Students were required to write a creative "autobiography" in which they assumed the role of an ancient Egyptian and discussed the role of art in ancient Egyptian society.

Student 17

"Autobiography" of a construction worker on the Egyptian Pyramids

*this essay does a good job of portraying a worker's viewpoint and Egyptian beliefs about the pyramids and the afterlife. The student takes the position that the pyramids were intended to be art.

Today was another scorcher! My team and I were able to get three of the big stones in place. One team on the south side of the pyramids lost two of their team when they were squashed with one of the big stones. I can not wait until this project is complete. My grandfather started to work on it and it appears that I will be able to see its completion.

What glory! The site was visited by the pharaoh today and I got to see him no more than ten feet from me. I prayed to him for the health of my family and for the successful completion of his tomb. It is such great honor to be a part of this great pyramid that will keep Pharaoh safe in his afterlife.

While I was on break today, I got to see some of the things that the Pharaoh wanted in his tomb. He will have a very rich and pleasurable afterlife. The figurines were very beautiful and expertly made. Sometimes I envy the artists who have the skills to make such pieces of art for the pharaoh. When I made this comment to my friend, he said that he ddi not envy the artist at all. I could not understand why he would feel that way, but he explained that he felt like the artists should envy us because we were building the greatest piece of art in history.

What a great day! the outside of the pyramids is complete! It is a magnificent site to behold. It is the highest thing that I have ever seen. This is truly a work of art. The next stage for us workers is to apply the lime on the outside to give it a smooth and bright exterior. Finally the outside is completely done. It is so bright that it hurts my eyes to look upon it in direct sunlight. Now my team and I can start to help with the inside of the tomb. I am excited to see what the inside will be like.

The pharaoh will not lack anything in his afterlife. Everything has been provided in the pyramid. He will have al his favorite things and incredible wealth. The pharaoh should be happy with his body protected with the pyramids and all his favorite stuff to play with inside.

What a day today was! Finally, the entire thing is complete. I can not believe it. After all these years and it is done and I was lucky enough to help build it and to see its completion. This is truly the greatest piece of art in the history of man. It is truly fit for a god, our pharaoh.

Today was my first day back at the farm. I hope to visit the site of the pyramid again with my family to show them this great work of art that I was a part of making. It was almost painful for me to leave the pyramid because it was so beautiful. I really hope that I will be able to see it again before I die and enter the afterlife.

Today was both sad and happy for me,. the pharaoh has entered the afterlife and my wife and I have traveled from the farm to the pyramid to see him sealed into it. My wife was stunned by the site of the pyramids. We were almost blinded by it when the sun hit it just right. The pharaoh should have a happy afterlife inside his magnificent tomb. I hope that I will have the means to be mummified when I die so that my ka will have a place to come back to so I will have a happy afterlife like the pharaoh.