In early 2017, the study of beds and bedrooms in ancient Egypt gained momentum, sparking a deeper exploration into the significance of these spaces and furnishings. Rectangular rooms with niches were often identified as bedrooms, but the modern idea of a bedroom as a private sleeping space may not fully apply to the ancient Egyptian context.
Ancient Egyptian furniture, including beds, reflects a blend of practicality, artistry, and symbolic depth, showcasing the ingenuity and cultural values of this remarkable civilization. Simple designs met daily needs, while ornate pieces adorned temples and tombs, offering insights into ancient aesthetics and rituals.
An example of Ancient Egyptian furniture - a chair.
Multifunctional Spaces
Bedrooms might have served multiple purposes, including public activities such as meeting visitors and conducting business. The mudbrick beds from Giza are reminiscent of the traditional Chinese 'Kang,' a brick platform used for sitting, receiving visitors, and general living. It is possible that Egyptian beds and bedrooms were equally multifunctional.
The multifunctional role of the bed and bedroom can be related to the general layout of Egyptian houses. Houses were designed to obscure visibility and restrict access to inner rooms, creating a maze-like structure. Official business might have been transacted in the 'bedroom,' with the owner sitting on the bed to demonstrate wealth and status.
Read also: The Language of the Pharaohs
House Q44.1 at Amarna, from the transverse hall, with the main hall behind it.
Defining the Ancient Egyptian Bed
To understand ancient Egyptian beds, it is essential to avoid modern preconceptions. While beds are ubiquitous in modern culture, they were high-status objects in ancient Egypt. Archaeological evidence for beds primarily comes from high-status contexts such as elite burials and places like Deir el Medina, a village for elite craftsmen and their families.
Beds were luxury goods, and most people likely slept on the floor or raised platforms built into the room. Various terms for beds existed in ancient Egyptian literature, including ytjt.t (mentioned only in funerary contexts) and ꜣṯ.t (used in everyday contexts during the Old and Middle Kingdoms, but only in funerary contexts by the New Kingdom).
Another term, krk(r), originally referred to a specific bed of a foreign king acquired by Thutmose III. Beds were often exchanged as gifts between rulers, as mentioned in the Amarna letters. In this context, a bed might also serve as a throne.
A common bed in Deir el Medina was a ḥ’tj, such as the bed belonging to Merit, now in the Egyptian Museum in Turin. These mid-range beds were of better quality than a krk(r) bed but not the most expensive available.
Read also: Pharaohs: A detailed look
Components and Materials
Merit’s bed was found without a mattress, though linen blankets nearby may have served this purpose. Thicker blankets were used as coverings during cold nights. Pillows were rare; instead, headrests were used, which might have been used for resting during the day rather than sleeping at night.
Textual evidence confirms that beds were used for sleeping, but not necessarily in a bedroom as we understand it. Beds in ancient Egypt also served other functions, including sex, birth, illness, death, social occasions, and as seating.
Evolution of Beds Through Time
Pre-Dynastic Period
Beds first appeared in the Pre-dynastic era, but were not common throughout Egypt until the end of the early Dynastic era. Sometimes people were buried on or next to beds. The earliest known bed dates from the Naqada II period, but the oldest bed with a picture dates from Dynasty 0 (Naqada III). These early beds were short, designed for sleeping curled up.
The legs of the bed were often in the form of bovine legs, symbolizing fertility and strength, fitting with the functions of a bed as a place for sex, birth, and safe sleep. The bull is also important in a funerary context, connected to Seth carrying Osiris and the Apis Bull carrying the deceased. Cows also have protective meanings.
Old Kingdom
Fewer beds survive from the Old Kingdom. One example is the bed of Queen Hetepheres, buried with linen bedcovers. Beds in this period became longer, and bodies buried on them were not in a contracted position. While bovine-legged beds persisted, leonine legs also appeared.
Read also: The Art of Ancient Egypt
Middle Kingdom
Several types of beds existed in the Middle Kingdom. One type, also found in the Old Kingdom, was a frame without legs, often found in a funerary context under the mummy or coffin. An example belonging to Djehutihotep is covered in protective texts. Beds with legs were also present, though rare.
New Kingdom
In the New Kingdom, coffins were placed on top of beds for transport to the afterlife. Bovine-legged beds returned to fashion, but with identical legs instead of mimicking real animal legs. Elaborate beds were presented as tribute to kings.
Late Period and Graeco-Roman Period
Little evidence exists for beds in the Late Period, other than in reliefs. In the Graeco-Roman Period, beds with leonine legs and a slatted top were common under mummies, with elevated lion tails as a protective symbol. An example from the 2nd Century CE was found in the tomb of two children buried in the same coffin.
An example of an Ancient Egyptian headrest.
Egyptian Furniture Methods and Materials
Furniture of the Wealthy
While ordinary Egyptians had simple furniture, the wealthy had high-quality, decorated pieces made by artisans. Four-legged wooden stools were common, with seats made from animal skins, woven leather strips, or plant materials. Folding stools, such as the one from Tutankhamun's tomb, were also used.
Chairs were used only by the wealthiest people, with taller and fancier chairs indicating higher status. Elaborate chairs, like one from King Tutankhamun's tomb, featured carved scenes, bucket seats, lion legs, and gold inlays.
Tables were low, usually with four legs, and used for games or dining. Storage chests of the rich were ornate, made of wood or ivory, and decorated with paintings or inlays. Bed frames were rectangular and slanted downwards, with footboards and headrests consisting of a semicircular upper piece supported by columns.
Materials and Construction
Wood was the primary material for crafting furniture, though scarce in Egypt. Groves of poplars, sycamores, acacias, and tamarisks flourished along the Nile Valley. Luxurious hardwoods like ebony from Kush and cedar from Lebanon were imported. These woods were favored for their beauty and durability, and were prominent in the funerary trousseaux of the elite.
Woodworkers in Egypt were skilled craftsmen, using bronze tools introduced during the Middle Kingdom. Common tools included adzes and pull-saws. Ancient Egyptian beds, dating back to the First Dynasty, were constructed from a simple rectangular wooden frame with woven flax or leather cords for support.
Symbolism and Religious Context
Ancient Egyptian furniture was imbued with rich symbolism, reflecting connections to nature, religion, and societal values. Representations of gods like Bes and Osiris symbolized protection and the afterlife. Religious symbols, such as the Ankh and the Eye of Horus, were often incorporated into designs.
Furniture in religious and funerary contexts was designed to ensure comfort and prosperity in the afterlife, with tombs frequently containing beds, chests, and chairs. Offering tables, central to funerary rituals, were adorned with carvings of food and inscriptions of prayers.
Types of Wood Used in Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptian carpenters used many types of wood, including indigenous trees (Acacia sp., sycomore fig, and Tamarisk sp., etc.) and foreign trees (cedar, cypress, and Juniper sp., etc.). The techniques of woodwork include pending, plywood, drilling, turning, and smoothing, in addition to the wooden joints (corner joints, butt joints, mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, scarf joints, etc.).
The ancient Egyptians developed several methods for fittings and fixtures, such as nails and tacks, hinges, brackets, and locks.
Here's a detailed look at the types of wood used:
| Wood Type | Source | Properties | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia (Vachellia sp.) | Indigenous | Strong, heavy, dense, durable, red heartwood | Statues, boatbuilding, doors, tenons, dowels, construction |
| Sycomore Fig (Ficus sycomorus L.) | Indigenous | Medium quality, pale, light, fibrous, coarse, easy to carve | Coffins, small naoses, votive statuettes, wooden models |
| Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.) | Indigenous | Light, coarse, dense, medium to poor quality, prone to insect damage, knotty | Small statues, tenons, dowels, small beds, coffin segments |
| Cedar (Cedar sp.) | Foreign (Lebanon, Turkey, Cyprus) | Pinkish-brown, aromatic, durable, high dimensional stability, good bending strength | Boatbuilding, shrines, funerary furniture, boxes, coffins, statuary, construction |
| Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) | Foreign (Syria) | Reddish-brown, even-grained, smooth, aromatic, durable, good polish | Furniture, coffins, construction |
| Juniper (Juniperus sp.) | Foreign (South Europe, Southwestern Asia) | Reddish-brown, hard, smooth, aromatic, durable, good polish | Furniture, boxes, boatbuilding, coffins |
Ancient Egyptian furniture reflects a blend of practicality, artistry, and symbolic depth, showcasing the ingenuity and cultural values of this remarkable civilization. Their innovative designs and intricate details left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire modern art and design.
Popular articles:
tags: #Egypt
