Deir el-Medina
Location
About
Deir el-Medina was the village of the craftsmen and artisans who built and decorated the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, a unique planned community of highly skilled workers and their families isolated on the Theban West Bank for nearly 500 years.
Significance
Deir el-Medina is the most extensively documented community from the ancient world, preserving ostraca (inscribed pottery sherds) recording daily life, labor disputes, the world's first recorded strike, family letters, legal contracts, and religious practices of ordinary ancient Egyptians.
History & Historical Arc
The village was founded by Thutmose I (c. 1504 BCE) to house the workmen of the royal necropolis and reached its greates…
Archaeological Notes
Thousands of ostraca have been found at Deir el-Medina, providing an unparalleled window into ancient Egyptian daily lif…
Key Features & Structures
- Workers' tombs
- Temple of Hathor
Visitor Information
Deir el-Medina is accessible on the Luxor West Bank near the Valley of the Queens; the colorful private tombs are among …
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Bierbrier, M.L., The Tomb-Builders of the Pharaohs (1982)
- McDowell, A.G., Village Life in Ancient Egypt (1999)