About this season
Unlocking the mysteries of daily life in ancient Egypt. John Romer relates the details of daily life in the village where the workmen who built the royal tombs lived.
Episodes (4)
1. A Village of Craftsmen
Aired 1 January 1984
Adjacent to ancient Thebes, the tomb-makers' village elucidates some mysteries of this long-buried culture: the role of the gods in everyday life, the Egyptians' vision of the afterlife, the significance of a king's burial, and the general design of the royal tombs.
2. The Mountains of Gold
Aired 1 January 1984
The stories of two ordinary workers-Kenhirkhopeshef, a dedicated scribe, and Paneb, a volatile foreman-reveal how religious beliefs informed the everyday lives of the Egyptians. When Ramses III moved the royal court from Thebes to the delta, the close-knit tomb-makers' community began to split along class lines.
3. The Processional Way Of The Gods
Aired 1 January 1984
As evidenced by the subtleties of their architecture and decoration, the royal tombs experienced an artistic renaissance under scribe Amennakht. But under his son, scribe Harshire, the plundering began-instigated by none other than the trusted tomb makers themselves.
4. The Year Of The Hyena
Aired 1 January 1984