Role Of Women In Ancient Egypt - Essay Example

due: Role of women in ancient Egypt and information on queen Hatsheput Egypt is well known for its early civilization on earth. Egypt thrived for thousands of years with great cultural advances in every field of human knowledge, from arts to science to technology and religion. With these cultural advances, each member of the society had a role to play. This essay will focus mainly on the role of women in the ancient Egypt and the first of the female pharaohs known as Hatsheput. Hatsheput was one of the first female pharaohs in the recorded history of ancient Egypt.

She lived in the 15th century B.C. She ruled for an approximate period of 15-20 years. Before her reign as pharaoh, despite being his half-sister, Hatsheput was main wife of Thutmose II, who was the pharaoh. Upon her husband’s death, she proclaimed herself pharaoh instead of the Thutmose’s first born son Thutmose III, who was still young (Scott 14). During her reign, she expanded the Egyptian kingdom and brought many developments including building temples and restored many others. Through building projects, Hatsheput ensured divine property of both herself and her people.

Hatsheput reigned until her death in 1457 B. C, despite constant threat by her co-ruler Thutmose III, who was at the time old enough and ready to take back his throne. Upon her death, most of her monuments were destroyed, and her name erased from the Egyptian records. Ancient Egyptians were religious, and women had several roles to play in religious activities. First, there were several female goddesses worshiped by the Egyptians. Women were also musicians and priestesses in the temples where religious ceremonies were held.

In the role of the temple, women were musician-priestesses and held an important and honorable place in Egyptian religious society. They performed music and sung for the god Amum for his entertainment. In the social role, women were supposed to offer companionship and love to the Egyptian men. They also held the role of childbirth. During child delivery, other women acted as mid-wives to help the expectant woman through the whole process. Women were also responsible for the raising up of the children.

Economically, women were allowed to start and run businesses of their own. In addition to this, several jobs were available to them. They included perfume makers, bakers, and weavers among others (Flux 19). To sum it up, in ancient Egypt, unlike other ancient societies, women were given same legal and economic right. Women were allowed to own, manage and even sell their private properties. An Egyptian woman could acquire property from either buying it, getting it as a gift or as an inheritance from her parents or deceased husband.

Works Cited Flux, Paul. Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Heinemann Library, 2001. Print. Scott, Emmet. Hatshepsut, Queen of Sheba. New York: Algora Pub, 2012. Print.