Hi zoeygoo,
The common laborers would have lived mainly on bread and vegetables,
such as
onions, radishes, cucumber and garlic, lots of beer, and some fish,
pork and birds. Most of the land had to be used for growing crops, so
only the rich could afford meat from grazing animals. The bread was
very gritty because the corn had to be ground by hand using rough
stones and their teeth suffered for it.
"Workers were divided into two categories: skilled and laborers.
Skilled artisans were considered socially superior to common laborers.
Some examples of skilled laborers were carpenters, scribes,
physicians, and scholars. Also included in this category were stone
masons and sculptors. Skilled artisans were educated by a master in
their field who ensured the consistency of their work. Some of the
unskilled laborers were: brick makers, farm laborers, servants, and
laborers who toiled with the pyramids."
"Since there was no money, tomb workers were usually paid with
ordinary items like beer or bread. Special goods such as oil, salt,
beef, or linen were given by the government as bonus payments."
http://www.lakelandschools.org/lt/Museum/Geog/eco.html
BEER:
"Beer, together with bread, oil and vegetables, was an important part
of the wages workers received from their employers. The standard daily
ration during pharaonic times was two jars containing somewhat more
than two litres each. It was a healthier drink than water drawn from
the river or some canal, which was often polluted."
http://www.terraflex.co.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/drink.htm
BREAD:
"The dough was made of flour, water and leaven - either some sour
dough left over from the previous day or some barm from the last
brewing of beer - and was left to rise in warm moulds [3] and then
baked in closed ovens [1]."
http://www.terraflex.co.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/bread.htm
Food in Ancient Egypt:
"The staple food was bread and beer, supplemented by onions or other
vegetables and dried fish."
http://www.terraflex.co.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/food.htm
Ancient Egypt from A to Z:
http://www.ancient-egypt.org/glossary/food.html
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please post a
clarification request before rating my answer.
Thank you,
hummer
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