Grandees in ancient Egypt. Tombs of Egyptian nobles and officials

One of the oldest civilizations on the planet is Egypt. A rich historical and cultural heritage is etched in the centuries. Great pyramids and sphinxes, mysterious sarcophagi and mummies, an amazing river and the state built on it, occupy the minds of thousands of scientists and archaeologists. Egypt has always been a state with the absolute authority of the ruler, with complete faith in his divine origin. And society has maintained a strict class structure for millennia.

What estates existed in ancient Egypt?

In ancient Egypt there was a clear division of the entire population. The society was structured like a pyramid, above were gods, such as Ra, Osiris, Isis. The Egyptians believed in them, believed their strength was unquestionable, they sacrificed, they prayed for a good harvest. Immediately after them was located the pharaoh - God in the guise of a man, in his hands was concentrated absolute power. The second place in terms of importance in the society was occupied by the Viziers, assistants to the ruler, they were almost the only ones who were literate, could read and write. The next level is occupied by priests and grandees.

Below are scribes and soldiers. A separate layer of society were artisans. And at the very bottom of the conditional pyramid of society were those who cultivated the land, and slaves.

The place of a grandee in ancient Egypt

The estate of the nobles was very significant. It was the pharaohs and grandees of ancient Egypt who built and richly equipped their pyramids and tombs. On them and to this day, many historians and archaeologists are studying the history, culture and customs of the ancient civilization. The status of a grandee was inherited. They occupied important public positions in various sectors: construction, agriculture, medicine, and law. For that they received a considerable monetary reward from the pharaoh. From the families of the nobles, they often chose a new ruler and created royal dynasties. Grandees in ancient Egypt headed separate regions of the country - noma, that is, they were viceroys of the pharaoh in the localities. Therefore, there their social significance was much higher than that of the central authority, where the vizier gradually took over the dominant position.

Life of the Egyptian nobles

Grandees lived in stone houses, which were built like a fence around an inner courtyard, where the sun did not hit. The dwelling had rich interior decoration, it was abundantly carpeted, there were chests of ebony in the house, interior items made of copper and gold. The wealthy nobles already at that time had wooden beds with a frame made of palm branches and a kind of mattress. Grandees in ancient Egypt, their status in society, of course, stressed the appearance. Luxurious white clothes adorned with rich jewelry, above all, these are original collars that were profusely encrusted with precious stones. The hands and wrists of the nobles covered a lot of gold bracelets and rings. Traditionally, long wigs of black sheep's wool or human hair were worn on the head. To emphasize the high social status, a hat with a striped pattern or embroidery was worn. Their free time was spent for hunting and fishing.

Tombs of Egyptian nobles and officials

The right to have his own tomb could only be granted by the pharaoh himself, so all the grandees and officials tried to fulfill their duties in full and most effectively. The Egyptians believed that the tomb is the house of man after his death. The central place in it was occupied by a statue (sarcophagus) with mummified remains. It was most often located in the western part of the tomb in a special niche.

The interior decoration included numerous images of the buried person: solitary or more often surrounded by his family. Also, episodes from the life of a grandee in ancient Egypt were depicted . Pictures and bas-reliefs tell about the way of life, customs and culture of the people. Extremely common is the image of the owner's journey of the tomb into the afterlife after death. Tombs, as a rule, tried to build closer to the pyramid, in which Pharaoh was buried. The higher the position of a noble person, the more likely that he will be allowed to bury next to the ruler.

Near the pyramids of Giza, you can see the numerous tombs where the most senior officials and grandees in ancient Egypt are buried. The photo clearly demonstrates that there were a lot of them, but the place had to be earned. Tombs of nobles are located to the left of the pyramid.

Una: the grandee of ancient Egypt

There are few reliable historical records about ancient Egypt, but they are. Una is a nobleman, a historical figure who has left his mark on history. At the court of the pharaoh, he began his service from a position similar to the modern forester. Then he became a judge and in parallel made a completely successful military career. Further professional growth led him to the highest echelons of power, he became the ruler of Upper Egypt. His amazing "autobiography" he kept on the walls of the tomb, in which he was buried.

There was practically no social mobility and mobility in ancient Egypt. Poor farmers could accumulate a certain amount of money and send their children to study literacy in temples. Very rarely they became scribes or soldiers. But most often a person was born, lived and died within the framework of his class.