What Did Egyptians Do for Fun? Discover Ancient Leisure

If you're asking yourself what did Egyptians do for fun?—like, back in the days of the pharaohs, how did they spend their free time? You’d be surprised how full of joy and creativity their lives were. 

From sports and music to games and stories, they really knew how to have fun in simple but brilliant ways. Let’s go back in time and discover the world of entertainment in Ancient Egypt!

What did Egyptians do for fun?

In ancient Egypt, entertainment was a very important part of people's lives, whether rich or poor.

They used to find time for fun in the middle of daily work and enjoyed things like dancing and music, which were played during celebrations and in temples, and also sports like wrestling and javelin throwing. 

Children also had their own games, like dolls, balls, and playing in the street. Not only that, the ancient Egyptians loved stories and myths, and there were famous stories that were told, like the Story of Sinuhe and the Shipwrecked Sailor. 

Entertainment for them wasn’t just for fun; it also expressed culture, religion, and even morals. All of this shows us how their lives were full of art, movement, and laughter.

What Were the Hobbies the Ancient Egyptians Enjoyed?

If you thought the life of the Pharaohs was all about temples and pyramid building, then you should know that the ancient Egyptians were ordinary people too; they loved to spend their free time doing things they loved! 

Yes indeed, they had hobbies and activities they enjoyed during their rest time. Let’s take a look at their most popular hobbies:

1. Games and Sports

The thing they loved most was playing! Their sports were not just hobbies, they were also training for soldiers and a way to strengthen body and mind.

2. Art, Drawing, and Sculpting

The Egyptians were naturally artistic! In their free time, they drew, sculpted, and decorated walls.

• Even children made small clay statues.
• Women loved to decorate walls with simple drawings and patterns.

 3. Music and Dance

Music was a very important part of their lives. They played instruments like the harp, flute, and drums. Dance appeared in religious occasions and festivities. 

4. Reading and Stories

Educated people among them loved to read papyrus scrolls and listen to stories. These stories carried wisdom and lessons, and also myths about the gods.

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5. Gardening and Horticulture as a Hobby

Even farming was considered a hobby! People in the countryside loved to plant flowers and aromatic plants around their homes. They enjoyed spending time tending plants.

6. Keeping Animals and Birds

Some people liked to raise birds like geese and ducks, and also cats (which were sacred to them).

Animal breeding wasn't just practical but also brought companionship and joy.

7. Family Gatherings and Celebrations

Family gatherings were sacred! They loved to come together, eat, listen to music, and talk about their day. On special occasions, there was food, dancing, and hymns.

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What Did Egyptians Do in Their Free Time?

If you asked yourself: What did ancient Egyptians do in their free time? You’d find an answer full of fun and variety, even the simple classes weren’t deprived of entertainment.

1. Hunting, Horseback Riding, and the Rivers

They loved hunting, not just for food, but as a hobby and sport, especially among the noble classes. Hunters used bows and arrows, sticks, and nets to catch gazelles and birds.

Also, river fishing was a favorite activity. People would go fishing in the Nile or canals to relax, and also for food.

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2-Swimming and Playing in the Nile

People adored swimming. Many of them trained from childhood to swim, not just in the capital, but along the banks of the Nile and canals.

They also participated in boat races and challenges like the sport of “shooting-the-rapids,” where two teams competed in boats trying to overtake each other in the river.

3-Board Games and Dice Games

The most famous game was Senet, which existed as early as 3100 BC. It represented a person’s journey to the afterlife.

• There was also Mehen, a game played on a circular board shaped like a snake. It had religious meanings and protective spells.
• Other games included Dogs and Jackals, which involved speed and competition.

4. Children’s Games and Hobbies

Kids in ancient Egypt had fun playing games like chasing each other, pulling ropes, and climbing things

Girls played “angel dancing,” spinning in circles and pretending to dance for the goddess Hathor.

They had simple toys like dolls made of cloth or clay, balls made from palm leaves or fabric, and tiny stuffed fabric dolls.

5. Sports and Physical Skills

The Egyptians practiced wrestling, archery, racing, long jumping, acrobatics, and even hockey with palm sticks and balls made of paper or leather.

Playing these sports helped young men prepare for war or military training.

6. Music, Dance, and Parties

Music and dance were essential elements of all celebrations and events, whether religious or social. They played songs and danced using the lute, flute, tambourine, cymbals, and pipe.

Rich bachelors held parties with music and dancing, and there were even special parties for children.

7. Stories and Oral Storytelling

A calm moment after eating? There’d be a storytelling session. The ancient Egyptians loved tales about gods, myths, and the heroic deeds of Pharaohs.

These stories carried lessons and morals and were passed down orally from one generation to the next.

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8. Gardens and Relaxation

Wealthy families had gardens next to their homes or palaces, full of trees, flowers, small lakes, and shaded spots. They would sit there to relax, cooled by servants waving palm-leaf fans.

9. Festivals and Celebrations

Festivals played a major role in people’s entertainment, such as:

• The Opet Festival: with processions, music, and dancing.
• Agricultural and religious festivals, like Hathor’s Feast, the Valley Festival, and the Feast of Healing , all included shows, music, and celebrations.

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Ancient Egypt Entertainment and Games

If you think that the life of the pharaohs was all about temples, priests, and kings, then you need to rethink! 

Egyptians back then were people who loved joy and laughter, and they had many ways to spend their free time. Whether rich or poor, everyone had their share of playing, dancing, music, and storytelling. 

Let’s go back in time and dive into the world of entertainment in ancient Egypt, and see how much they truly knew how to live life with simplicity and love!

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Music, Dance, and Parties in Ancient Egypt

The pharaohs weren't serious people all the time, quite the opposite! They knew how to celebrate and truly enjoy themselves, and they believed that no occasion, whether religious or social, was complete without music and dancing.

• Music Was the Heart of Every Celebration

At every feast, party, or festival, the music had to be loud, the drums had to beat, and people had to dance. And this isn’t just talk, it’s proven on the walls of temples and on objects engraved with scenes of parties and celebrations.

• Special Dance Troupes for Every Occasion

There were dance troupes that were hired especially for events, whether religious like temple celebrations, or worldly like the birth of a child or the crowning of a king. 

The dancers, both male and female, would perform to the sounds of the lute, harp, flute, tambourine, cymbals, and drums. They had a wide variety of musical instruments, which shows how important music was in their daily lives.

• Palace Parties… Luxury and Joy

As for royal parties, those were something magnificent. Girls would dance in front of guests wearing only jewelry and gold, while acrobats performed eye-catching moves. 

The musicians encouraged people to join by clapping and singing, it felt just like a modern-day party. 

Types of Dance in Ancient Egypt

There were several types of dance in ancient Egyptian life, including:

• Harem dancing
• Banquet dancing
• Religious and non-religious dancing
• Combat dancing
• Street dancing

So dancing wasn’t just for fun, it also had roles in religious rituals and life and death ceremonies.

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Games and Toys: Fun for Kids and Adults

Playtime for the pharaohs wasn’t just wasting time, it was a way of learning, imagining, and having fun.

Children used to play with animal-shaped toys like cats, dogs, and frogs, and some of them could even move!

Ancient Egyptian dolls were crafted using fabric and filled with things like straw or horse hair to make them soft.

And there was even a small mechanical dog from the New Kingdom that worked with a lever!

Types of Games in Ancient Egypt

As for board games (like today’s table games), there were many, and the most famous ones were:

• Senet: A very popular game played by two people that symbolized the soul's journey from life to death.
• Mehen (the Snake Game): The oldest known game, and it had religious rituals.
• The game “Hounds and Jackals,” discovered in King Tut’s tomb, was like a board race where players aimed to beat each other by capturing pieces.

These fun games weren’t just for kids—grown-ups enjoyed them too, during their breaks, whether they lived in big palaces or small houses.

Festivals and Celebrations: Spirit-Filled Holidays

The ancient Egyptians were big on celebrations! Any religious event or natural happening was a reason to come together and enjoy. Some of their favorite festivals were:

• The Opet Festival: honored the connection between Amun and the pharaoh. It took place during the yearly flooding of the Nile.
• The Valley Festival: Honored the deceased ancestors.
• Egyptian New Year (Wepet-Renpet): Coincided with the rise of the Sirius star and the start of the Nile’s flooding.
• Feast of Drunkenness (Hathor Feast): A celebration of the goddess Hathor, the symbol of love and music.
• Festival of Min: Symbolized fertility and agriculture.
• Osiris Festival: Celebrated resurrection and life after death.

These festivals brought everyone together and got people to join in dancing, singing, eating, and praying. They strengthened their connection with each other, with the pharaoh, and with the gods.

13 Sports of the Pharaohs

If you think the pharaohs spent all their time between temples and statues, you should know they were also super fit and loved sports!

Not only did they train, but they also organized tournaments, set rules, and rewarded winners with collars. From the king to the farmer, everyone took part… Let’s dive into what sports were like back then!

1. Wrestling: The First Popular Sport of the Pharaohs

It was a main sport for soldiers and young people. The carvings on the walls of Beni Hassan temples show wrestling moves similar to judo or freestyle wrestling. 

There were audiences, referees, clear rules, the winner got cheers, and the loser got respect for good sportsmanship.

2-Archery: Precision and Power of Kings

Kings and princes were proud of their accuracy. King Amenhotep II, for example, pierced a brass target with four arrows! Archery was a sport and a noble hobby.

3-Rowing: Harmony and Muscle Strength

The Nile worked like a huge race track for the pharaohs. They held boat races with teams rowing together, guided by a leader shouting commands. It’s the same system used in modern-day boat races!

4-Weightlifting: A Muscle Challenge

There are images of men lifting sandbags with one hand and holding them up in the air. That’s just like the modern clean and jerk! It’s a game of focus, strength, and stamina.

5-Marathons and Races: A King’s Strength Test

During coronation celebrations, the king would run around the temple to prove he was still strong enough to rule. People who shared the king’s birthday even got to join the races too!

6-Swimming: The Pharaohs’ Love for Water

Swimming was one of their favorite sports, whether in the Nile or palace pools. Competitions were held in the calm waters of the river.

7-Gymnastics and Flexibility: Before the Olympics!

There are pictures showing athletes performing consecutive air flips without touching the ground, landing with perfect balance. Just like watching Tokyo Olympics!

They also had rhythmic gymnastics, just like today: one player stood on one leg, another balanced on his head with perfect stability!

8-Tug of War: A Traditional Village Game

The pharaohs played “tug of war” just like we see in rural Egypt today. Each team pulls against the other, holding tightly together, with a judge in the middle.

9-Javelin Throwing: Hunting with Precision

Back then, people used the javelin not just for hunting animals, but also as a fun and challenging sport to show off their skills. It was thrown with high accuracy at prey and spun back. Its twisted end helped it spin and return to the player.

10-Boxing: Organized Fights

There are paintings in the tombs of Ptahhotep and Mery Ra showing boxers ready to fight, with calculated punches. Pharaohs watched the matches, proof they were official competitions.

11-High Jumping: A Game of Challenge

Two players sat facing each other with their legs stretched, and the third jumped over them. Every successful jump raised the height. This game still exists in villages and is called “goose steps.”

12-Hockey and Handball-Like Games

They had a hockey-like game using long palm sticks and a papyrus ball covered in colored leather. 

There was also a handball game where four girls tossed the ball at the same time—some standing, some on each other's backs!

13-Fishing: A Sport and a Hobby

Fishing wasn’t just for food, it was a royal sport too. The Egyptian Museum still holds advanced ancient fishing tools: lines, rods, and hooks of different designs.

Stories and Myths of the Ancient Egyptians

If you think that the pharaohs only built temples and worshipped the gods, then you still don’t know that a big part of their daily life was full of stories and myths! 

The ancient Egyptians loved sitting together and storytelling, and this was a very important part of their culture.

Whether they were in family gatherings, celebrations, or even evening sittings under the light of torches, there was always someone telling a story that would captivate the people around him.

These stories were not just for entertainment, they expressed their beliefs, values, and their view of life and the afterlife.

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Examples of Ancient Egyptian Storytelling

Some of the most famous stories that were told include:

• The Story of Sinuhe, It’s about a man who ran away from Egypt after the king died. He spent years in the desert, learned a lot about life, and finally came back home wiser than ever.
• The Story of Setna and Taboubu, This one is full of magic and surprises. It tells a story that mixes fantasy with a deep message about choices and their consequences.
• The Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor, A powerful story about a man who survives a shipwreck and ends up on a strange island. It teaches us to stay patient and keep believing, even when things get really hard.

These stories weren’t just for fun, they were a great art form that taught people right from wrong and conveyed moral messages in a simple way. 

Just like sports strengthen the body, these stories nourished the soul and developed people’s thinking.

Stories in Ancient Egypt were more than just words being said, they were a way of transmitting entire beliefs, and a major reason behind the emergence of the myths and gods we know from this civilization.

What Did Poor People Do for Fun in Ancient Egypt

Even though they weren’t rich, they had many ways to relax and be happy:

• They loved to play simple games like balls, dice, and board games such as the famous “Senet.”
• During the pharaohs’ time, music and dancing were a very important part of celebrations and even daily life.
• On holidays, they would take part in religious festivals, dress nicely, and eat special food for the occasion.
• They also enjoyed telling stories, especially at night with family or neighbors.
• Some of them would go to the Nile to fish, swim, or just enjoy the peace.

Simply, even though their lives were simple, they knew how to create real joy from the simplest things.

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Do you want to live a day like the ancient Egyptians? This trip is for you!

In ancient Egypt, people used to laugh from their hearts, play simple games, sing, dance, and celebrate life… even if they were poor. 

And that’s exactly what you’ll feel the moment you visit the places they lived in.

With Egypt Online Tour, you won’t just see history… you’ll live it! 
 We’ll plan a trip for you where you walk through the streets of the ancient Egyptians, see the farmers’ houses, explore the temples, and feel the spirit of the people who lived and enjoyed life their way.

Since 2006, we’ve helped thousands of visitors discover Egypt from a different angle, with a comfortable, organized experience that fits your budget.

Book your trip with us now and let us prepare a step-by-step itinerary just for you.

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Conclusion

Even though poor people in ancient Egypt weren’t rich, they knew how to live their lives and enjoy themselves with the simplest things. 

From games and competitions, to music, dancing, storytelling around the fire, and even religious celebrations that brought them together and brought joy to their hearts… all of this proves that they had spirit, and the ability to create happiness from nothing. 

And this is the biggest proof that happiness was never about money, but about the soul that knows how to live and be happy.