Everyday life in ancient Egypt: food, dental care and games

Ancient Egypt conjures pyramids, pharaohs and the Nile. Yet behind that grand tableau was everyday life: ordinary people ate, fell ill, sought remedies and made time to unwind. Scholars are increasingly studying this human side of the civilization—and the findings are fascinating.

Bread, beer and fruit: the essentials on the table

Bread and beer were the most popular foods in Egypt. Bread was baked from emmer and barley, often with spices or dates added, especially in wealthier households. Beer, also made from barley, was thick, nourishing and drunk by almost everyone.

People also ate plenty of vegetables—onions, garlic, lettuce and beans. Figs, dates and grapes were the most common fruits. Ordinary folk mainly followed a plant-based diet, while meat and fish were reserved for feast days or the affluent. Fish came straight from the Nile: catfish, tilapia and others.

Researchers have even analyzed human remains and found that children and adults ate differently. For instance, children were often given milk porridges to help them grow.

How they cared for their teeth

Egyptians’ teeth were far from perfect. Coarse food, sand in the flour and poor water quality took a toll. Even so, they tried to help themselves.

There were specialists who treated only teeth. One such doctor, Hesy-ra, even served as a pharaoh’s personal dentist. Treatments relied on herbs, pastes, rinses and special ointments. Archaeologists have found instruments that resemble modern dental tools.

Some people wore simple prosthetics, and in certain cases they even tried to insert substitutes for missing teeth. These were not the implants we know today, but the attempts themselves are striking—they show a concern for health within the limits of what was possible.

What games ancient Egyptians played

One of the most popular games was Senet, a board game somewhat like checkers or backgammon. Kings and commoners alike played it. The game also carried sacred meaning and was often placed in tombs in the belief that it would help in the afterlife.

Over the past year, no new archaeological finds related to games have appeared. Even so, the evidence already on hand is enough to see that Egyptians knew how to relax and valued their leisure.

What we learned about daily life

Recent research shows a life in ancient Egypt that was organized and deliberate. People sought to eat well, treat ailments, look after themselves and even make time for board games. And this applied not only to the wealthy—ordinary Egyptians, too, had access to food, care and recreation, if in simpler forms.

As scholars keep uncovering details, the civilization feels less distant: behind pyramids and mummies was the pulse of real life—bread on the table, household routines and a steady desire to stay healthy.