Ancient artisans’ village in Deir el-Medina

The Deir el-Medina strikes were a series of labor protests by artisans working on royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with the most notable occurring in 1158 BC during the reign of Ramesses III due to delayed food rations.

Summary

The Deir el-Medina strikes were a series of labor protests by the artisans who worked on the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The most significant of these strikes occurred in the 29th year of Pharaoh Ramesses III’s reign, around 1158 BC. These events are historically significant as they represent the earliest recorded instance of collective labor action. The strikes were triggered by the failure of the Egyptian administration to provide timely food rations to the workers, who, as a result, were forced to seek alternative ways to obtain sustenance. The workers’ complaints were initially ignored, leading them to take direct action by staging a series of strikes, culminating in a sit-in at several temples. Ultimately, these actions led to concessions from the authorities, demonstrating the power of organized labor, even in ancient times.

Background: The Community of Deir el-Medina

Deir el-Medina was a specialized settlement that housed the artisans responsible for constructing and decorating the tombs of Egyptian royalty. This community thrived for approximately 450 years, from the 18th Dynasty through the end of the 20th Dynasty. Unlike typical agricultural villages, Deir el-Medina was an artificial settlement designed to support the labor force dedicated to royal burial projects. The artisans and their families enjoyed a relatively privileged existence, receiving wages in the form of food rations and other necessities from the state.

The workforce was well-structured, with clearly defined roles:

Chief Workman: Acted as the leader of the workforce, representing the artisans in legal and administrative matters.
Deputies: Assisted in legal proceedings and supervised work teams.
Scribes: Maintained records of labor, reported to the vizier, and played a key role in negotiations during strikes.
Captains of the Tomb: Managed grain rations and materials, ensuring proper distribution among the workers.

The workers labored in the Valley of the Kings and spent their nights in nearby huts. Their schedule consisted of eight workdays divided into two four-hour shifts, followed by two days off. This system provided a balance between labor and rest, but it became unsustainable when wages (in the form of food) were not delivered on time.

Economic Factors Leading to the Strike

The period of Ramesses III’s rule was marked by economic difficulties, including rising grain prices and food shortages. One of the primary contributing factors was the invasion attempt by the Sea Peoples around 1178 BC. Although the Egyptian forces successfully repelled the attack, the prolonged conflict drained resources and reduced the labor force available for agriculture. This resulted in poor harvests and widespread food shortages.

Under Egypt’s bureaucratic system, wages were distributed in order of priority. High-ranking officials and government personnel were paid first, and artisans such as those at Deir el-Medina were lower on the hierarchy. Consequently, by the time grain rations reached the community, supplies were often insufficient. There is also evidence suggesting a two-tier payment system, where artisans with families received slightly higher rations than single workers. The delays and inconsistent payments eventually created tensions within the community, setting the stage for collective action.

The Deir el-Medina strikes of 1158 BC highlighted economic instability, administrative inefficiencies, and shifting power dynamics within ancient Egypt.

The First Recorded Strike

The workers’ grievances reached a breaking point in 1156 BC when grain rations were delayed once again. A scribe named Amennakht attempted to negotiate with officials at the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Horemheb, securing a partial payment of 46 sacks of corn. However, this was insufficient to meet the workers’ needs.

The situation worsened in 1158 BC when rations were again significantly delayed. On the 21st day of the sixth month of Ramesses III’s 29th year, the artisans formally stopped working. This was a significant act of defiance against the state, as laborers were expected to maintain their duties regardless of personal hardship.

Three major strikes took place that year, with the workers conducting both daytime and nighttime protests, the latter involving torchlit demonstrations. The first significant protest saw the workers marching to the unfinished mortuary temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu, then moving on to the temple of Thutmose III, where they staged a sit-in. This was a bold action, as temples were considered sacred spaces, and their occupation underscored the seriousness of the artisans’ plight.

Their demands were clear: they sought the payment of overdue rations, including grain, meat, oil, and vegetables. One of their statements recorded on an ostracon (a pottery shard used for writing) reads: “We are hungry, for 18 days have already elapsed this month.”

Two days later, another message declared:

The prospect of hunger and thirst has driven us to this; there is no clothing, there is no ointment, there is no fish, there are no vegetables. Send to Pharaoh, our good lord, about it, and send to the vizier, our superior, that we may be supplied with provisions.

A limestone ostrakon fragment written by the scribe Amennakht.

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Government Response and Further Strikes

Initially, the officials responded by releasing grain rations from temple storerooms, but these only covered part of what the workers were owed. The workers temporarily resumed their duties, but when rations were once again withheld the following month, they struck again. By this time, their grievances had expanded beyond hunger; they argued that the government’s failure to provide rations represented disorder and injustice, making their strike not just a fight for food but a symbolic act against systemic neglect.

The vizier of Egypt, a high-ranking official second only to the pharaoh, was eventually called upon to address the crisis. He met with the workers and arranged for another partial payment. However, by the ninth month, food shortages persisted, and rations were distributed in even smaller portions. The workers continued striking until the full payment of their rations was made.

Records of the Strike

One of the most significant pieces of evidence regarding the strikes is a letter from Pharaoh Ramesses III’s reign, written by the scribe Neferhotep, which records the dire conditions the workers faced:

We are exceedingly impoverished. All supplies for us that are (from) the treasury, that are from the granary, and that are (from) the storehouse have been allowed to be exhausted. Six oipe of grain have been taken away from us besides to be given to us as six oipe of dirt. Let our lord make for us a means for keeping alive. Indeed we are dying besides. We do not live at all.

Much of the evidence from this period comes from Thebes, where the dry climate preserved written records better than in other regions. These records offer invaluable insights into the struggles of ancient Egyptian workers.

Consequences and Historical Significance

The Deir el-Medina strikes were groundbreaking as they marked the first documented instance of collective labor action in history. They set a precedent for organized protest and demonstrated that workers, even in a rigidly hierarchical society, could leverage their collective power to demand fair treatment.

The strikes also exposed the weakening administrative structure of Ramesses III’s reign. The palace’s inability to maintain regular payments signaled a decline in centralized authority. As a result, local institutions, such as the high priesthood of Amun and regional governors, gained increased power, filling the gaps left by the struggling central government.

Over time, the artisans at Deir el-Medina increasingly turned to the high priest of Amun and the mayor of Thebes for support, rather than the pharaoh’s administration. This shift in power would play a crucial role in the later decline of the New Kingdom, as local authorities became more autonomous while the central government weakened.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Deir el-Medina strikes

Why did the workers go on strike?

The primary reason was the Egyptian administration’s failure to provide grain rations on time, leaving workers without essential supplies like food, oil, and clothing.

How did the workers protest?

They staged sit-ins at temples, marched to the offices of high officials, and conducted both daytime and nighttime strikes to demand their overdue rations.

What was the government’s response?

Initially, officials released partial rations from temple storerooms, but when delays persisted, the vizier intervened, and full payments were eventually made.

What role did the scribes play in the strikes?

Scribes, such as Amennakht, acted as intermediaries between the workers and the authorities, recording grievances and negotiating for rations.

What impact did the strikes have on Egyptian governance?

They exposed weaknesses in the central administration, leading to a shift in power from the pharaoh to local authorities, including the high priest of Amun.

Why are these strikes historically significant?

They are considered the first recorded instance of collective labor action, demonstrating that workers could successfully demand rights even in a highly stratified society.