Ancient Egypt Jobs

Ancient Egypt Jobs were diverse, starting from crafts, agriculture, industry, and trade to scribes, priests, and others whose work reflected an individual’s status within society. Thus, they were not just a means of livelihood. Through this article, we will discuss these jobs in detail to understand the nature of life in the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Each of the Ancient Egypt Jobs had an important role in meeting the needs of society. Jobs related to religion or government held a special and high status, which is a reflection of what the Egyptians believed daily. The most prominent jobs were:

Farmers and Agriculture as the Basis of the Economy

Agriculture was a major and primary source of income and food, so farmers were the backbone and foundation of the economy. The Nile River was a primary source for fertilizing the soil to make it suitable for agriculture, which included many food items such as barley, vegetables, wheat, and others.

Despite the great importance of farmers and their role in Egypt’s economic growth, they did not enjoy a high status in society.

Scribes and Their Role in Administration and Politics

Scribing was one of the prestigious Ancient Egypt Jobs with a high status in society, administration, and politics. Since learning was not available to everyone in ancient times, those who learned became part of the educated elite.

The roles of scribes were varied, from organizing state affairs, recording crops and taxes, writing documents, to working alongside rulers and officials, and other jobs that earned them great respect in society.

Soldiers and Protecting the Kingdom’s Borders

Soldiers were able to achieve security and stability for the country, as they were responsible for defending against any invasions or external threats. Besides that, they participated in military campaigns to expand Egypt’s influence and accompanied the pharaohs in battles and conquests, in addition to contributing to many civil works.

Joining them was a great opportunity, as those who joined received promotions and rewards that helped enhance their status in society.

Priests and Serving Temples and Gods

The profession of priests was linked to caring for temples and serving the gods, so they enjoyed a high status in society. The ancient Egyptians mistakenly believed that priests were intermediaries between the gods and them.

Their tasks were varied, from reciting prayers, cleaning statues, to presenting offerings. Some of them participated in religious festivals, interpreting dreams, and other tasks, in addition to special rituals followed in cleanliness and food, so their lives were highly organized.

Artisans: Builders, Sculptors, Painters

Artisans were one of the Ancient Egypt Jobs who contributed to the making of civilization, including builders, sculptors, and painters. Their roles were as follows:

• Builders: They built the pyramids that tourists from all over the world come to see and are greatly impressed by. They also constructed majestic temples.
• Sculptors: They were able to embody gods and kings in statues and decorated walls with inscriptions expressing myths and epics.
• Painters: They were able to decorate tombs with vibrant colored drawings that depicted details of their daily lives and religious beliefs with natural colors.

Fishermen and Hunters on the Nile

The fishing profession was an important one, where the fisherman would cast his handmade nets from a small boat and catch many different types of fish with his expertise.

Fishermen were fully aware of the secrets of the waves, currents, and suitable fishing times. Some of them preferred hunting, tracking animal trails in the jungles, and then skillfully hunting the animals. Thus, they had a vital role in the economic growth of ancient Egypt.

Merchants and Their Role in the Exchange of Goods

Egypt became self-sufficient thanks to trade and was able to become an economic and cultural center between Asia and Africa.

They exchanged goods and imported what they did not have, such as perfumes or cedar wood. All this was due to the merchants who transported goods either in the desert by carrying goods on the backs of camels, or on the Nile by carrying goods in boats and sailing them.

Doctors and the Importance of Medicine in the Lives of Egyptians

The medical profession was one of the very important Ancient Egypt Jobs, treating people with great precision, relying on natural treatment methods extracted from plants and minerals. They blended science and faith to treat bodies and diagnose diseases.

Some of them specialized in specific diseases such as surgery, ophthalmology, or internal medicine. Thus, they were trusted and treated priests and kings, and their role was not limited to treating patients only.

Workers of Deir el-Medina and Building Royal Tombs

Workers in ancient times were concerned with building the tombs of kings and pharaohs, believing them to be their eternal life.

They also painted many magical drawings and inscriptions on the walls that expressed stories of the afterlife in their belief. They lived in Deir el-Medina and inscribed all the details of their lives on the walls of their homes, including problems, wages, and disturbances.

The names of some of them have been mentioned in history books.

Among the interesting facts about Ancient Egypt Jobs are the following:

• Some workers believed that working on building temples or canals brought them closer to the king, whom they believed to be a living god.
• Workers were not slaves as some believe; on the contrary, the pyramid builders were the most skilled people and were provided with food and medical care.
• The majority of Egyptians did not know how to read or write, so scribes enjoyed a high status and were exempt from military service and taxes.
• Painters and sculptors took great pride in their work, as many of their secret signatures have been found in some tombs.
• The medical profession was highly advanced, as some papyri have been found with treatment recipes for dental, eye, and skin diseases, wound cleaning, and more.

Conclusion

Ancient Egypt Jobs were many and varied, and each job had a specific role and importance. These included agriculture, industry, trade, painting, sculpture, tomb building, medicine, and others that helped the economy grow and society prosper.

What did most people in Egypt do for a job?

They worked in agriculture due to the availability of fertile land. They also worked in crafts that met the needs of the Egyptian people, such as pottery, carpentry, and others.

What roles were there in ancient Egypt?

There were many roles in ancient Egypt, including priests responsible for religious rituals, soldiers to protect the country’s security, and officials to manage administrative affairs.

What was the main occupation of ancient Egypt?

The main profession was agriculture, which the Egyptians relied on to provide food and grow the economy. Farmers worked diligently, relying on the annual Nile flood.

What were the lower class jobs in ancient Egypt?

The jobs of the lower class were varied. They worked as domestic servants, in agriculture, construction, and crafts. These jobs were very important for the continuity of life.

What were men’s roles in ancient Egypt?

They had multiple roles, working in various professions such as trade, agriculture, government jobs, and in the army and police, all of which helped society prosper.

Who worked in ancient Egypt?

Many worked in ancient Egypt, including priests, workers, farmers, officials, soldiers, artisans, doctors, fishermen, sculptors, and painters.