Women's Roles In Ancient Egypt

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When people think about the individuals who built the great tombs of ancient Egypt, most associate them with poor slaves being whipped as they labored under the hot sun. Deir el Medina, however, reveals that this picture was incorrect. During the New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC), an artisan community flourished in the village of Deir el Medina (see Figure 3) near their worksite in the Valley of the Kings (Lesko 1994, 2). There, they constructed and decorated the tombs of the pharaohs. It appears that literature and documentation was a significant part of the society as thousands of samples of ostraca, papyri, and inscriptions have been found throughout the site (Bierbrier 1982, 80-81). The village was ultimately abandoned after Libyan raids and civil …show more content…

The reunification of Upper and Lower Egypt by Ahmose I led Egypt into a time of prosperity, innovation, and imperial ambitions (see Figure 1) (Sheppard 2010). Their expansive building programs have left monuments and tombs that have endured into the modern day, existing as tribute to the glory of the New Kingdom (Sheppard 2010). From these remains, it has become more apparent that women had influence at the state level (Sheppard 2010). The first pharaoh of the New Kingdom, Ahmose I, attributed the defeat of the Hyksos with his mother, Ahhotep (Sheppard 2010). Her coffin was decorated with three golden flies which are the symbols for bravery (Sheppard 2010). It is believed that she acted as interim-regent (Sheppard 2010). Another important regent in New Kingdom history was Hatshepsut who later gained title as Pharaoh; she would rise to become known later in history as an influential leader in the ancient world (Sheppard 2010). Another prominent woman in New Kingdom history would be a queen: Queen Tiy (Sheppard 2010). She corresponded heavily with foreign princes on behalf of the pharaoh (Sheppard 2010). It would not be peculiar to assume that this type of feminine influence did not exist the commoner level. The material and textual evidence at El-Amarna and Deir el Medina exhibits the impact of women in everyday life in a workmen’s

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