This book contains twenty-two papers collected in honour of Robert J. Demarée by his friends and colleagues. Because of his expertise in the area of Western Thebes and ostraca of the village of Deir el-Medina in particular, the contributors have sought to address those topics in particular. Central theme of the Festschrift is the community of workmen of Deir el-Medina, which is investigated from many different angles. The papers discuss the documentary texts from the village, either written in graffiti, on papyri or on ostraca, but also aspects of the work in the Valley of the Kings, the workmen’s use of oil, birthing beds, coffins, stelae as well as their religious beliefs and behaviour. The volume thus sheds new light on the workmen’s community, as well as on the area of Western Thebes in more general terms.

This volume is a token of gratitude from the Leiden University department of Egyptology for Rob’s much appreciated contribution to its teaching programme, as well as a tribute by colleagues worldwide who have worked with him, also in fieldwork projects in Egypt.