If we pass from the architecture of the period to its social condition, we remark that grades of society already existed, and were as pronounced as in later times.  The kings were already deities, and treated with superstitious regard.  The state-officials were a highly privileged class, generally more or less connected with the royal family.  The land was partly owned by the king (Gen. xlvii. 6), who employed his own labourers and herdsmen upon it; partly, mainly perhaps, it was in the hands of great landed proprietors—­nobles, who lived in country houses upon their estates, maintaining large households, and giving employment to scores of peasants, herdsmen, artizans, huntsmen, and fishermen.  The “lower orders” were of very little account.  They were at the beck and call of the landed aristocracy in the country districts, of the state-officials in the towns.  Above all, the monarch had the right of impressing them into his service whenever he pleased, and employing them in the “great works” by which he strove to perpetuate his name.

[Illustration:  GREAT PYRAMID OF SACCARAH (Present appearance).]

[Illustration:  SECTION OF THE SAME, SHOWING ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.]

There prevailed, however, a great simplicity of manners.  The dress of the upper classes was wonderfully plain and unpretending, presenting little variety and scarcely any ornament.  The grandee wore, indeed, an elaborate wig, it being imperative on all men to shave the head for the sake of cleanliness.  But otherwise, his costume was of the simplest and the scantiest.  Ordinarily, when he was employed in the common duties of life, a short tunic, probably of white linen, reaching from the waist to a little above the knee, was his sole garment.  His arms, chest, legs, even his feet, were naked; for sandals, not to speak of stockings or shoes, were unknown.  The only decoration which he wore was a chain or riband round the neck, to which was suspended an ornament like a locket—­probably an amulet.  In his right hand he carried a long staff or wand, either for the purpose of belabouring his inferiors, or else to use it as a walking-stick.  On special occasions he made, however, a more elaborate toilet.  Doffing his linen tunic, he clothed himself in a single, somewhat scanty, robe, which reached from the neck to the ankles; and having exchanged his chain and locket for a broad collar, and adorned his wrists with bracelets, he was ready to pay visits or to receive company.  He had no carriage, so far as appears, not even a palanquin; no horse to ride, nor even a mule or a donkey.  The great men of the East rode, in later times, on “white asses” (Judges v. 10); the Egyptian of Sneferu’s age had to trudge to court, or to make calls upon his friends, by the sole aid of those means of locomotion which nature had given him.