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Queen Ahmose-Merytamun
The cobra emblem on the forehead and the Hathoric wig confirms this is a queen. Just as pharaohs were deemed an incarnation of Horus, so did queens embody the goddess Hathor. Ahmose-Merytamun was a sister and wife of Amenhotep I. The bust comes from a seated statue. The lower part, with texts identifying the owner, is still in the temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak. It stands in front of the temple's massice gateway, called "Pylons", besides a colossal seated statue of Amenhotep I himself. 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep I, circa 1525-1504 BCE. From the Temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak, Egypt. (The British Museum, London).
Questions & Answers
Could women rule in ancient Egypt?
- There were queens in ancient Egypt - such as Hatshepsut and Cleopatra VII - but this was generally frowned upon because the first divine king, the god Osiris, was male and so Egyptian monarchs were also.
Did women have equal rights in ancient Egypt?
- Women had nearly equal rights in ancient Egypt. Men were the heads of households and so were considered authority figures in other areas, but women could be supervisors, priestesses, overseers, and scribes.
What were some of the jobs performed by women in ancient Egypt?
- Women in ancient Egypt were basket-weavers, bakers, brewers, cooks, musicians, dancers, launderers, as well as scribes, estate managers, priestesses, artisans, weavers, professional mourners, and waitresses.
What was the most powerful position a woman could hold in ancient Egypt?
- After the Middle Kingdom, the most powerful position a woman could hold in ancient Egypt was God's Wife of Amun, the female counterpoint of the High Priest of Amun.
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External Links
Women's Legal Rights in Ancient Egypt
lib.uchicago.edu
Women of Ancient Egypt [ushistory.org]
ushistory.org
Digital Giza | Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
fas.harvard.edu
