Egyptian Life of Extremes: In ancient Egypt the pharaoh was at the top of the ‘pyramid’ and his family, noble people who owned land, and the priests came after. Scribes, architects and doctors were well off, and skilled craftsmen also had many privileges. Peasants and unskilled workers were low down the scale of Egyptian society, but it was the servants and slaves that skirted the bottom of the class pyramid. Those working in mines and quarries were really asking for trouble, as diseases, physical strain and dangers lurked in every turned stone in the desert. Slaves working in rich domestic environments were the lucky ones as they were assured security, housing and food. Men in the armed forces, army and navy were not afforded a high social status, and neither were entertainers. Professions were usually hereditary, not chosen; a man followed his father’s trade and so on. Scribes were the top dogs in the sphere of learning and teaching. Not every child was able to learn how to read and write; this was restricted to those following the scribe profession.
Most Egyptians ate bread, fruits, and vegetables such as dates, figs, and beans on a daily basis. The wealthy ate different kinds of meat such as beef, veal, antelope and gazelle meat. The poor ate mostly birds such as geese, ducks, quails, and cranes. Different fish from the Nile were consumed, which were frequently dried in the sun. The poor drank beer while the rich drank fine wine.
Clothing was made from linen. Babies and infants often went naked so as not to ruin clothing. Women wore long tunics like dresses, while men wore knee length tunics. Both would wear jewelry, perfume, and wigs if they could afford such items. The wigs were made with sheep or real human hair, and worn at parties and in domestic environments as well as at festivals.

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