The Esteemed Role and Challenges of Scribes in Ancient Egypt

The Role of Scribes in Ancient Egypt

When we think of scribes, the image that often comes to mind is that of Bartleby the Scrivener, the famous Wall Street law clerk in Herman Melville’s 1853 short story. Bartleby works “silently, palely, mechanically,” diligently producing legal documents “as if long famishing for something to copy.” However, his character ultimately transforms into an enigmatic figure who refuses to conform, isolating himself behind a desk that faces a monotonous brick wall.

In contrast, ancient Egyptian scribes held a far more esteemed position. Rather than being mere clerks, they were dignitaries of considerable importance, occupying a social rank above artisans and merchants but below priests and nobles. Their elevated status stemmed primarily from their ability to read and write, a skill that was still in its infancy during the Old Kingdom, which spanned from approximately 4,200 to 4,700 years ago. Influential families often sent their teenage sons to receive training for entry-level roles within the royal court. Here, these young men undertook essential administrative duties, such as drafting contracts, surveying land for tax assessments, and recording the biennial cattle census. It is noteworthy that there were few, if any, female scribes in this era.

Despite their prestigious roles, the scribes of the third millennium B.C. faced many occupational challenges that resonate with the experiences of modern desk workers. A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports revealed that the repetitive tasks and postures adopted by scribes during their work likely led to degenerative changes in their joints, spines, and jaws.

A team of researchers from museums and universities in the Czech Republic conducted an examination of the skeletal remains of 69 adult males buried between 2700 and 2180 B.C. in a necropolis located in Abusir, a complex of pyramids and tombs situated just south of Cairo. Of these remains, thirty were presumed to belong to scribes based on their burial locations, inferred social status, or, in six instances, titles inscribed within their tombs.

For comparative analysis, the skeletons of the scribes were juxtaposed with those of 39 non-scribes from the same geographic area and time period. As noted by Veronika Dulikova, an Egyptologist at Charles University in Prague and one of the authors of this research, “These 39 individuals belonged to the lower strata of society. They were interred in modest, mud-brick tombs featuring simple niches, rather than the elaborate false doors that were characteristic of elite burials.” These false doors were believed to serve as gateways between the worlds of the living and the deceased, facilitating the movement of the soul in and out of the tomb.