Where Were the Slave Markets?

Summary Slavery was a key component of state economy during Egypt’s New Kingdom with extensive evidence for the widespread kidnapping of foreigners as captives for the benefit of temples and other state institutions. Despite this, there is only limited evidence for the sale of slaves, and no evidence for the existence of dedicated slave markets of the type found in Classical Greece and Rome. This article argues that the Egyptian state increased its control over foreign captives during the 18 th and 19 th Dynasties for economic reasons. This in turn meant that members of the official classes who did not have access to captives through association with the military, could primarily purchase slaves at great expense through the medium of šwty(w) trade agents associated with state institutions, or alternatively rent state-owned slaves on a temporary basis.