91


pillow  was  a  support  made  of  wood,  or  ivor}',  more  or  less
ornamented,  w^ith  a  curved  top  for  the  neck  to  fit  into.  (See
Wall-cases  Nos.  97, 98,  in  the  Third  Egyptian  Room.)  Carpets
were  unknown,  but  plaited  palm  leaf  or  straw  mats  took  their
])lace.  Chairs  (see  Standard-case  H  in  the  Fourth  Egy[-)tian
Room)  and  tables  were  found  in  the  houses  of  the  wealthy,
but  only  low  stools  were  known  in  poor  abodes.  (For
examples  of  a  painted  table,  chairs  inlaid  with  ivory  and
ebony,  a  couch-frame,  stools,  inlaid  box,  etc.,  see  Standard-
case  L  in  the  Fourth  Egyptian  Room.)  Men,  women,  and
children  squatted  or  sat  on  the  floor,  or  reclined  upon  mats,
and  in  later  days  upon  cushions  made  of  padded  linen.  In
houses  of  moderate
size  there  was  probably
a  raised  mud  bench,
covered  with  mats  in
the  receiving  or  eating
room,  for  the  use  of  the
male  members  of  the
house,  or  their  guests.
There  was  also,  pro-
bably, a  raised  mud
bench  built  against  the
outside  of  one  of  the
walls  of  the  house  for
the  use  of  friends  who
sat  there  in  the  cool  of
the  evening  and  for  the
men  of  the  house  to
sleep  on  during  hot
nights.  Niches,  or  square  cavities  cut  in  the  walls,  served
as  cupboards,  and  in  one  of  these  the  lamp  (see  Wall-case
No.  176  in  the  Fourth  Egyptian  Room),  usually  made  of
earthenware,  stood.
