"Drinking with Khonsu" sounds like a vibe | An Egyptian Ostracon from 1250 BC

This ostracon, a pottery shard used as a writing surface, holds a detailed attendance record from the reign of Ramses II, specifically from his 40th year in power. It's a kind of ancient "timesheet" used by overseers to monitor the presence and absences of workers—likely those involved in large-scale construction projects or temple work, typical under Pharaoh Ramses II, whose reign saw many monumental building efforts.

The record spans 280 days out of the year and features a list of around forty workmen's names, written in a careful, organized manner in the right-hand columns on both the front and back of the ostracon. Next to the names, dates are written in a horizontal line to indicate the specific days of attendance or absence. Above many dates, a red-inked notation marks reasons for absences, a color likely chosen to make these entries more prominent for easy reference. The reasons may have included illness, religious obligations, family duties, or even special permission to be away—providing insight into the work culture, priorities, and daily life during that time.

The text on the ostracon is written in hieratic script, a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphs used for more practical, everyday purposes, which is fitting for a document meant to record routine labor. This ostracon reflects not only the meticulous record-keeping of ancient Egypt but also hints at a structured workforce where workers were accounted for and held to certain expectations, similar in many ways to modern-day workforce management.