Deir el-Medina — Village of the Tomb Builders
Tucked into a natural hollow between the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Deir el-Medina is the best-preserved ancient workers' village in Egypt — and one of the most underrated stops on the entire West Bank. This is where the master painters, stonemasons, and sculptors who built the royal tombs actually lived, loved, and were buried.
The Secret City of Masters
Established during the 18th Dynasty around 1550 BCE, the village was officially called Set Maat — 'The Place of Truth'. Its strategic location in a natural amphitheatre kept the artisans isolated and the secrets of the royal tombs safely hidden. At its peak, the settlement comprised around 68 mud-brick houses arranged along a single narrow street.
Thousands of written records — ostraca and papyri — found here make Deir el-Medina one of the most documented ancient communities on earth. You can read about pay disputes, love letters, and even the world's first recorded labour strike, which took place here during the reign of Ramesses III when workers downed tools to demand overdue rations.
Tombs More Vivid Than the Kings'
The artisans built their own tombs on the slopes surrounding the village, and because they were the finest craftsmen in Egypt, the results are spectacular. The tomb of Sennedjem is the showstopper: its brightly coloured original wall paintings — including a famous scene of Sennedjem and his wife beneath the tree of life — are as fresh as the day they were sealed.
One ticket gives access to the village ruins, the Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor behind the site, and a selection of artisan tombs. Allow at least 90 minutes and visit early or late to avoid the midday heat.
Deir el-Medina — Village of the Tomb Builders on video
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