Book contents
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures in Volume II
- Contributors to Volume II
- Editors’ Preface to the Series
- 1 Human Sexuality: The Evolutionary Legacy of Mating, Parenting, and Family Formation
- 2 Sexuality in Ancient Egypt: Pleasures, Desires, Norms, and Representations
- 3 Sexuality in the Systems of Thought and Belief of the Ancient Near East
- 4 Sexuality in Traditional South Asian Systems of Thought and Belief
- 5 Discourses of Desire in Ancient Greece and Rome
- 6 Writing a History of Sexuality for Pre-Modern China
- 7 Sexuality in Traditional Systems of Thought and Belief in Pre-modern Japan
- 8 African Traditions of Sexualities
- 9 Sexuality in the Traditional Systems of Thought and Belief of the Americas
- 10 Oceanic Sexualities: Persistence, Change, Resistance
- 11 Sexuality in Buddhist Traditions
- 12 Sexuality in Jewish Traditions
- 13 Sexuality in Christian Traditions
- 14 Sexuality in Islamic Traditions
- 15 Scientific Sex in the Modern World
- 16 Sexuality in Marxism and Socialism
- 17 Feminism and Modern Sexuality
- 18 Post-Colonialism and Sexuality
- Index
- Contents to Volumes I, III, and IV
- References
2 - Sexuality in Ancient Egypt: Pleasures, Desires, Norms, and Representations
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 April 2024
By
Book contents
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures in Volume II
- Contributors to Volume II
- Editors’ Preface to the Series
- 1 Human Sexuality: The Evolutionary Legacy of Mating, Parenting, and Family Formation
- 2 Sexuality in Ancient Egypt: Pleasures, Desires, Norms, and Representations
- 3 Sexuality in the Systems of Thought and Belief of the Ancient Near East
- 4 Sexuality in Traditional South Asian Systems of Thought and Belief
- 5 Discourses of Desire in Ancient Greece and Rome
- 6 Writing a History of Sexuality for Pre-Modern China
- 7 Sexuality in Traditional Systems of Thought and Belief in Pre-modern Japan
- 8 African Traditions of Sexualities
- 9 Sexuality in the Traditional Systems of Thought and Belief of the Americas
- 10 Oceanic Sexualities: Persistence, Change, Resistance
- 11 Sexuality in Buddhist Traditions
- 12 Sexuality in Jewish Traditions
- 13 Sexuality in Christian Traditions
- 14 Sexuality in Islamic Traditions
- 15 Scientific Sex in the Modern World
- 16 Sexuality in Marxism and Socialism
- 17 Feminism and Modern Sexuality
- 18 Post-Colonialism and Sexuality
- Index
- Contents to Volumes I, III, and IV
- References
Summary
Ancient Egyptian ideas about sex changed over time in close relation to changes in gender power relations. The comprehensive overview of textual and iconographic sources in this chapter indicates that discourses on sex did exist. Desirable bodies were either depicted or described in poetry. Pleasures could be sought in different sexscapes such as e.g., houses, gardens, streets, festivals, marshes and bathhouses. Festival sex had long history and was connected to the celebration of the return of the wondering Sun Eye goddess. She was pacified through consumption of alcohol and sexual intercourse. Sex-work is also attested, but its closer regulation through taxation does not predate Roman occupation. This is also the period when classical authors such as Strabo, formed the orientalist trope of sacred prostitution in Egyptian temples. However, contrary to this trope, sex is rarely depicted in state sponsored art and is found in media such as ostraca or rock art. Similarly, same-sex intercourse is attested throughout Egyptian history but rarely depicted. Passivity in intercourse between men was looked down upon. It even served as a metaphor to designate enemies of Egypt. Sexual violence was punishable but easily confused with adultery, putting women in precarious positions.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge World History of Sexualities , pp. 22 - 42Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024
References
Further Reading
Bryan, Betsy M. ‘Hatshepsut and Cultic Revelries in the New Kingdom’. In Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut: Papers from the Theban Workshop 2010, ed. Galán, José M., Bryan, Betsy M., and Dorman, Peter F., 93–124. Chicago: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 2010.Google Scholar
Büma, Beryl, and Fitzenreiter, Martin. ‘“Spielt das Lied der beiden göttlichen Brüder”: Erotische Ambiguität und “große Nähe” zwischen Männern im Alten Reich’. Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 44 (2015): 19–42.Google Scholar
Darnell, John C. ‘A Midsummer Night´s Succubus: The Herdsman´s Encounters in P. Berlin 3024, the Pleasures of Fishing and Fowling, the Songs of the Drinking Place, and the Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry’. In Opening the Tablet Box: Near Eastern Studies in Honor of Benjamin R. Foster, ed. Melville, Sarah and Slotsky, Alice, 99–106. Leiden: Brill, 2010.Google Scholar
Darnell, John C. ‘The Rituals of Love in Ancient Egypt: Festival Songs of the Eighteenth Dynasty and the Ramesside Love Poetry’. Die Welt des Orients 46 (2016): 22–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Förster, Frank, Hendrickx, Stan, and Matić., Uroš ‘Violence, Sex and Humiliation in a Unique Dynasty 0 Rock Art Scene at Wadi Ameyra, SW-Sinai’. In Early Egyptian Miscellanies: Discussions and Essays on Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, ed. Sperveslage, Gunnar, 35–51. Berlin: Internet Beiträge zur Ägyptologie und Sudanarchäologie and Golden House Publications, 2022.Google Scholar
Graves-Brown, Carolyn. Sex and Gender in Ancient Egypt: ‘Don your Wig for a Joyful Hour’. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, 2008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieven, Alexandra von. ‘Antisocial Gods? On the Transgression of Norms in Ancient Egyptian Mythology’. In Lotus and Laurel: Studies on Egyptian Language and Religion in Honour of Paul John Frandsen, ed. Nyord, Rune and Ryholt, Kim, 181–207. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum, 2015.Google Scholar
Lieven, Alexandra von. ‘Papyrus Harris 500 Recto 4,1–6,2’. In Peregrinations avec Erhart Graefe: Festschrift zu seinem 75. Geburtstag, ed. Blöbaum, Anke Ilona, Eaton-Krauss, Marianne, and Wüthrich, Annik, 317–32. Münster: Zaphon, 2018.Google Scholar
Lieven, Alexandra von. ‘Wein, Weib und Gesang – Rituale für die Gefährliche Göttin’. In Rituale in der Vorgeschichte, Antike und Gegenwart: Neue Forschungen und Perspektiven von Archäologie, Ägyptologie, Altorientalistik, Ethnologie und vergleichender Religionsgeschichte, Interdisziplinäre Tagung vom 1.–2. Februar 2002 in Berlin, ed. Metzner-Nebelsick, Cornelia, 47–55. Leidorf: Rahden 2003.Google Scholar
Lieven, Alexandra von, and Quack, Joachim Friedrich. ‘Ist Liebe eine Frauenkrankheit? Papyrus Berlin 13602, ein gynäkomagisches Handbuch’. In Hieratic, Demotic and Greek Studies and Text Editions: Of Making Many Books There Is No End; Festschrift in Honour of Sven P. Vleeming, ed. van Heel, Koeenraad Donker, Hoogendijk, Franscisca A. J., and Martin, Cary J., 257–74. Leiden: Brill, 2018.Google Scholar
Matić, Uroš. ‘Ägyptische Gottheiten und ars erotica: Ein Versuch der ontologischen Anthropologie erotischer Netzwerke im alten Ägypten’. In Funktion/en: Materielle Kultur-Sprache-Religion, Beiträge des siebten Berliner Arbeitskreises Junge Ägyptologie (BAJA 7) 2.12–4.12.2016, ed. Verbovsek, Alexandra, Backes, Burkhard, and Aschmoneit, Jan, 141–60. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2018.Google Scholar
Matić, Uroš. ‘Gender-Based Violence’. UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology. 2021. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/118752mp.Google Scholar
Matić, Uroš. ‘Out of Touch: Egyptology and Queer Theory (or What This Encounter Should Not Be)’. In Von der Quelle zur Theorie: Vom Verhältnis zwischen Objektivität und Subjektivität in den historischen Wissenschaften, ed. Naujoks, Anne-Sophie and Stelling, Jendrik, 183–97. Leiden: Brill, 2018.Google Scholar
Matić, Uroš. ‘The Sap of Life: Materiality and Sex in the Divine Birth Legend of Hatshepsut and Amenhotep III’. In Perspectives on Materiality in Ancient Egypt: Agency, Cultural Reproduction and Change, ed. Maynart, Érika, Velloza, Carolina, and Lemos, Renan, 35–54. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meskell, Lynn. Archaeologies of Social Life: Age, Sex, Class et cetera in Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.Google Scholar
Meskell, Lynn. Private Life in New Kingdom Egypt. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meskell, Lynn, and Joyce, Rosemary. Embodied Lives: Figuring Ancient Maya and Egyptian Experiences. London: Routledge, 2003.Google Scholar
Montserrat, Dominic. Sex and Society in Graeco-Roman Egypt. London: Routledge, 1996.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Myśliwiec, Karol. Eros on the Nile. Trans. Geoffrey L. Packer. London: Duchworth, 2004.Google Scholar
Navrátilová, Hana, and Landgráfová, Renata, eds. Sex and the Golden Goddess. Vol. 1: Ancient Egyptian Love Songs in Context. Prague: Agama, 2009.Google Scholar
Navrátilová, Hana, and Landgráfová, Renata, eds. Sex and the Golden Goddess. Vol. 2: The World of the Love Songs. Prague: Charles University in Prague, 2015.Google Scholar
Orriols-Llonch, Marc. ‘Semen Ingestion and Oral Sex in Ancient Egyptian Texts’. In Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress of Egyptologists, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, 22–29 May 2008, Vol. 1, ed. Kousoulis, Panagiotis and Lazaridis, Nikolaos, 839–48. Leuven: Peeters, 2015.Google Scholar
Orriols-Llonch, Marc. ‘Women’s Role in Sexual Intercourse in Ancient Egypt’. In Women in Antiquity: Real Women across the Ancient World, ed. Budin, Stephanie Lynn and Turfa, Jean MacIntosh, 194–203. London: Routledge, 2016.Google Scholar
Parkinson, Richard B. ‘Boasting about Hardness: Constructions of Middle Kingdom Masculinity’. In Sex and Gender in Ancient Egypt, ed. Graves-Brown, Carolyn, 115–42. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, 2008.Google Scholar
Parra Ortiz, José Miguel. La vida amorosa en el Antiguo Egipto. Madrid: Editorial Alderaban, 2001.Google Scholar
Quack, Joachim Friedrich. ‘Herodot, Strabo und die Pallakide von Theben’. In Tempelprostitution im Altertum: Fakten und Fiktionen, ed. Scheer, Tanja and Lindner, Martin, 154–82. Berlin: Antike, 2009.Google Scholar
Quack, Joachim Friedrich. ‘Where Once Was Love, Love Is No More? What Happens to Expressions of Love in Late Period Egypt?’ Die Welt des Orients 46 (2016): 62–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar