Deir el-Medina: Workers’ Strike, Tomb Robbery & Women’s Lives

20 vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms from the lecture on Deir el-Medina’s workers’ strike, tomb robberies, and the social and legal status of women.

Deir el-Medina

An artisan village near Thebes whose residents built royal tombs and left extensive written records of daily life.

Workers’ Strike of Deir el-Medina (Year 29 of Ramesses III)

The earliest recorded labour strike in history, when tomb workmen halted work and marched to a mortuary temple demanding food and fair treatment.

Turin Strike Papyrus

Document that records the workers’ complaints—“We are hungry and have nothing to eat. We will not return to work until justice is done.”

Scribe Neferhotep

Village scribe who wrote to the vizier describing the workers’ destitution and lack of rations during the strike.

Strike Tactics

Included work stoppage, leaving the village, marching to temples, threatening tomb violation, confronting officials, and repeated strikes even after partial relief.

Significance of the Strike

Revealed growing awareness of individual rights, cracks in the pharaoh’s image as provider, and bureaucratic weakness in a time of economic stress.

Bureaucratic Failure

State granaries were empty; authorities could supply only half rations, highlighting economic and administrative breakdown.

Tomb Robbery Papyri

Dossiers from years 16–17 of Ramesses IX and year 19 of Ramesses XI detailing investigations, culprits, and official corruption in western Thebes tomb thefts.

Western Thebes Tomb Robberies

20th-Dynasty thefts targeting royal/noble tombs, exacerbated by weak security and foreign (Libyan) raiders.

Theban Administration Corruption

Officials and factions implicated in organising tomb robberies and distributing loot, exposing systemic misconduct.

Women’s Legal Rights (Deir el-Medina)

Women could inherit, buy, sell, and administer property; make contracts; go to court; hire slaves; and live without male guardians.

Property Retention after Divorce

A woman kept her own property and could claim joint assets, except in cases of proven adultery.

Marriage & Status

Married women were more respected; status rose with motherhood, especially after bearing sons.

Household Support

Government-provided slaves helped women with grinding grain and menial tasks while husbands worked in the Valley of the Kings.

Women’s Literacy

Frequent letters and notes suggest higher female literacy levels in Deir el-Medina than in other Egyptian communities.

Religious Roles of Women

Women served as priestesses and singers, participating actively in village religious ceremonies and festivals.

Libyan Bands

Foreign groups roaming the west bank who intimidated locals and provided excuses for work absences, linking insecurity to tomb robberies.

Vizier

High official responsible for administration; admitted inability to supply full rations due to empty granaries during the strike.

Ramesses III

20th-Dynasty pharaoh during whose 29th regnal year the workers’ strike occurred amidst political and economic turmoil.

Ramesses IX & Ramesses XI

Pharaohs during whose reigns detailed tomb-robbery investigations were conducted and recorded in the Tomb Robbery Papyri.