Egypt: Tour Egypt Monthly: Party Time in Ancient Egypt

Party Time in Ancient Egypt

By Ilene Springer

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There have been many peopleexperts and amateurs alikewho have said the ancient Egyptians were preoccupied with preparing for death. These were not ancient Egyptians who said this. If you asked them,they would have probably said they spent more time preparing for festivities and a good timewhile they were living.
Just a quick glance at tomb paintingswhich depicted the best part of an individuals lifeoften show the ancient Egyptians fully enjoying themselves in the company of othersat banquets, being beguiled by exotic dancers and acrobats. The ancient Egyptians loved a good time and entertainment, music food and drink were a major part of their lives.

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Welcome!

Its not hard to imagine most of ancient Egyptian society celebrating throughout various parts of the year, for harvesting, marriages, childbirth and even funerals in which they sent off the deceased to the next world. But, of course, the more wealthy Egyptians were able to hold lavish banquets and parties purely for enjoyment. The drawings of these events are where we get our information about what it was like to be a participant in one of these banquets.

From what we can tell, each guest was warmly welcomed by both the male and female hosts of the household, and upon entering the party, the guests were draped in blossoms and fragrant wreaths of flowers. This scent of these mingled with those very intriguing perfumed wax cones the party goers wore on their heads. The heat of their bodies slowly melted the scented wax through the evening until the perfumed wax filtered through the hair or, more likely, the fancy wig of the guest.

The food and drink

Scantily clad servant girls carried trays laden with delicacies, as we see in a banquet scene from the tomb of Nebamun. Imagine the food: rich dishes of butter and cheese, fattened fowl and beef, flavored with rosemary, cumin, garlic, parsley, cinnamon and mustard, and sweetened with honey, figs and other fruits. Meat was a luxury in ancient Egypt, but at a feast , no expenses were spared.

A Dance scene from an Ancient Egyptian tomb

In addition to beef, there were duck, geese, goats, fish and pigs. Plates filled with chickpeas and lentils, lettuce, cucumbers and onions were passed around. In the Old Kingdom, about 15 varieties of bread could have been served; by the New Kingdom, there were 40 names for breads, cakes and biscuits. Guests had an amazing number of specialties to select from.

Usually guests dined from their own little tables while sitting on benches, and ate off of attractive implements such as bowls, plates and cups made from blue faience with lotus designs.

There was also wine and beerand plenty of it. Archaeologists have found jugs with the date and type of wine, the estate where it was stored, the vineyard and the vintner.

Let the music begin

Musicians from a tome scene in Ancient Egypt

Without music and dance, no banquet was possible. From what we see on tomb paintings, music and dance played a big part in the lives of the ancient Egyptiansboth in secular and religious activities. Male and female dancers and musicians would excite the festivities with harps, lyres and lutes (all string instruments) and the oboe (most often played by women) and drums to keep up beat of the music and the hearts of the guests. At the banquet, guests would be treated to dancing girls wearing jewels and lithe acrobats who twisted, jumped and turned. The musicians encouraged the guests to join in by chanting, clapping or playing tambourines or cymbals.

The Egyptians did prepare for the afterlife, but thats because they hoped for nothing less than the joy they experienced in their lives on earth. And parties were a big part of that joy of life. A very poignant statement on an unknown Egyptian tomb advises the living, "With a beaming face, celebrate the joyful day and rest not therein. For no one can take away his goods with him. Yea, no one returns again, who has gone hence." Who could say it better than an ancient Egyptian?

Types of Travel to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Neil Bush Family Visits El Gouna by Hazel Heyer

Party Time in Ancient Egypt by Ilene Springer

Camel Trekking in the Sinai by Joyce Carta

Nuweiba by Jimmy Dunn

Egyptian Hajj Painting by Sonny Stengle

Where Have All the Pharaohs Gone by Anita Stratos

Marvelous Melokiyah by Mary Kay Radnich

Exploring Isis by Catherine C. Harris

Never Mind, Just Crossing the Moon by Arnvid Aakre

Editor's Commentary By Jimmy Dunn

Ancient Beauty Secrets By Judith Illes

Book Reviews Various Editors

Hotel Reviews By Jimmy Dunn & Juergen Stryjak

Kid's Corner By Margo Wayman

Cooking with Tour Egypt By Mary K Radnich

The Month in Review By John Applegate

Egyptian Exhibitions By Staff

Egyptian View-Point By Adel Murad

Nightlife Various Editors

Egypt On Screen By Carolyn Patricia Scott

Restaurant Reviews Various Editors

Shopping Around Various Editors

Web Reviews By Siri Bezdicek

Prior Issues

July 1st, 2001
June 1st, 2001
May 1st, 2001
April 1st, 2001

March 1st, 2001

February 1st, 2001

January 1st, 2001

December 1st, 2000
October 1st, 2000
September 1st, 2000
August 1st, 2000

July 1st, 2000

June 1st, 2000

Master Index