The Baths- Baths were a common feature in cities throughout the Roman world. They can be found on individual estates or as public institutions, available to all sectors of the population.
Clothing- From the papyri, we have acquired a wealth of information on clothing in Ancient Egypt. Such information as material, preference for color, and style have come down to us. Information pertaining to one's status can also be revealed by examining the number of garments, type of fabric, color, and decoration.
Death- Information relating to death, in the papyri, come to us primarily in the form of wills, death notifications, (written so that a deceased individual would be taken off of the tax register),private letters, and debt settlements. The tone of these documents might seem cold to the modern reader. However, we must remember many of the letters and documents were written by scribes, who often wrote in a formulaic manner.
Ethnicity- Unless specified in a document by the author, it is often difficult to identify one's ethnicity with accuracy. One approach for identifying ethnicity is on the basis of names. However, there are problems with this approach, especially in periods where populations have been in contact with each other for some time, as in the Hellenistic period. For more information on social classes and ethnicites in Egypt see Social Status.
Industry- The weaving of flax and wool, and the exploitation of the papyrus plant were the most common industries in Egypt, especially from the Ptolemaic period on. The papyrus plant was exploited for the making of clothing and mats, as a source of food, and especially, for the production of a paper like material, which we also call papyrus. Other well-known industries were glass blowing, jewelery, and pottery production. These industries were taught either through apprenticeship, or were more often heriditary trades.
Music and Dance- Musicians, especially flutists, and dancers were often hired for both public, and private entertainment. The state and temples would employ dancers and musicians for public festivals, or contests would be held. P. Mich 4682 states the rules for one such contest.
Trade- With the foundation of Alexandria, Egypt began a prosperous career in maritime trade with the rest of the Mediterranean world. Egypt increasingly exported glass, textiles, papyrus, grain and other indigenous goods throughout the Mediterranean. In addition, trade routes found in the eastern desert, link Egypt with the Near East, as far as India. From the Mediterranean and the Near East, Egypt imported slaves, cotton, and luxury goods.
Travel- Egypt's primary mode of travel was by boat along the Nile and its many tributaries and canals. This mode of transportation was relatively cheap, quick and easy, compared with other modes of travel. However, between towns, one had to resort to travel by foot, camel or donkey. Under the Romans, the road system was expanded and improved in order to make this means of travel easier.
