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The high level of respect for women made Egyptian society
unusual for its time. Women in the royal household could become
especially influential.
Egyptian society was used to women ruling
as co-regents until their sons came of age. Ahhotep ruled Egypt during
its darkest days while she waited for her son, Ahmose,
to reach adulthood. More unusually, the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut
successfully ruled for some 20 years.
First among equals
Unlike other Egyptians, pharaohs were
polygamous - they had more than one wife, but just one principal queen.
She was the wife whose male children were acknowledged as the pharaoh's
heirs.
Although Egyptian queens previously enjoyed very little power, the
situation changed dramatically during the New Kingdom period. Instead
of just bearing children, the principal queen became an essential
part of her husband's reign. Any attempt to rule without a consort
became an offence against Maat, the divine order of the universe.
Wifely duties
Like any dutiful wife, an Egyptian queen was expected to support
her husband. She had a variety of religious and political duties
that reinforced the position of the royal family.
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For example, Queen Tiy, wife to Amenhotep
III, may have been born a commoner but was soon corresponding
with foreign princes as an equal. Similarly, Queen Nefertiti
was a full participant in religious ceremonies honoring Aten, the
sun god.
Independent woman
Queens were also given estates, which provided them with financial
independence. This enabled them to commission their own monuments
and even develop their own religious symbols. These were designed
to remind the people that their queen was close to being a god:
a crown of tall feathers, for example, indicated links with the
gods Min, Amen and Re.
Some pharaohs made the link more obvious. Amenhotep
III and Ramesses the Great each built
temples for their principal queens, Tiy and
Nefertari. The temples were dedicated
to them, so the two pharaohs and their consorts were worshipped as
gods - a lasting tribute to loving partners.
Where to Next:
Women in the New Kingdom
Pharaohs - Hatshepsut
Women in Power - Nefertari
Women in Power - Nefertiti
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