The high status of women in ancient Egypt was reflected in many aspects of the culture but, notably, in the number of female deities who embodied the concept of the Divine Feminine and were honored by both women and men. Women were regarded as men’s equals in almost every aspect save one’s occupation.
As men were recognized as the head of the household, so were they regarded as authority figures, ordained by the gods, in business and politics. Since the first divine king, Osiris, had been male, Egyptian monarchs who came after him were also, even though there were exceptions including Hatshepsut and Cleopatra VII. Balance and harmony, symbolized by the goddess Ma’at and her white feather, was a central value of Egyptian culture and equality – or near-quality at least – was understood as essential to the social stability Ma’at and her fellow deities encouraged.
The following gallery presents the women of ancient Egypt, primarily of the upper class, and some of the goddesses who represented the culture’s values.
