Figure 1.--This is Inherkhau and his family--a wealthy family in the New Kingdom. They lived during the reigns of Ramesses III and Ramesses IV in the 20th Dynasty. He was an important official and lived a wealthy life. So in death his tomb (TT 359) located in the necropolis of Deir el-Medina on the West Bank at Luxor, has extremely rich and refined decorations. We can see Inherkhau and his wife, surrounded by four grandchildren. We are not sure what the children are holding. The child at the left may hold a little bird of some kind. The parents are receiving gifts from their two grown sons. What one is struck by in viewing this pannel is the tenderness and intimacy of Egyptian family bonds. This is something absent in the artistic record, both of other ancient civilizations and of even Western art. We do not even see anything quite like it in the modern photographic record. Put your cursor on the image to see the right side of the pannel with the sons.

Children were a very important element of family life and seen as a wonderful blessing from the gods. Birth was thus a time of great joy and celebration. It was, however, seen with some trepedation. It was a stressful time because of the high rate of both infant mortality and the possibility of medical complications affecting the mother. Children seem to have been tenderly treated and the recipient of great affection. We see this in royal depictions, especially notable are the paintings of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, showing a very tender bond with their six daughters. Their is every reason to believe that the same relations were at play among the Pharaoh's subjects. We see it in the tomb art of wealthy subjects. There is no similar aristic evidence for the common people, but there is every evidence to think that such attitudes were pervsive throughout society. Both male and female offspring were valued and wanted. There is no record of infanticide being practiced in Egypt. This is notable because it was a common practice in the ancient world with variations from society to society. The absence of infanticide as show in the Biblical story of Issac may have been a cultural practice influenced by Egypt. The toys found by archeologists suggest that play was recognized as an acceptable activity for children and even encouraged. After infancy (weaning) they began larning adult roles. This was longer than modern infancy. The medical advantages of breast feeding may have been a factor. Girls assisted their mothers in household duties or worked along their side with them in the fields. Female members of the houshold (older girls, aunts, grandmothers) would care for the younger chilren at home. Boys stayed with their fathers, learning his occupation. This began with erands or the simplists tasks. Gradually they would be given more demanding tasks. Parents instructed their children in concepts concerning the social order, religion, manners and behavior, ethics, and other matters.

Created: 10:45 AM 12/24/2013
Last updated: 7:38 PM 4/15/2017