Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Egypt Luxor Deir el-Medina
AO Edited

Deir el-Medina

The ancient village known as Set Maat, or the 'Place of Truth,' located on this site served as a hub for intellectual and artistic endeavors.

Luxor, Egypt

Added By
Josh Garman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
More than 3,500 year ago, this site was an intellectual hub.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
More than 3,500 year ago, this site was an intellectual hub.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Only a small percentage of ancient Egypt’s population was literate.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
More than 3,000 years of history are buried here.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Scribes once gathered here to exchange ideas.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Beautifully depicted hieroglyphs offer a glimpse of what life in ancient times was like.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Love letters and jokes have been uncovered here.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
The works here are unusually well-preserved.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Set Maat, or the ‘Place of Truth,’ was incredibly culturally important in ancient Egypt.   TheRoadProvides / Atlas Obscura User
Deir-el-Medina   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The lesser-known historical site of Deir el-Medina. or Valley of the Artisans, in Egypt is a gateway beyond the high tombs, royal palaces, temples, and ancient homes of the elite. In ancient times, this village was home to skilled workers, primarily the painters and sculptors responsible for the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. These people gave their lives to the very writing intended to converse with the Gods, meticulously designed to keep maat (an ancient Egyptian concept meaning order and harmony). Outside these tombs isfet (chaos) reigned.

In ancient Egypt, only a small percentage of the population could read or write. Literacy was a privilege of the scribes, who were trained in hieroglyphs and hieratic. Due to the special requirements of the tombs, Deir el-Medina had an unusually high concentration of literate people, sending and reading messages to one another. Residents shared their ideas, told mythological stories and diarized their thoughts and worries, all here in Egypt's 3,500-year-old writing club.

Here you will find houses as well as the tombs of high-ranking scribes and artisans. In one tomb you will find, painted onto the wall, a prostrate man, praying at the foot of a palm tree, dates falling like the burnt dough of Renenutet. The prayer is a humble one, not for glory, power, or ego, but for drinking water. Surrounding the figure, his words—depicted in hieroglyphs—float around him, spreading outward, in a request to the ancient Egyptian gods.

There are three painted tombs in total, and a vast area of mud-brick homes to explore. This includes a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor. The site provides a unique insight into the daily lives of ancient Egyptians, including their religious practices, family and work routines. Excavations have revealed thousands of artifacts including love letters, literature, and jokes.

Related Tags

Archeology Ancient Egypt Ancient

Know Before You Go

After crossing the nile to the West Bank, you can take a tuk-tuk from the centre to the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office and purchase a ticket to visit Deir el-Medina. They take cards only, no cash.

Afterwards, you can decide to take another short tuk-tuk journey there, or walk. Most go on foot, as it is around 15 minutes from the ticket office. 

The village isn't visited as frequently as the other big sites, so you will likely have a quiet place to explore!

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Egypt Family Adventure: Pyramids, Mummies & The Mighty Nile

Cross dream-like deserts and uncover the secrets of ancient pyramids.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

TheRoadProvides

Edited By

madiconvey, philoursmars

  • madiconvey
  • philoursmars

Published

February 28, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Deir el-Medina
PJH2+37
Luxor, 1340412
Egypt
25.728044, 32.601425
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Colossi of Memnon

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Hatshepsut's Myrrh Tree

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Malkata Palace

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Luxor

Luxor

Egypt

Places 5
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Colossi of Memnon

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Hatshepsut's Myrrh Tree

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Malkata Palace

Luxor, Egypt

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Luxor

Luxor

Egypt

Places 5
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Alexandria, Egypt

    Sister Library of Alexandria

    Underneath the Serapeum ruins lies a dark passage with nooks for books, the lesser-known “sister” to the famous ancient library.

  • The Djoser Pyramid (4,700 years old) and a camel (age unknown).

    Badrshein, Egypt

    Pyramid of Djoser

    This ancient structure is widely thought to be the oldest intact pyramid in the world.

  • Yassıhüyük, Turkey

    Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)

    The oldest known standing wooden building in the world is a chamber inside a burial mound.

  • Overlooking Mamurra’s villa and baths.

    Formia, Italy

    Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri

    This little visited park is a treasure trove of ancient Roman ruins.

  • Menawali, India

    Portuguese Bell at Menavali Ghat

    Taken as a war trophy in 1739, this Portuguese bell now hangs in an ancient Hindu temple.

  • Turkey

    Ancient City of Magnesia

    These ancient ruins include a stadium dating back to 400 BC.

  • Lagoa Santa Man.

    Lapinha, Brazil

    Lagoa Santa Man

    The skeletal remains of an ancient human were found with the bones of giant ground sloths.

  • Olbia, Italy

    Roman Aqueduct of Olbia

    An ancient aqueduct tells the story of Sardinia's ancient Roman past.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.