Women held privileged positions in ancient Egyptian society, including respected roles as mothers, wives, workers, and priestesses. As priestesses, some women performed daily rituals and ceremonies. More broadly, women were visible members of society who had significant legal rights and independence, including rights to inheritance, property, and participation in legal proceedings. As mothers, women were crucial to Egyptian culture's emphasis on fertility and child-rearing.
2. The Role of Women in Ancient EgyptThe Role of Women in Ancient Egypt
Women held aWomen held a privileged positionprivileged position within Egyptianwithin Egyptian
society that extended into the afterlife.society that extended into the afterlife.
Women were respected as honourableWomen were respected as honourable mothersmothers,,
wiveswives,, workersworkers andand priestessespriestesses..
Women in Egypt sometimes heldWomen in Egypt sometimes held high positionshigh positions inin
religious groups and even sometimes acted asreligious groups and even sometimes acted as
PharaohPharaoh!!
3. The Privileged WomanThe Privileged Woman
Historians are often amazed by how important andHistorians are often amazed by how important and vitalvital
Ancient Egyptian women were in Egyptian Society.Ancient Egyptian women were in Egyptian Society.
Compared with other ancient culturesCompared with other ancient cultures (Greece and Rome)(Greece and Rome)
women in Egypt were often well respected, highly visible andwomen in Egypt were often well respected, highly visible and
protected by Egyptian law.protected by Egyptian law.
The private life of women in Egypt was one ofThe private life of women in Egypt was one of freedom,freedom,
independence, legal and citizenship rightsindependence, legal and citizenship rights..
A key part of Ancient Egyptian culture was the belief inA key part of Ancient Egyptian culture was the belief in
matrilineal descent and equal inheritancematrilineal descent and equal inheritance (The idea that men(The idea that men
and women have an equal right to land and mothers are keyand women have an equal right to land and mothers are key
members of a family.)members of a family.)
An Egyptian woman being grantedAn Egyptian woman being granted
her inheritance by her father.her inheritance by her father.
4. Egyptian Women as WivesEgyptian Women as Wives
Women had theWomen had the right to buy, retain and sell anyright to buy, retain and sell any
property or goodsproperty or goods they brought into a marriage.they brought into a marriage.
Women were able to beWomen were able to be witnesses in court, sit on awitnesses in court, sit on a
jury and take complaints directly to the judgejury and take complaints directly to the judge
Women were even able toWomen were even able to perform legal dutiesperform legal duties forfor
their husbands if they were sick or away.their husbands if they were sick or away.
Marriage for women wasMarriage for women was respectablerespectable and a symbol ofand a symbol of
her achievement asher achievement as ‘mistress of the house’‘mistress of the house’..
An Egyptian women was an extremelyAn Egyptian women was an extremely
important aspect of Egyptian family lifeimportant aspect of Egyptian family life
5. Egyptian Women as MothersEgyptian Women as Mothers
Egyptian culture had a huge focus onEgyptian culture had a huge focus on fertilityfertility. As the. As the
ones able to bear children, women were of greatones able to bear children, women were of great
importance to Egyptian society.importance to Egyptian society.
Being fertile was aBeing fertile was a sign of successsign of success and having childrenand having children
was an achievement.was an achievement.
In a religious sense, women as mothers were incrediblyIn a religious sense, women as mothers were incredibly
important in maintaining theimportant in maintaining the belief in birth andbelief in birth and
rebirthrebirth..
Women were vital inWomen were vital in raising childrenraising children, providing, providing
children withchildren with education and protectioneducation and protection..
A woman as a mother in Egypt had aA woman as a mother in Egypt had a
large role to playlarge role to play
6. An Egyptian Woman and ReligionAn Egyptian Woman and Religion
Some women held a vital role as temple priestesses.Some women held a vital role as temple priestesses.
Their role was to perform daily rituals to please theTheir role was to perform daily rituals to please the
gods.gods.
Many priestesses also trained in music. They oftenMany priestesses also trained in music. They often
performed at religious celebrations for the Pharaoh.performed at religious celebrations for the Pharaoh.
Women were also given the job of ritual mourners.Women were also given the job of ritual mourners.
In this role women cried and publicly displayedIn this role women cried and publicly displayed
grief to ensure the dead were given a proper sendgrief to ensure the dead were given a proper send
off.off.
Women mourning during aWomen mourning during a
funeral.funeral.
7. An Egyptian Woman and ReligionAn Egyptian Woman and Religion
Some women held a vital role as temple priestesses.Some women held a vital role as temple priestesses.
Their role was to perform daily rituals to please theTheir role was to perform daily rituals to please the
gods.gods.
Many priestesses also trained in music. They oftenMany priestesses also trained in music. They often
performed at religious celebrations for the Pharaoh.performed at religious celebrations for the Pharaoh.
Women were also given the job of ritual mourners.Women were also given the job of ritual mourners.
In this role women cried and publicly displayedIn this role women cried and publicly displayed
grief to ensure the dead were given a proper sendgrief to ensure the dead were given a proper send
off.off.
Women mourning during aWomen mourning during a
funeral.funeral.
