Women in Ancient Egypt: Female Pharaohs Cleopatra and Hatshepsut, to ordinary Egyptian women's lives. Articles and links compiled by Jone Johnson Lewis, About Women's History Guide.
Egyptologists posited that royal lineage was matriarchal in ancient Egypt. Does this theory explain why Hatshepsut and other women sometimes ruled in Egypt?
An overview of the women historians and archaeologists believe can be identified as having served as female Pharaoh, or ruler.
A comprehensive guide to the woman who ruled Egypt nearly 3500 years ago.
The third ruler of the first Egyptian dynasty which united upper and lower Egypt is known only by name and a few objects -- but many scholars believe that this ruler was a woman. We don't know much about her life or her reign.
Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe takes up the question of whether a matriarchy existed in ancient Egypt.
The author translates texts from Demotic to document the legal and economic status of women in several periods of ancient Egypt.
Dr. Joann Fletcher documents the choices available to women in ancient Egypt in work life, based on the Egyptian concept of full duality of male and female.
Illustrated short sketches on the major goddesses of ancient Egypt.
A summary of marriage and family customs in ancient Egypt. Includes a bibliography for further study.
Essay detailing historical incidences of matrilineal rule in Egypt, including Nefertiti and Ankhesenamon.
Part of a multi-page essay on a statue discovered in 1910, this part concentrates on evidence within the image on the status of the queen vs. the king.
With current interest in Cleopatra, this reading list may help provide accurate historical context. Includes books for students. (Not focused on women's history.)
An online exhibit of objects and texts used in the practice of "magic." Includes suggestions for further
reading.
Good index of web resources to put Cleopatra, ancient Egypt and related topics into historical perspective. Specific info on women hard to find here.
The
Kelsey Museum of Archeology presents online version of 1997 exhibit on the status and experience of Egyptian women, 3100 BCE-700 CE.
Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe's print bibliography, used in a university seminar on images of women in the ancient world. Includes image of Menkaure and his queen.
Discussion of the question of whether Egypt's matrilineal culture extended to the historical period. Image of Nofret and Prince Rahotep.
