What life like for women in ancient Egypt?

It is probably no surprise to learn that the lives of many women in ancient Egypt were centered around their households. 

In the home, they were expected to prepare the family’s food and care for children.

But, depending upon their social class, women could also participate in a surprisingly wide range of activities.  

Peasant women also toiled in the fields alongside men, planting and harvesting crops that sustained the Egyptian economy.

If they lived in towns, many women engaged in commerce and craft. They sold goods in markets, ran bakeries, and worked as weavers.

In comparison, among the elite, could administer large estates, oversee teams of laborers and manage the business financial accounts.  

For royal women such as Nefertiti and Cleopatra, they could even wield political power to shape the dynastic and diplomatic landscapes of their times.

They could negotiate with foreign dignitaries, influenced military strategies, and, in some cases, even ruled as pharaohs.

In addition, royal women could, through strategic marriages and giving birth to the heir to the throne, they could be vital in securing alliances and dynastic succession.  

The typical ancient Egyptian marriage was monogamous, and while not primarily arranged, families often played a significant role in the union.

Legal documents such as marriage contracts were not customary unless there was a specific reason to formalize the agreement in writing.

This was often the case of property arrangements. Often, it was used among the noble families, when strategic marriages were common to consolidate wealth and power. 

Then, when women became mothers, they were referred to as "mistress of the house".

As such, they were considered key figures in managing the household and educating the young on social and moral conduct.

Their influence was crucial in shaping the next generation: they passed on skills such as weaving and cooking to their daughters as a way of preparing them for their future role as wives and mothers. 

Women in ancient Egypt could hold a significant influence in religious sphere, by becoming a priestess.

They were integral to the worship of powerful female goddesses such as Hathor, Isis, and Nut.

The priestesses’ role was to perform music, dance, and carry out holy rituals that were believed to be essential in maintaining order in the universe. 

Interestingly, women had a powerful role in Egyptian funerary practices. At the tombs of the deceased, female mourners, known as the 'Kites of Nephthys,' were responsible for enacting rituals of grief.

Such ceremonies were believed to help the soul of the dead to transition safely into the afterlife.

As a result, women's performances like this were believed to appease the gods. 

In a similar way, there were often practitioners known as "wise women." These women offered people a series of spells, charms, and a secret knowledge of medicinal herbs to use when required.

The right incantation could either heal, protect, or sometimes curse, particular people.

As such, women in these roles were both respected and feared by many in Egyptian society. 

Women in ancient Egypt enjoyed a much higher degree of legal rights than other ancient civilizations.

For example, they could own, buy, and sell property independently without the oversight or permission of their male relatives.

This freedom allowed them to engage in economic activities and manage their assets as they saw fit.

Consequently, their right to property was protected by law, and many women took advantage of this to accumulate and control personal wealth. 

In fact, women could litigate and be sued. They were expected to appear in court and provide testimony just as men were, and women in Egypt could defend their own rights and also challenge any grievances they faced.

This is evidenced by rare surviving court records, such as those of the worker's village at Deir el-Medina, where women are frequently seen initiating legal actions regarding family matters and property disputes. 

Unfortunately, education in ancient Egypt were primarily reserved for the male elite, but some women did manage to receive formal education.

This was particularly true for those from wealthy families. Such women were often taught to read and write hieroglyphs, a skill that was crucial for those involved in temple work or the administration of estates.

For instance, records show that only about 1% of the population was literate, with a smaller fraction of that percentage being women. 

Among these educated women, Peseshet, who lived around 2400 BC, is a particularly fascinating figure.

As a director of female physicians, she practiced medicine and also likely played a role in teaching at one of the ancient world’s earliest known medical schools at the Saqqara complex.