Ancient Egypt Social
Pyramid
Government Officials
• Vizier served as
chief judge
• Chief treasurer
collected taxes
(goods rather than
money)
• General of armies
advised the
pharaoh on war
• Government
officials lived a life
of luxury
Priests
• Priests followed many
rules such as bathing
many times a day
• Priests had different jobs
such as advising the
pharaoh and supervising
ceremonies
• Priests supervised the
important burial rituals
including embalming dead
bodies
• Women could be
priestesses and were
considered equal to men
Scribes
• Becoming a scribe
was one way men
could rise in social
class
• Scribe school 12 yrs
or more
• Life in scribe school
difficult
• Scribes used reed
pens, papyrus paper,
writing tablets and ink
wells
Artisans
• Artisans were
carpenters,
jewelers, leather
and metal workers,
painters, sculptors,
potters, weavers
• Sometimes difficult
work
• Artisans led simple
lives
• Artisans rarely
received recognition
for work
Peasants
• Peasant life revolved
around 3 seasons:
flooding, planting and
harvest
• Peasants often sang
songs in fields
• Peasants life very
simple
• During harvest, could
keep some grain, but
could also be beaten for
poor harvest