Deir El Madina, Luxor (must see)

Deir El-Medina was a planned settlement established during the New Kingdom to house the skilled craftsmen, artists, and laborers who built and decorated the royal tombs in the nearby valleys. Founded in the 18th Dynasty and used for centuries, the village preserves detailed evidence of daily life among the workers behind Egypt’s royal burial places.

The settlement was enclosed by a mudbrick wall and contained rows of small houses, workshops, storage areas, and communal spaces. Thousands of ostraca and papyri found here record wages, family matters, illnesses, legal disputes, and working conditions. These texts also preserve the first documented labor strike, when workers protested delayed grain rations during the reign of Ramesses III. They show a community with organized labor, local justice, and unusually detailed records of ordinary life.

The site is also known for the decorated tombs of its residents. Although smaller than royal tombs, many contain vivid paintings of gods, funerary rituals, and the hoped-for journey into the afterlife. On days away from royal work, craftsmen created tombs, coffins, amulets, and other objects for their own families or for exchange with outsiders. Their art reveals both professional skill and personal religious beliefs.

Visitors can explore the village remains, several well-preserved tombs, and a small temple dedicated to Hathor. Domestic altars, protective figures of Bes and Taweret, and records from the local court show how residents worshipped, settled disputes, cared for families, and protected their homes. Together, these remains make Deir El-Medina a valuable window into ancient Egyptian society.