Women in Ancient Egypt : the religious experiences of the non-royal woman
Date
2008-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
This thesis explores the importance of the function of religion in the life of the
average, non-royal woman in Ancient Egyptian society. As Ancient Egyptian
society and the historical documentation thereof were dominated by the male
perspective, the extent of religious participation by women was, until recently,
underestimated. Recent research has shown that women had taken part in,
and in some cases even dominated, certain spheres of Ancient Egyptian
religion. This included religious participation in public, as well as the practice
of certain religious rituals in the home.
The religious lives of ordinary women of non-royal families were studied by
looking at their involvement in the public aspects of Egyptian religion, such as
temples, tombs and festivals, as well as at the influence of religion on their
identities as women and mothers.
The research method followed was that of an iconographical analysis of
original sources, which were classified and examined in order to establish
their religious links to women of the middle and lower classes.
A catalogue of sources is given, including sources depicting women
participating in public rituals and objects used in a more domestic sphere. The
first included tomb paintings and reliefs from tombs and temples, as well as
objects given as public offerings to various deities. The second group included
objects and visual depictions relating to fertility, birth and death.
This thesis attempts better to understand and illuminate to what an extent the
ordinary women of Ancient Egypt were involved in religious participation in
their daily lives, as well as to illustrate the dimensions of this participation.
Description
Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Ancient studies, Theses -- Ancient studies, Women -- Religious life -- Egypt