Ancient Egyptian Jobs: From Pharaohs to Pyramid Builders

The Lower Classes: The Foundation of Egypt

The majority of ancient Egyptians were part of the lower classes. They performed the essential, physically demanding labor that allowed the civilization to thrive.

Farmers: The Backbone of the Nile Valley

The most common job by far was farming. The entire Egyptian civilization depended on the fertile lands along the Nile River. Farmers were skilled laborers who understood the three seasons of the Nile: Akhet (the inundation/flooding), Peret (the growing season), and Shemu (the harvest).

They grew crops like emmer wheat (for bread), barley (for beer), flax (for linen), vegetables like onions and garlic, and fruits like figs and dates. Though they were the foundation of the economy, farmers lived difficult lives. They paid a large portion of their harvest as taxes to the state, and during the flood season, they were often conscripted by the government for massive public works projects, such as building pyramids and temples.

Soldiers, Servants, and Laborers

• Soldiers: During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, Egypt had a relatively small professional army. However, in the New Kingdom, the army became a massive and powerful institution. A career as a soldier was one of the few ways a lower-class man could gain wealth, social status, and land from the pharaoh as a reward for his service. The Army Chief (Commander in Chief) was one of the most powerful positions in the kingdom.
• Laborers: These were the unskilled workers who built the pyramids, temples, and tombs. They quarried stone, hauled massive blocks, and worked under the supervision of royal engineers.
• Servants: Many people, especially women, worked as domestic servants in the homes of wealthy nobles. Their titles included Maid of the King (who prepared clothes for the Pharaoh) and House manager or farm manager.

The Middle Class: Skilled Artisans and Professionals

The middle class consisted of people with specialized skills that were in high demand. They enjoyed a better quality of life than the farmers and laborers.

Artisans and Craftspeople

These skilled workers were the backbone of Egypt’s legendary art and architecture. They included stonemasons, sculptors, painters, carpenters, jewelers, and potters. The best artisans worked in royal workshops, creating the furniture, jewelry, statues, and painted coffins for the pharaoh and his court. Titles from this class include General manager of Craftsmen and General manager of craftsmen in the two houses (Upper and Lower Egypt).

Merchants and Traders

While the pharaoh technically controlled all trade, a class of merchants and traders managed the daily exchange of goods. They would sail ships up and down the Nile, bartering goods like grain, linen, and pottery. International trade was also vital. The Governor of Byblos (a city in modern-day Lebanon) was a key Egyptian official who managed the crucial import of cedar wood. Titles like Rower head; sea captain also point to this active trade.