Voluntary slavery? Ancient Egyptians paid a monthly fee to become temple slaves

nature.com ^ | 1-6-2012 | Hazem Zohny

[Renfield]

Becoming bound by eternal, unquestioning servitude as someone’s property is not likely most people’s career of choice. 2200 years ago, however, it seems some Egyptians voluntarily signed up to become temple slaves.

Not only that, they even paid a monthly fee for the “privilege.”

The revelation comes from the work of Egyptologist Kim Ryholt of the University of Copenhagen, who has been studying papyrus slave contracts found in a rubbish dump in the ancient Egyptian temple city of Tebtunis.

“I am your servant from this day onwards, and I shall pay 2½ copper-pieces every month as my slave-fee before Soknebtunis, the great god.”....

[Renfield]

Hmmmm.....we pay taxes, and....

[Renfield]

Ping

[Flick Lives]

I wonder if ancient Egyptians used form W-4?

[jmcenanly]

Then, as now, there were people who were willing to exchange freedom for security.The fact that they had to pay for it is even more to Franklin’s point.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

They got some befits from their “slavery” like forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the land of the west.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Not only that, they even paid a monthly fee for the “privilege.”

Not surprising to anyone who does research on what exactly took place in those temples each morning. The priest had themselves a good 'ol time and I'm sure the slaves who paid to be there got to see quite a show.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

It sounds like being a non-union member who still has to pay union dues in a non-Right to Work state. It’s still better than belonging to the union.

Temple slavery back then could get a little weird. For example, nobody was even allowed to enter much of the great Temple Complex of Karnak, which is over twice the size of Vatican City, unless every bit of hair had been shaved from their bodies.

[SunkenCiv]

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Thanks Renfield. "We didn't steal land from Mexico! They were happy to give it to us, after we whipped the hell out of them in a war." -- Archie Bunker Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.