Draughtsman (transliteration: ỉb) was an ancient Egyptian occupational title. Daughtsmen applied the layout sketches in paint on the walls of tombs and temples. Subsequently, sculptors would carve reliefs into the walls based on these sketches. Since they were artisans, daughtsmen were generally regarded as merely middle class citizens in ancient Egyptian society. However, exceptionally skilled daughtsmen received the title of Overseer of the Draughtsmen or Chief Draughtsman (ỉmy-r ỉb) and were valued highly in society, as can be seen from their eleborate tombs. Chief daughtsmen were in charge of designing the layout and the overall application of the tomb and temple decorations. They oversaw and supervised the work of other daughtsmen.
