Most people in Egypt lived in
villages of sun-baked brick houses. Egyptian homes were made
from bricks of sun dried mud, called adobe. Wood was scarce.
The homes of ordinary people were small and built close
together. These houses had square rooms with small windows
and flat roofs that were often used for cooking. Sewage was
disposed by each household in pits, in the river, or in the
streets. Each home had at least one fly catcher. The rich, who were able to
hire servants, lived in bigger homes with gardens. Twice a
day, women got water and filled the huge clay vessels that
stood in the courtyard or by the doorway of every house.
Windows and doors were covered with mats to keep out the
flies, dust and heat. The inside was were decorated with
wall hangings made of leather and floors covered with
tile. People had very little
furniture, especially in the poorer homes. Brick platforms
served as furniture such as chairs, tables and beds. Beds
were made from wood and woven reeds, and had wooden head
rests for pillows. People didn't use bed sheets. They used
animal skins to cover their furniture so that it would be
more comfortable. During hot summer nights, sometimes
families would sleep on the roof to keep cool. Animals were part of the
household. The people liked to keep cats, dogs, and monkeys
as house pets. When a pet cat died, the entire family shaved
off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning.
