Daniel would love this, and Jack would approve of Horemwia

[fignewton]

This link leads to the British museum's translation of an ostracon that records the excuses for absence of Egyptian workers during one year of Ramses II's reign.

See Horemwia, month 2 of winter, day 8

...There are actually a lot of that specific explanation.

:) :) :)

Comments

[thothmes]

Looking this over it would appear that he is wrapping the corpse of his mother before and after he takes time off for his mother’s illness. I don’t know enough Ancient Egyptian to know if both your mother and your mother-in-law would be referred to as your mother, because otherwise Horemwia has some ‘splainin’ to do!

[fignewton]

Some of these excuses are downright hilarious. But I was specifically referring to the ones about making beer. ;)

[thothmes]

Oh, I know! But I’m from a family of professors, and at least once in a career some student’s relative dies twice, and I was primed! snortchuckle

[fignewton]

Maybe they followed Ankh Morpork's policy for the Watch: one funeral per granny per year. :D

[sg1jb]

Ooooh, this is fascinating.

So apparently Nakhtamun was a favourite of his Boss (hmm, wonder just what he and the Boss were up to on all those days?). And, oh, ouch, Seba ... but the scorpion bite must not have been too bad as he didn't appear to need any further days off because of it. Paherypedjet was obviously a medic or healer, and hey, wouldn't it be nice to be Penduauu who can take time off to go drinking with a friend?!

[fignewton]

I wondered about those too! All those excuses of being "with the boss." So... at work? Or they were both making beer? ;)

This is really the kind of archeology that I think would've truly fascinated Daniel: these glimpses into ordinary lives, and putting together the pieces to understand the culture of the times

[sg1jb]

The Curator's notes clarify 'with the Boss' as "being away with one's superior doing private work for him, a practice that was not forbidden if done in moderation."

Hmmm. Yeah, no, not buying it, Nakhtamun and 'Boss' ...

Lol.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I'm perplexed at the wife and daughter bleeding. Presumably men wouldn't take off for women in the family having periods. Where they being bled, I wonder? Having unfortunate accidents?

Love the beer brewing and getting stones for scribes!

[fignewton]

For some reason my mind went more to leeches. Or is that the wrong time period? You're the historian, not me. :)

I always enjoy these glimpses into regular life. For a given value of regular!

[aelfgyfu_mead]

No, you're probably right! Leeches! They're used throughout the Middle Ages, but also much earlier—and again today, because they're actually quite useful in some circumstances, I understand.

And the man of the house would no doubt have to be home while a doctor used leeches on his wife or daughter. . . .