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Egyptian Votive Tunic
Egyptian votive tunic, possibly from Deir-el-Bahari, Thebes, probably 19th Dynasty, c. 1275 BCE.
The British Museum, London. Photo taken at The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia.
Often described as a child's tunic because of its small size, this garment probably had a more sacred function. It is dedicated to Hathor, who is depicted in the shape of a cow and described as 'Hathor foremost of Thebes, Lady of Heaven, Mistress of the gods' in hieroglyphs above the animal. Such tunics would have been offered to the goddess, possibly to invoke protection for a child or a woman during labour.
Questions & Answers
Did children in the ancient world play with toys?
- Yes, children in the ancient world played with dolls, toy soldiers, wooden weapons, pull-toys, balls, figurines, and many other playthings.
How young were children put to work in the ancient world?
- The age at which a child went to work depended on his or her social standing. A lower-class child was expected to help with work as soon as they were able; an upper-class child might not assume responsibilities until around the age of seven, if then.
Why are children so underrepresented in ancient art?
- Children were understood as "adults in training", not as individuals worthy of consideration in their own right, except as subjects in funerary monuments or artworks celebrating motherhood, the family, or a divine child.
At what age did children in the ancient world begin attending school?
- In ancient Rome, children began school around the age of seven. In ancient Mesopotamia, education was optional, and the children of the wealthy began school around the age of eight - the same with Egypt.
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External Links
Archaeologies of Childhood | Childhood in Ancient World
kelsey.lsa.umich.edu
Children in the Ancient World - Local Histories
localhistories.org
Children in the Ancient Near East - The BAS Library
biblicalarchaeology.org
