Work and leisure, Arbete och fritid

The tomb workers were employees of the Egyptian state and paid a monthly salary, usually consisting of grain. Other commodities such as food, firewood and water were delivered to the village and checked according to detailed lists. The tombs were cut out using pickaxes and chisels of copper. The walls were covered with white plaster on which religious texts and images were painted.
Time off work was spent at home, in the village. The tomb workmen would then work on their houses, decorate their own tombs and busy themselves with various tasks in the village chapel. Many of the workers were skilled craftsmen and made furniture, coffins and simple jewellery that were then sold.
Deir el-Medina was a rather crowded place. The houses measured around 70 square metres and were built of sun-dried bricks with flat roofs. They stood close together so there was not much space, neither in the houses or between them. As a result, many everyday tasks were performed outdoors. Furniture and household items were generally of a simple design. In wealthier homes they could be decorated with plant and animal motifs.

Gravarbetarna var anställda av staten och fick en månadslön som huvudsakligen bestod av spannmål. Även andra livsmedel, ved och vatten levererades till byn och prickades av på noggranna listor. Gravarna höggs ut med hackor och mejslar av koppar. Väggarna täcktes med vit gips, på vilken religiösa texter och bilder målades.
Sin fritid tillbringade arbetarna hemma i byn. De byggde på sina hus, dekorerade sina egna gravar och pysslade i byns kapell. Många var skickliga hantverkare och tillverkade möbler, kistor och enkla smycken för försäljning.
Det var trångt i Deir el-Medina. Husen var omkring 70 kvadratmeter, byggda i soltorkat tegel och hade platta tak. De stod tätt och det var trångt både i och mellan husen. Många vardagssysslor gjordes därför utomhus. Möbler och husgeråd var enkla. I rikare hem kunde de vara utsmyckade med växt- och djurmotiv.