08 | Model granary and boat

[flapping]

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CLEO: Oh, wow! Look at this model, Ahmose.

It looks like they’re working, cooking or something.

There’s a brick oven in the corner, and they’re carrying sacks of … something.

AHMOSE: That’s right, it’s–

CLEO: Wait, can I guess?

AHMOSE: Go for it, but it’s a bit of a tricky one. Why don’t I just–

CLEO: I think it’s a granary, like where they grind wheat into flour, and then turn it into bread

and cook it in that oven.

How’d I do?

AHMOSE: Spot on! It’s also a brewery where they brewed beer.

Although it wasn’t like beer today. It was a bit like runny porridge.

CLEO: Wait, porridge beer?

AHMOSE: Yes, and it only had a bit of alcohol in it.

So kids could drink the beer too.

CLEO: Ew.

AHMOSE: Now these sorts of models were–

CLEO: Let me guess, these wooden models would have been placed in tombs

so that dead people could have food and drink in the afterlife.

AHMOSE: Wow. CLEO: Was I right?

AHMOSE: Yeah, you were. You’ve obviously been learning a lot about ancient Egyptian culture.

CLEO: Meow, I’m pretty great!

AHMOSE: Why don’t you have a go with this other model too?

CLEO: Ooh, this is really interesting. It’s a wooden model of a boat with lots of people on it.

It looks like the people are rowing, but there are no oars.

AHMOSE: Maybe they broke off or were lost. CLEO: Yeah, maybe.

But [gasps] look, in the middle there! That looks like a coffin.

AHMOSE: Oh yeah, it does.

CLEO: I wonder if this model is supposed to be a scene of the coffin being taken to be put in its tomb.

AHMOSE: Or it may even be representing the dead person being taken to the afterlife.

CLEO: Oh yeah, maybe. I never would have thought that people went to the afterlife by boat.

AHMOSE: It also looks like there’s an animal on board. Probably another cat. Ugh.

CLEO: Well, we are very important. But it looks like an ox.

AHMOSE: Oh yeah. Oxen were used in farming and were sacrificed to the gods.

I wonder what this one is being used for.

CLEO: Shall we head to the next object? AHMOSE: Why not?

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