The Village
Deir El Medina is located on the western bank of the Nile, in Upper Egypt, opposite the religious capital of Thebes. The town functioned for a period of around 500 years during the period of the “New Kingdom” (18th -20th Dynasties, 1567-1085 BC). Evidence to support this is found by the well preserved structural foundations of the village which were uncovered by numerous Archaeologists including Wernesto Schiaparelli and Bernard Bruyere between the mid 19th Century and the mid 20th century. The sole purpose of Deir El Medina was to house the workers who laboured in the neighbouring ‘Valley of the Kings’, building, decorating and ornamenting the tombs of the pharaohs and the royal families. Although the exact date of the founding of the settlement as well as the founders are unknown, it is believed by many archaeologists that Deir El Medina is thought to have been founded by the pharaoh Amenhotep I and his mother Ahmose-Nefetari. Due to the numerous paintings and statues of them in the many tombs, temples and houses of Deir El Medina, they were believed to be the patron gods of the village. Amenhotep I was the Many papyri and ostraca have been found to support this where poems of gratitude and supplication were made towards them during times of hardship.
The location of Medina is due to its sole purpose, which was to house the builders of the royal tombs, their families and people such as potters to cater for the tomb workers needs. Its location served as an aid to majority its residents who walked for twenty minutes every day to work at the valley of the Kings. Unlike the rest of the villages, which were built on the fertile and agricultural eastern side of the Nile, Deir El Medina was built on the west, and was located in the middle of a barren desert. Also, the village was not like the other villages and towns as it did not serve agricultural purposes. Deir El Medina covered an area of 7500 square metres and housed up to around 200 residents. These workers and their families who resided in Medina and worked on the royal tomb were known as “The servants in the Palace of Truth”. Deir El Medina housed up to around 70 houses within the town walls and 50 outside the walls in the surrounding town where they cultivated livestock to help supply for the town.
The location of Medina is due to its sole purpose, which was to house the builders of the royal tombs, their families and people such as potters to cater for the tomb workers needs. Its location served as an aid to majority its residents who walked for twenty minutes every day to work at the valley of the Kings. Unlike the rest of the villages, which were built on the fertile and agricultural eastern side of the Nile, Deir El Medina was built on the west, and was located in the middle of a barren desert. Also, the village was not like the other villages and towns as it did not serve agricultural purposes. Deir El Medina covered an area of 7500 square metres and housed up to around 200 residents. These workers and their families who resided in Medina and worked on the royal tomb were known as “The servants in the Palace of Truth”. Deir El Medina housed up to around 70 houses within the town walls and 50 outside the walls in the surrounding town where they cultivated livestock to help supply for the town.
Stages of Settlement from 18th-20th Dynasties
The Founding of Deir El Medina by the pharaoh Amenhotep I coincided with the beginning of the New Kingdom Period from 1567-1085 BC. Throughout the 500 years that Deir el Medina flourished, the basic plan of the town remained the same however, much change happened within Deir el Medina, much concurring with events taking place with the rest of Egypt. The period of the New Kingdom was the peak of Ancient Egyptian power and was a time of prosperity for Egypt. Little information is known about the initial inhabitants of Deir-El Medina, however in accordance to paintings found inside many tombs and buildings of the residents of Medina, Amenhotep was the pharaoh who organised the first ‘gang’ of tomb builders and is presumed to have founded Medina, along with his mother Queen Ahmose-Nefetari, they were worshiped as the patron gods and protectors of the village.
The Ramesside period, which refers to the 19th and early 20th Dynasty, so called because of the eleven reigning pharaohs named Ramesses, was the height of life and prosperity at Deir el medina, thus reflected by the immense amount of work taking place in the Valley of the Kings, such as the tomb of the great and long reigning Pharaoh Ramesses II who was buried in the valley. Ramesses XI was the last Pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty. During his reign, the village of Deir el Medina had increased in size, but the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were becoming plundered more often. Ramesses XI was the last Pharaoh that ruled over Deir el Medina, however during his reign, the village was abandoned. This occurred because the control of the government was becoming weaker and the workers did not receive their payments regularly anymore.
The Ramesside period, which refers to the 19th and early 20th Dynasty, so called because of the eleven reigning pharaohs named Ramesses, was the height of life and prosperity at Deir el medina, thus reflected by the immense amount of work taking place in the Valley of the Kings, such as the tomb of the great and long reigning Pharaoh Ramesses II who was buried in the valley. Ramesses XI was the last Pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty. During his reign, the village of Deir el Medina had increased in size, but the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were becoming plundered more often. Ramesses XI was the last Pharaoh that ruled over Deir el Medina, however during his reign, the village was abandoned. This occurred because the control of the government was becoming weaker and the workers did not receive their payments regularly anymore.