The Pyramids of Egypt were not constructed with slave labor. Archaeological evidence shows that the laborers were a combination of skilled workers and poor farmers working in the off-season with the participants paid in high-quality food and tax exemptions.[1][2] The idea that slaves were used originated with Herodotus, and the idea that they were Israelites arose centuries after the pyramids were constructed.[3][2]
Galleys in ancient times were not commonly operated by chained slaves or prisoners, as depicted in films such as Ben Hur, but by paid laborers or soldiers, with slaves used only in times of crisis, in some cases even gaining freedom after the crisis was averted. Ptolemaic Egypt was a possible exception.[4][5] Other types of vessels, such as Roman merchant vessels, were manned by slaves, sometimes even with slaves as ship's master.[6]
^ abWatterson, Barbara (1997). "The Era of Pyramid-builders". The Egyptians. Blackwell. p. 63. Herodotus claimed that the Great Pyramid at Giza was built with the labour of 100,000 slaves working in three-monthly shifts, a charge that cannot be substantiated. Much of the non-skilled labour on the pyramids was undertaken by peasants working during the Inundation season when they could not farm their lands. In return for their services they were given rations of food, a welcome addition to the family diet.
^Casson, Lionel (1966). "Galley Slaves". Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. 97: 35–36. doi:10.2307/2936000. JSTOR2936000.
