** Egypt Egyptian families










Ancient Egyptian Family Life


Figure 1.--This statuette (h. 17 cm) is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City). It was purchased from the Museum in Luxor in 1911. It is dated ca. 1353�1336 B.C during the reign of Akhenaten (18th dinasty). This strange group has been variously interpreted as a family comprising a grandfather, a father, and a son, or as one man at three different stages of life. The figure at the left is thought to be the oldest one. It is a high-status individual. It looks more to us like a nuclear family with wife, husband, and son. Note in particular the tendr hand holding. The figure at left has a Nubian wig. A reader writes, "Women didn't wear the shenti, but a tunic. Initially I too had the impression that the figure on the left was a woman, but then, looking several times at the statuette I thought that could be correct the interpretation that it depicts three ages of the same individual. On the right side as a child (naked), in the center as a teen (still shirtless) and on the left as an adult."

The family was central to Egyptian life and society. The Egyptians were committed to the scantity of the family. The Egyptians even tend to arrange their gods in family groupings. Egyptians took great pride in their family and ancestors. And they traced lineage through both their mother's and father's lines. Archeologists have found numerous genealogical lists detailing one's ancestors. Modern kinship relationships do not emerge in the records of ancient Egypt. There seems to be a curious absence of words identifying blood relatives outside the basic nuclear family. The Egyptian word used for 'mother' was also used for 'grandmother' and the same was true for 'father'. The words for 'son' and 'daughter' was also used for 'grandson' and 'nephew' and simiarly 'daughter', 'granddaughter', and 'niece'. Uncle/brother and aunt/sister also used the same words. And the term 'sister'" was commonly used for 'wife', an indication according to some Egyptologists a testimony to the bond between husband and wife. Respect for elders, especially one's parents, at the core of Egyptain morality. The eldest son had the duty, perhaps honor, of caring for his parents as they grew older and then after death a respectful burial. Family life began early in ancient Egypt. Life spans were shorter. Thus marriags took place at rather young ages, commonly in adolescene. Presumably the male partner was older because he needed to be established enough to support a wife, perhaps 16-20 years of age. The female was commonly a younger teenager who had a least experinced their first menses. Marriage bonds were very strong. Divorce was possible, but apparently not very common. Royal and aristocratic marriages were polygamous. Common practices are less clear, but there does not appear to have been any religious prohibition on polygamy. In fact marriages were essentially a commercial rather than a religious contract. Economics was probably a factor. Many if not most marriages were monogamous probably because many peasants could not support a second wife. Children were a very important element of family life and seen as a blessing from the gods. We see this in royal depictions, especially notable are the paintings of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, showing a very tender bond with their six daughters. Their is every reason to believe that the same relations were at play among the Pharaoh's subjects.

Religion

The family was central to Egyptian life and society. The Egyptians were committed to the scantity of the family. The Egyptians even tend to arrange their gods in family groupings.

Ancestors and Kinship

Egyptians took great pride in their family and ancestors. And they traced lineage through both their mother's and father's lines. Archeologists have found numerous genealogical lists detailing one's ancestors. Modern kinship relationships do not emerge in the records of ancient Egypt. There seems to be a curious absence of words identifying blood relatives outside the basic nuclear family. The Egyptian word used for 'mother' was also used for 'grandmother' and the same was true for 'father'. The words for 'son' and 'daughter' was also used for 'grandson' and 'nephew' and simiarly 'daughter', 'granddaughter', and 'niece'. Uncle/brother and aunt/sister also used the same words. And the term 'sister'" was commonly used for 'wife', an indication according to some Egyptologists a testimony to the bond between husband and wife. Respect for elders, especially one's parents, at the core of Egyptain morality. The eldest son had the duty, perhaps honor, of caring for his parents as they grew older and then after death a respectful burial.

Marriage

Family life began early in ancient Egypt. Life spans were shorter. Thus marriags took place at rather young ages, commonly in adolescene. Presumably the male partner was older because he needed to be established enough to support a wife, perhaps 16-20 years of age. The female was commonly a younger teenager who had a least experinced their first menses. Marriage bonds were very strong. Divorce was possible, but Egyptolgiss disagree somewhat as to how common it was. It seems to have been a simole matter and open to both husband and wife. The only complication of the resulting divsion of property. Royal and aristocratic marriages were polygamous. Common practices are less clear, but there does not appear to have been any religious prohibition on polygamy. Many if not most marriages were monogamous probably because many peasants could not support a second wife. Economics was probably a factor. Marriages were essentially a commercial rather than a religious contract. There were no religious ceremonies involved. Marriage was, however, a social arrangement with a central role in regulating property. Not only were there no religious component, but the state also did not play a role. Marriages were not registered by the state, although marriage contracts might ne as they were economic contracts. Marriag itself was sinmoply a matter of living toghether.

Sexuality

Virginity unlike the conventions in many other cultures was not a preequisite for marriage. And except for royalty and perhaps nobility did not damage a firl's marriage prospects or standing in the community. There was non Egyptian scarlet letter, although this may hav changed with the Romans and certainly with the advent of Christianity. Premarital sex or sex among unmarried adults seems to have been socially acceptable. The Egyptins were much more matter of fact about this than even in our modern secually librated times. With the Egyptians, this only changed with marriage. Married couples were expected to be faithful to each other. This included the man which was very rare in the ancient world.

Children

Children were a very important element of family life and seen as a blessing from the gods. Birth was a time of great joy and celebration. It was, howver, a sressful time because of the high rate of both infant mortality and the possibility of medical complications affecting the mother. Children seem to have been tenderly treated and the recipient of greatbaffection. We see this in royal depictions, especially notable are the paintings of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, showing a very tender bond with their six daughters. Their is every reason to believe that the same relations were at play among the Pharaoh's subjects. Both male and female offspring were valued and wanted. There is no record of female infanticide being practiced in Egypt. The toys found by archeologists suggest that play was recognized as an acceotable activity for childrenand even encouraged. After infancy (weaned) they began larning adult roles. This was longer than modern infancy. The medical advantages of breast feeding may have been a factor. Girls assisted their mothers in household duties or worked along side with them in the fields. Female members of the houshold (older girls, aunts, grandmothers) would care for the younger chilren at home. Boys stayed with their fathers, learning his occupation. This began with erands or the somplists tasks. Gradually he would be given more demanding tasks. Parents instructed their children concepts concerning the socil order, religion, manners and behavior, ethics and other matters.

Gender Roles

The Egyptians seem to have had different gender roles than common in many other ancient civiliatiins. Women went to the markets instead of staying home all the time. They were also employed in trade. Many men stayed home to weave. For some reason men in Egypt carry loads on their head. This was comminky done by women so their hands were free to carry infants. Egyptian women had far more freedom as ell as social and legal equality than women in most other ancient civilzations. Egyptologists have commented on this in great detail, but have not explained why this was thev case.







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Created: 3:31 AM 12/15/2013
Last updated: 10:14 AM 12/24/2013