On the west bank of Thebes, close of the Valley of the Kings, was the small settlement of Deir el Medina. A special community comprising of families of craftsmen and workers who were responsible for the construction of the royal tombs.
This community of the royal tomb builders (servants in the Place of Truth) were first established under the pharaoh Amenhotep I (c. 1527-1506 BC). The village itself however was not built until the reign of Thutmose I.
The people who lived in Deir el Medina were predominantly stonemasons, plasterers, draughtsmen, sculptors, painters and carpenters. Each ' Work Gang' specialised in a different stage of tomb construction which was handed down to their sons who hoped to inherit their fathers positions in the work gangs.
This community of the royal tomb builders (servants in the Place of Truth) were first established under the pharaoh Amenhotep I (c. 1527-1506 BC). The village itself however was not built until the reign of Thutmose I.
The people who lived in Deir el Medina were predominantly stonemasons, plasterers, draughtsmen, sculptors, painters and carpenters. Each ' Work Gang' specialised in a different stage of tomb construction which was handed down to their sons who hoped to inherit their fathers positions in the work gangs.