According to the Turin Papyrus, the Struggle of Egyptian Workers to Seek Rights by Going on Strike

Year 2025, Issue: 23, 20 - 35, 15.06.2025

Ercüment Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.20860/ijoses.1596327

Abstract

Ancient Egypt is remembered for its giant pyramids, temples, and tombs made of carefully processed stones by workers. These structures, which are touristic places to visit today, were the center of the belief-shaped life of the Ancient Egyptians. The construction of temples, which were the homes of the gods in the sky on earth, and the tombs of the kings who would live on earth and join the gods in the sky after they died, were considered as crucial as the continuation of life for the Egyptian people. For this reason, over the millennia, the Egyptians successfully completed the construction of many pyramids while building thousands of temples and tombs. Behind these successes were scientific development, experience in administrative skills, competence in meeting the needs of the workers, and, most importantly, the belief that the people should finance these constructions with a portion of what they produced. Although it is admirable to look at the surviving Egyptian monuments, we have very little information about what happened during the construction of these monuments and the workers' labor. The few inscriptions and papyrus that have survived today provide limited information about these construction activities. One is the “Turin Papyrus” or the “Turin Strike Papyrus,” still preserved in the Egizio Museum in Turin. The papyrus has gained fame because it contains the narrative of the first labor strike in human history. The author of the Turin Papyrus, which has been translated into modern languages over time, was the Scribe Amennakhte, a civil servant living in the city of Deir el-Medina in the 29th year of the reign of Ramses III (1157 BC). In the text he wrote, he provides information about what happened after the tomb workers in the city of Deir el Medina could not receive their wages during the reign of Ramses III. This study aims to explain why Egyptian workers went on strike and fought for their rights by taking the narratives in the Turin Papyrus as a reference and to reveal the general economic situation of Egypt during the formation of the strike.

Keywords

Ancient Egypt, Turin Papyrus, Strike, Ramses III.

Ethical Statement

I declare that this study is original; that I have acted by the principles and rules of scientific ethics at all stages of the study, including preparation, data collection, analysis, and presentation of information; that I have cited sources for all data and information not obtained within the scope of this study and included these sources in the bibliography; that I have not made any changes in the data used, and that I comply with ethical duties and responsibilities by accepting all the terms and conditions of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). I hereby declare that if a situation contrary to my statement regarding the study is detected, I agree to all moral and legal consequences that may arise.

Turin Papirüsüne Göre Mısırlı İşçilerin Greve Giderek Hak Arama Mücadelesi

Abstract

Eski Mısır, işçilerin emeği sonucunda özenle işlenmiş taşlardan yapılmış olan devasa piramitleri, tapınakları ve mezarları ile hatırlanmaktadır. Günümüzde turistik ziyaret noktaları olan bu yapılar, Eski Mısır insanlarının inanç ile şekillenmiş yaşamının merkezi konumundaydı. Gökyüzündeki tanrıların yeryüzündeki evi olan tapınakların ve yeryüzünde yaşayıp öldükten sonra gökyüzündeki tanrılara katılacak olan kralların mezarların inşası, Mısır ahalisi için hayatın devamı kadar önemli kabul edilmek-teydi. Bu nedenle, binyıllar boyunca Mısırlar, binlerce tapınak ve mezar yaparken birçok piramidin inşasını da başarıyla tamamlamıştır. Bu başarıların arkasında bilimsel açıdan gelişmişlik, idare etme yeteneğindeki tecrübe, çalışanların ihtiyaçlarını karşılama konusundaki yetkinlik ve hepsinden daha önemlisi halkın ürettiklerinin bir kısmıyla bu inşaatları finanse etmesinin gerekliliğine inandırılmışlık bulunmaktaydı. Ayakta kalmış olan Mısır anıtlarına bakıldığında hayranlık duyulmasına rağmen bu anıtların yapımı esnasında yaşananlar ve işçilerin verdiği emek hakkında çok az bilgiye sahibiz. Günü-müze ulaşan birkaç yazıt ve papirüs bu inşaat faaliyetleri ile ilgili kısıtlı bilgiler vermektedir. Bunlardan biri olan “Turin Papirüsü” veya “Turin Grev Papirüsü” olup hala Torino kentindeki Egizio Müzesi’nde muhafaza edilmektedir. Papirüs, insanlık tarihindeki ilk işçi grevinin anlatımını içerdiğinden dolayı ün kazanmıştır. Zamanla modern dillere çevrilen Turin Papirüsü’nün yazarı olan Katip Amennakhte, III. Ramses’in iktidarının 29. yılında (MÖ 1157) Deir el Medina kentinde yaşayan bir memurdur. Yazdığı metinde III. Ramses döneminde, Deir el Medina kentindeki mezar işçilerinin ücretlerini alamayışları sonrasında yaşananlar hakkında bilgi vermektedir. Bu çalışma, Turin Papirüsü’ndeki anlatımları referans alarak Mısırlı işçilerin niçin greve giderek hak arama mücadelesine girdiklerini açıklamayı ve grevin oluşumu esnasında Mısır’ın genel iktisadi durumunu ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

Eski Mısır, Turin Papirüsü, Grev, III. Ramses.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmanın, özgün bir çalışma olduğunu; çalışmanın hazırlık, veri toplama, analiz ve bilgilerin sunumu olmak üzere tüm aşamalarından bilimsel etik ilke ve kurallarına uygun davrandığımı; bu çalışma kapsamında elde edilmeyen tüm veri ve bilgiler için kaynak gösterdiğimi ve bu kaynaklara kaynakçada yer verdiğimi; kullanılan verilerde herhangi bir değişiklik yapmadığımı, çalışmanın Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)' in tüm şartlarını ve koşullarını kabul ederek etik görev ve sorumluluklara riayet ettiğimi beyan ederim. Herhangi bir zamanda, çalışmayla ilgili yaptığım bu beyana aykırı bir durumun saptanması durumunda, ortaya çıkacak tüm ahlaki ve hukuki sonuçlara razı olduğumu bildiririm.

References

• Abd El Hailm, G. A. M., & Soukary, E. (2019). Workers Positions in The New Kingdom in Ancient Egypt Introduction. Journal of Archaeological Research And Studies, 4, 1-25.
• Arnold, Dieter, Haeny, Gerhard, Bell, Lanny & Finnestad, R. B. (1997). Temples of Ancient Egypt. Cornell University Press.
• Austin, A. (2015). Accounting for Sick Days: A Scalar Approach to Health and Disease at Deir el-Medina. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 74(1), 75–85.
• Badawy, A. (1956). The Ideology of the Superstructure of the Mastaba-Tomb in Egypt. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 15(3), 180–183.
• Bárta, M. (2011). An Abusir Mastaba from the Reign of Huni, Times, Signs and Pyramids. V.G. Callender (Edt.). Studies in Honour of Miroslav Verner on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday. (s. 41-50). Czech Institute of Egyptology.
• Bierbrier, M. L. (1980). Terms of Relationship at Deir el-Medîna. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 66, 100-107.
• Brier, B. (2007). How to Build a Pyramid. Archaeology, 60(3), 22-27.
• Bussmann, R. (2014). Urbanism and Temple Religion in Egypt: A Comment on Hierakonpolis. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 100, 311–337.
• Cooney, K. M. (2007). Labour. Toby Wilkinson (Edt.). The Egyptian World. (s. 188-202). Routledge.
• Cooney, K. M. (2011). Changing Burial Practices at the End of the New Kingdom: Defensive Adaptations in Tomb Commissions, Coffin Commissions, Coffin Decoration, and Mummification. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 47, 3–44.
• Eaton, Kathe¬rine (2014). Ancient Egyptian Temple Ritual: Performance, Patterns, and Practice. Routledge. Edgerton, W. F. (1951). The Strikes in Ramses III’s Twenty-Ninth Year. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 10(3), 137–145.
• Edwards, J. F. (2003). Building the Great Pyramid: Probable Construction Met-hods Employed at Giza. Technology and Culture, 44(2), 340–354.
• Ezzamel, M. (2004). Work organization in the Middle Kingdom, ancient Egypt. Organization, 11(4), 497-537.
• Fischer, H. G. (1959). A Scribe of the Army in a Saqqara Mastaba of the Early Fifth Dynasty. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 18(4), 233-272.
• Frandsen, P. J. (1990). The Turin Strike Papyrus. Sarah Israelit-Groll (Edt.). (s. 166-199). Studies in Egyptology Presented to Miriam Lichtheim I Magnes Press.
• Friedman, F. (1985). On the Meaning of Some Anthropoid Busts from Deir el-Medina. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 71(1), 82-97.
• Friedman, F. D., & Friedman, F. (1995). The Underground Relief Panels of King Djoser at the Step Pyramid Complex. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 32, 1-42.
• Gadd, C. J. (1960). The Spirit of Living Sacrifices in Tombs. Iraq, 22, 51-58.
• Haring, B. (2003). From Oral Practice to Written Record in Ramesside Deir El-Medina. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 46(3), 249-272.
• Hawass, Z. A. (1990). The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt. Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
• Kemp, B. J. (1966). Abydos and the Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 52(1), 13-22.
• Killen, G. (2017). Deir el-Medina – A Community of Entrepreneurs? Geoffrey Killen (Edt.) (s. 1-30). Ancient Egyptian Furniture Volume III. Oxbow Books.
• Koltsida, A. (2007). Domestic Space and Gender Roles in Ancient Egyptian Village Households: A View from Amarna Workmen’s Village and Deir el-Medina. British School at Athens Studies, 15, 121-127.
• Landrino, M. (2022). Papyrus Turin Cat. 1883+ Cat. 2095: A New Edition of an Already Known Papyrus. Rivista del Museo Egizio. 6, 101-123.
• Lesko, L. H. (1994). Pharaoh’s Workers: the Villagers of Deir el Medina. Cornell University Press.
• Lucas, A., & Harris, J. (2012). Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries. Courier Corporation.
• Manuelian, P. D. (2009). On the Early History of Giza: the “Lost” Wadi Cemetery (Giza Archives Gleanings, III). The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 95, 105-140.
• Marx, E. (1946). Ancient Egyptian Woodworking. Antiquity, 20(79), 127-133.
• McDowell, A. (1992). Agricultural Activity by the Workmen of Deir el-Medina. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 78, 195-206.
• McDowell, A. G. (1996). Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. Scientific American, 275(6), 100-105.
• Meskell, L. (1998). An Archaeology of Social Relations in an Egyptian Village. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 5(3), 209-243.
• Montserrat, D., & Meskell, L. (1997). Mortuary Archaeology and Religious Landscape at Graeco-Roman Deir el-Medina. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 83(1), 179-197.
• Müller-Römer, F. (2008). A New Consideration of the Construction Methods of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 44, 113–140.
• Murray, M. (2013). Egyptian Temple. Routledge.
• Naydler, J. (1996). Temple of the Cosmos: The Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred. Inner Traditions/Bear & Co.
• Nelson, H. H. (1944). The Egyptian Temple: The Theban Temples of the Empire Period. The Biblical Archaeologist, 7(3), 44-53.
• Reymond, E. A. (1969). The Mythical Origin of the Egyptian Temple. Manchester University Press.
• Rigano, C. (2014). Pyramids of the Giza Plateau: Pyramid Complexes of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Author House.
• Romer, J. (2007). The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited. Cambridge University Press.
• Ryan, D. P. (1994). Exploring the Valley of the Kings. Archaeology, 47(1), 52-59.
• Sweeney, D. (2010). The Earliest Recorded Strike: The Tomb-Builders in the Valley of the Kings. A Historical Quarterly, 109, 6-15.
• Toivari, J. (1997). Man versus Woman: Interpersonal Disputes in the Workmen’s Community of Deir el-Medina. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 40(2), 153-173. Ventura, R. (1983). More Chronological Evidence from Turin Papyrus Cat. 1907 + 1908. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42(4), 271-277. Ventura, R. (1987). On the Location of the Administrative Outpost of the Community of Workmen in Western Thebes. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 73, 149-160.
• Von Beckerath, J. (1994). Papyrus Turin 1898+, Verso. Studien Zur Altägyptisc-hen Kultur, 21, 29-33.
• Warburton, D. A. (2007). Work and compensation in ancient Egypt. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 93(1), 175-194.
• Weiss, L. (2009). Personal Religious Practice: House Altars At Deir El-Medina. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 95, 193-208.
• Wilkinson, R. H. (2000). The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson.
• Wilson, J. A. (1947). The Artist of the Egyptian Old Kingdom. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 6(4), 231–249.
• Winlaw, S. (2014). The men of Deir El Medina strike! The Earliest Evidence of Industrial Dispute. Teaching History, 48(2), 18-21.
• Zaccagnini, C. (1983). Patterns of Mobility among Ancient Near Eastern Craftsmen. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 42(4), 245-264.