm
Width: 13 cm
Top register : kneeling Paneb depicted worshiping
Meretseger in the form of a cobra headed
goddess. Meretseger is seated on the throne.
Lower register: Paneb's sons Aapakhte and
Hadnakht are shown kneeling and worshiping.
Stela of Aapakhte
EA35630
19th dynasty, circa 1200 BC
Limestone
Round-topped
Height: 21.2 cm
Aapakhte was son of Paneb and a royal craftsman in the
Place of Truth. He is shown adoring the god Seth. The
craftsman's name is a play on the phrase aa-pehty
meaning "great of strength", one of the epithets of
Seth. During Ramesside times Seth became a patron of
Egypt along with Amun, Ra and Ptah.
Jac Janssen suggested it was likely the stela came from
the rock shrine of Ptah and Meretseger judging by the
limestone and the saw-cut bottom edge.
EA35630
19th dynasty, circa 1200 BC
Limestone
Round-topped
Height: 21.2 cm
Aapakhte was son of Paneb and a royal craftsman in the
Place of Truth. He is shown adoring the god Seth. The
craftsman's name is a play on the phrase aa-pehty
meaning "great of strength", one of the epithets of
Seth. During Ramesside times Seth became a patron of
Egypt along with Amun, Ra and Ptah.
Jac Janssen suggested it was likely the stela came from
the rock shrine of Ptah and Meretseger judging by the
limestone and the saw-cut bottom edge.
Stela of Khamaul
EA344
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
The stela depicts the deceased Khamaul seated.
His left hand is outstretched towards an offering
table piled with food. He holds an object in his
right hand, possibly an ankh sign.
Khamaul is identified here as the 3h ikr n R'. the
term by which these stelae are known today. It
can be translated as "the able spirit of Re" or
"the one who is continually effective to/for/on
behalf of Re". Khamaul represents the divinized
private ancestor to whom petitions could be made
by the living. Most of the stelae were originally
painted. We could see some remains of red pigment
left on the stela.
EA344
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
The stela depicts the deceased Khamaul seated.
His left hand is outstretched towards an offering
table piled with food. He holds an object in his
right hand, possibly an ankh sign.
Khamaul is identified here as the 3h ikr n R'. the
term by which these stelae are known today. It
can be translated as "the able spirit of Re" or
"the one who is continually effective to/for/on
behalf of Re". Khamaul represents the divinized
private ancestor to whom petitions could be made
by the living. Most of the stelae were originally
painted. We could see some remains of red pigment
left on the stela.
Stela of Pabaki
EA797
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
This large 3h ikr nR' stela of Pabaki depicts the
deceased seated in front of an offering table. He
holds a lotus in his left hand. In the lunette at the
top there is a depiction of a deity seated in a sacred
barque.
EA797
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
This large 3h ikr nR' stela of Pabaki depicts the
deceased seated in front of an offering table. He
holds a lotus in his left hand. In the lunette at the
top there is a depiction of a deity seated in a sacred
barque.
Stela of Nefersenut
EA 316
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
Nefersenut was the biological father of Paneb.
He is depicted in the top register kneeling
with a brazier containing an offering before
the goddess Hathor, who sits on the throne.
The lower register shows three kneeling
figures. On the left there is Nefersenut's
eldest son Paneb, who was to rise to the post
of foreman of the workmen, next to him his
son Aapakhte, and on the right there is the
son of Paneb's daughter, Paneb's grandson.
Four generations of Paneb's family are
depicted here.
EA 316
19th dynasty
Limestone
Round-topped
Nefersenut was the biological father of Paneb.
He is depicted in the top register kneeling
with a brazier containing an offering before
the goddess Hathor, who sits on the throne.
The lower register shows three kneeling
figures. On the left there is Nefersenut's
eldest son Paneb, who was to rise to the post
of foreman of the workmen, next to him his
son Aapakhte, and on the right there is the
son of Paneb's daughter, Paneb's grandson.
Four generations of Paneb's family are
depicted here.
A letter from Kenna to the god Amenhotep
Hieratic ostrakon O.BM5625
Clearly dated ostrakon, well-written in horizontal lines
Contains a letter, where Kenna complains that
Merysakhme wanted to share the chapel that Kenna
has rebuilt.
Year 4 (of Ramesses IV), IV 3ht (inundation) 30.
This day, the workman Kenna, the son of Siwadjit,
reported to King Amenhotep, the Lord of the Village,
saying: “Come to me, my good Lord. It was I who
rebuilt the chapel of the workman Pakharu when it
was collapsed.
And look, the workman Merysakhme, the son of
Menna, does not let me sit in it, saying:
‘It is the god who told me to share it with you’.
So he said, although he had not built it together with
me”.
[At the bottom of the recto and at the top of the
verso (actually the same side of the sherd] something
is lost]
Hieratic ostrakon O.BM5625
Clearly dated ostrakon, well-written in horizontal lines
Contains a letter, where Kenna complains that
Merysakhme wanted to share the chapel that Kenna
has rebuilt.
Year 4 (of Ramesses IV), IV 3ht (inundation) 30.
This day, the workman Kenna, the son of Siwadjit,
reported to King Amenhotep, the Lord of the Village,
saying: “Come to me, my good Lord. It was I who
rebuilt the chapel of the workman Pakharu when it
was collapsed.
And look, the workman Merysakhme, the son of
Menna, does not let me sit in it, saying:
‘It is the god who told me to share it with you’.
So he said, although he had not built it together with
me”.
[At the bottom of the recto and at the top of the
verso (actually the same side of the sherd] something
is lost]
verso “…… give the chapel back to
Kenna, its owner.
It is his, by order of Pharaoh, and
nobody shall share it with him”. So
said the god, in the
presence of: [the 2 foremen, the
scribe, the bearers of the god,
and the entire gang], at the
entrance of the tomb of Kaha.
[Merysakhme had to swear that he
accepted the verdict]
Kenna, its owner.
It is his, by order of Pharaoh, and
nobody shall share it with him”. So
said the god, in the
presence of: [the 2 foremen, the
scribe, the bearers of the god,
and the entire gang], at the
entrance of the tomb of Kaha.
[Merysakhme had to swear that he
accepted the verdict]
Amennakhte felt that he himself should have been chief workman and that Paneb had taken the job
from under him by bribing the vizier. His aim was to have Paneb dismissed on the grounds that he
was unworthy and incompetent. The charges he lists here vary from criminal offences to evidence of
bad character.
The list of charges starts with claiming that he bribed the vizier with 5 servants to gain his
appointment.
a) He was charged with stealing ‘the cover of a chariot’ from the tomb of Seti II.
b) Charges relating to goings-on with married women or women who were living with other men.
Hel was one of the women mentioned. Herysunnebef, husband of Hel, was the other adopted son of
Neferhotep, and he later divorced Hel, as we know from another source.
c) Stealing stones from the tomb of Seti II for use in his own tomb and using the workmen to
work in it (but maybe this wasn’t so bad as other people also used the workmen).
d) The row with Neferhotep, which resulted in Paneb being punished by the vizier. Paneb appealed
to pharaoh himself and had the vizier sacked. Paneb evidently was in favour with the right people!
e) He stole the bed from the tomb of a colleague on which the dead workman was lying.
f) He stole a large spike and hid it behind a big stone when a search was made for it.
Other charges include sitting on the king’s sarcophagus when the king was in it, drinking and
urinating. He also stole a model of a gilded goose from the tomb of Henutmire who was a wife of
Ramesses II and daughter of Seti I. The goose was found in his house, and it may have been with
this crime that Paneb went too far.
How far are all these charges reliable? Some of them are not uncommon, but Paneb may have
overdone things with the number and variety of his misdeeds. The alleged bribery of the vizier may
in fact have been a gift, which Paneb gave in thanks after the event.
from under him by bribing the vizier. His aim was to have Paneb dismissed on the grounds that he
was unworthy and incompetent. The charges he lists here vary from criminal offences to evidence of
bad character.
The list of charges starts with claiming that he bribed the vizier with 5 servants to gain his
appointment.
a) He was charged with stealing ‘the cover of a chariot’ from the tomb of Seti II.
b) Charges relating to goings-on with married women or women who were living with other men.
Hel was one of the women mentioned. Herysunnebef, husband of Hel, was the other adopted son of
Neferhotep, and he later divorced Hel, as we know from another source.
c) Stealing stones from the tomb of Seti II for use in his own tomb and using the workmen to
work in it (but maybe this wasn’t so bad as other people also used the workmen).
d) The row with Neferhotep, which resulted in Paneb being punished by the vizier. Paneb appealed
to pharaoh himself and had the vizier sacked. Paneb evidently was in favour with the right people!
e) He stole the bed from the tomb of a colleague on which the dead workman was lying.
f) He stole a large spike and hid it behind a big stone when a search was made for it.
Other charges include sitting on the king’s sarcophagus when the king was in it, drinking and
urinating. He also stole a model of a gilded goose from the tomb of Henutmire who was a wife of
Ramesses II and daughter of Seti I. The goose was found in his house, and it may have been with
this crime that Paneb went too far.
How far are all these charges reliable? Some of them are not uncommon, but Paneb may have
overdone things with the number and variety of his misdeeds. The alleged bribery of the vizier may
in fact have been a gift, which Paneb gave in thanks after the event.
Given in exchange for the ox, which Amenmose brought:
5 smooth ghalabiyehs, makes 25 deben copper
1 smooth sheet, makes 10 deben
1 bed with matting, makes 25 deben
1 bed, makes 12 deben
1 hin (=½ litre) honey, makes 4 deben
15 hin oil, makes 10 deben
5 deben of scrap copper
1 wooden coffin, makes 20 deben
1½ khar of grain, makes 8 deben
Given to him by Amenkha‘u: 5 deben
Given to him: 1 pair of sandals
Given to his daughter: 1 mat and 10
loaves (this is for the 5 deben)
Given to him: 1 pot of beans
Vs. Total 119 deben of
copper (correct!)
5 smooth ghalabiyehs, makes 25 deben copper
1 smooth sheet, makes 10 deben
1 bed with matting, makes 25 deben
1 bed, makes 12 deben
1 hin (=½ litre) honey, makes 4 deben
15 hin oil, makes 10 deben
5 deben of scrap copper
1 wooden coffin, makes 20 deben
1½ khar of grain, makes 8 deben
Given to him by Amenkha‘u: 5 deben
Given to him: 1 pair of sandals
Given to his daughter: 1 mat and 10
loaves (this is for the 5 deben)
Given to him: 1 pot of beans
Vs. Total 119 deben of
copper (correct!)
Hieratic papyrus
EA 10416 (verso)
Ramesside
[Somewhat later] the people shouted: "Eight full
months until today he is sleeping with that
woman, although he is not her husband. If he
was her husband, would he then not have sworn
an oath concerning that woman?"
[Further on in the letter, the author says to
the woman]:
"Why did you receive him to sleep with him
repeatedly? If you want him, let him go to the
court with his wife [to get a divorce] and let him
swear to stay with you. If you do not do that,
it is your own risk. I will not keep back the
people another time".
EA 10416 (verso)
Ramesside
[Somewhat later] the people shouted: "Eight full
months until today he is sleeping with that
woman, although he is not her husband. If he
was her husband, would he then not have sworn
an oath concerning that woman?"
[Further on in the letter, the author says to
the woman]:
"Why did you receive him to sleep with him
repeatedly? If you want him, let him go to the
court with his wife [to get a divorce] and let him
swear to stay with you. If you do not do that,
it is your own risk. I will not keep back the
people another time".
| A receipt for an ox Hieratic ostrakon O. BM 5649 Limestone Recto: Listo of goods delivered in return for an ox, showing value in deben with clearly marked numbers. An ox represented a substantial investment. Verso: Summary of various values "w makes y deben". Jac Janssen pointed out that texts without dates can sometimes be assigned approximate dates by studying the style of the writing and the language uses. The names of any known workmen mentioned in text can be used as clues. |
Translation from Janssen, Jac: Commodity prices from the Ramessid period :
an economic study of the village of necropolis workmen at Thebes
an economic study of the village of necropolis workmen at Thebes
Ostrakon of Khnummose
EA8510
Painted limestone
Black and red ink
Height: 16.5 cm
Figured ostrakon showing the workman
Khnummose worshipping the serpent form
of the goddess Meretseger
Jac Janssen suggested that this ostrakon
had been used as a stela and that the
work was not finished.
EA8510
Painted limestone
Black and red ink
Height: 16.5 cm
Figured ostrakon showing the workman
Khnummose worshipping the serpent form
of the goddess Meretseger
Jac Janssen suggested that this ostrakon
had been used as a stela and that the
work was not finished.
verso
The verso shows several different
inventory references, indicating
the object has been in several
different collections.
The verso shows several different
inventory references, indicating
the object has been in several
different collections.
| Papyrus Salt 124 (verso) EA 10055 Late 19th dynasty, c. 1200 BC From Deir el-Medina The papyrus contains the petition of the workman Amennakhte denouncing the crimes of the foreman Paneb |
Translation from McDowell, p. 47.
Sources:
1. Shaw, Ian, Nicholson, Paul: British Museum dictionary of ancient Egypt
London: British Museum Press, 1995.
2. Janssen, Rosalind and Janssen, Jac. J.: Growing up and getting old in ancient Egypt
London : Golden House Publications, 2007.
3. McDowell, A.G.: Village life in ancient Egypt : laundry lists and love songs
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1999.
4. Pharaoh's workers : the villagers of Deir el-Medina / edited by Leonard H. Lesko
Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 1994.
5. Les artistes de Pharaon : Deir el-Médineh et la Vallée des Rois : Paris, musée du Louvre, 15 avril - 5 aout 2002
Paris : Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2002.
6. Bierbrier, Morris : The tomb-builders of the pharaohs
Cairo : The American University in Cairo Press, 1982.
1. Shaw, Ian, Nicholson, Paul: British Museum dictionary of ancient Egypt
London: British Museum Press, 1995.
2. Janssen, Rosalind and Janssen, Jac. J.: Growing up and getting old in ancient Egypt
London : Golden House Publications, 2007.
3. McDowell, A.G.: Village life in ancient Egypt : laundry lists and love songs
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1999.
4. Pharaoh's workers : the villagers of Deir el-Medina / edited by Leonard H. Lesko
Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 1994.
5. Les artistes de Pharaon : Deir el-Médineh et la Vallée des Rois : Paris, musée du Louvre, 15 avril - 5 aout 2002
Paris : Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2002.
6. Bierbrier, Morris : The tomb-builders of the pharaohs
Cairo : The American University in Cairo Press, 1982.
The page was last modified on May 17th 2008
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The text on this page was written by Lenka Peacock.
Photography © Steve Bayley 2005
Photography © Steve Bayley 2005
