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Ancient History

This is What Life Was Like for an Egyptian Worker Building the Pyramids

egyptian worker building the pyramids

Work Hours on the Pyramids

Ancient Egypt metal worker
Metal Working, Tomb of Rekhmire. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Laborers on the Pyramid project worked in three month shifts, according to Dr. Hawass. They would work three or four hour shifts, but those short (by modern standards) shifts were full of heavy lifting and hard labor. Archaeologists estimate that one stone could be put into place every one to two minutes depending on how large the shift was at the time. But this depended on the job. Stone haulers and setters may have had the three to four hour shifts.

But their supervisors may have worked longer hours due to less physical exertion. Water haulers may have worked similar or slightly longer shifts, keeping the stone layers hydrated. Bakers may have had earlier and longer hours, temple workers may have had longer hours but more white-collar work. Hours worked was inconsistent, but the work came with reward.

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