![]() Thus 20,000 could be separated into efficient, easily monitored, units and a seemingly impossible project, the raising of a huge pyramid, became an achievable ambition. Finally the phyles were split into divisions of maybe 20 workers, who were allocated their own specific task and their own project leader. These gangs were divided into phyles of roughly 200. Boat crews were always divided into left- and right-side gangs and then sub-divided the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were decorated following this system, also by left- and right-hand gangs.Īt Giza the workforce was divided into crews of approximately 2,000 and then sub-divided into named gangs of 1,000: graffiti show that the builders of the third Giza pyramid named themselves the 'Friends of Menkaure' and the 'Drunkards of Menkaure'. Already temple staff were split into five shifts or 'phyles', and sub-divided into two divisions, which were each required to work one month in ten. The splitting of task and workforce, combined with the use of temporary labourers, was a typical Egyptian answer to a logistical problem. This gives a total of 20-25,000, labouring for 20 years or more. They would have been supported by 16-20,000 secondary workers (ramp builders, tool-makers, mortar mixers and those providing back-up services such as supplying food, clothing and fuel). King Khufu - 4th Dynasty ruler of Egypt - the royal responsible for the commissioning of the Great Pyramid, did not have a vast body of slaves at his disposal, and even if he had, there was no way that 100,000 could work simultaneously on one pyramid.Īll archaeologists have their own methods of calculating the number of workers employed at Giza, but most agree that the Great Pyramid was built by approximately 4,000 primary labourers (quarry workers, hauliers and masons). The Greek historian Herodotus tells us that the Great Pyramid was built by 100,000 slaves who 'laboured constantly and were relieved every three months by a fresh gang'. But most importantly you will meet these master crafts artists who will open doors to their realm with a smile.King Khufu, responsible for commissioning the Great Pyramid Take a map of Egypt and we will trace the untold stories of these areas where philosophy, work ethics and art are intertwined. Hela is in contact with some of today’s talented musicians to meet. Other modern performances are held in various cultural centers across Cairo. The interaction between the performers and the audience provides an intimate setting to embrace the music of the moment. Entire instruments have been saved from extinction such as the Egyptian lute which only a handful of musicians can play today. Small concerts are hosted in cultural centers like Makan to save the transmission of Egyptian oral and lyrical genres dating from antiquity to modern traditional music, by recording and deciphering the archives. If you wish to escape the hustle and bustle in Cairo, head west again to Tunis village in Fayoum, which houses the most elaborate pottery in the country.Īrt is also found in melody, Hela’s passion extends to preserve and restore music through documentation, popular traditions and festivities. They bring to you hand-made tapestries using their imagination, innate autodidacts flaunting their skill. With Hela, you may visit a foundation around Saqqarah where women weave colorful scenes from the local villages using homegrown plant extracts. Light fixtures created by glassmakers share this space, as do contemporary artists. In Al-Fustat, a potters’ village was saved in the early 2000’s from urban development, a project that today houses jewelry and metal smiths designers workshops where we meet dynamic craftswomen. There are a variety of markets in this densely populated part of Cairo, punctuated by the cries of the milk man, a glimpse of another man balancing a long tray of bread on his head while swiftly riding his bicycle through the alleys and the muezzin’s soft voice in the background. On the way we will see the last traditional tarbouche (hat-maker). Not far from the constant clattering sounds is Khayamiya market where tents were made in the past to shelter travelers from the harsh sandstorms. Duncan Village Secondary Recycling Cooperative. Hela and her team will take you to silversmiths, brass makers, and their workshops in Old Cairo where you can see them chiseling calligraphy on decorative ornaments. The initiative focuses on high-quality items and features every artisan individually in its online shop. That tiny shop on a side street in El Sagha, the jewelers quarter, is where her love for Cairo began. Yadaweya is an online marketplace that aims to connect local Egyptian artisans with the global market worldwide. Yadaweya is founded by Usama Ghazali, Senior ranger at Wadi Elgemal nature protectorate in Marsa Alam, located on the western coast of the Red Sea. As a teen in Cairo, Hela would always mingle with artisans when visiting her favorite silver shop, enthralled as tribal bracelets gathered from across Egypt spilled out of canvas duffle bags. Today, an initiative by an Egyptian ranger is spreading this art at a global level.
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