peoples piramids

[NeilV]

Do you think that COTN should progress up to the time of the people’s pyramids (saw a program on discovery last night) or stop when the pyramids started to become smaller again. I just like the idea that in the end the potters etc can have their own mini pyramid.

[Miut]

Yes, I saw that program too, some time ago. The peoples' pyramids were just like we use tombstones, or tomb ornaments, I'm afraid. Nothing very special, and mainly at Deir el Medina, the workmen's town. This is what I found on a fast search.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/pyramid_gallery_08.shtml

The writer the BBC is quoting (ref for the book if you follow the Link there) says it was 18th Dynasty that this started coming into vogue with the ordinary people.

Certainly the New Kingdom was when the pyramid texts became the Book of the Dead and the contents were released to people other than Royalty to use in their tombs. Thus you found even workmen with shards of pottery or stone with a spell frpm the Book of the Dead scribbled on it in their graves as well as the wealthy having a few papyruses of prayers/spells in theirs.

http://www.sff.net/people/Lisanne/Viking/images/miut.gif