We have met powerful women already: Hatshepsut, who ruled as king, and Queen Ahhotep, praised for rallying the army in the Theban war. But what about ordinary women? Here Egypt stands out among ancient societies.
Key idea
A woman's will
Around the reign of Ramesses V, a woman of Deir el-Medina named Naunakhte made a will before the village court. She left her own property to the children who had cared for her in old age, and disinherited four who had not. Her late husband's property was another matter: by law it would be shared among all his heirs. The court accepted her decision. This document shows a woman controlling her own wealth and using the law to do it.
| Right or role | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Owning and selling property | contracts and sales made by women in their own names |
| Inheriting and making wills | the will of Naunakhte, and many other documents |
| Going to court | women appear as parties and witnesses in lawsuits |
| Marriage and divorce | a private arrangement; either side could end it, and the wife kept a share of the joint property |
| Work | weaving, baking, brewing, music, mourning, midwifery; priestesses and chantresses in temples |
Why it works
Worked example: Equal or not?
- In law, women had real rights over property, contracts and inheritance.
- In public life, men held nearly all offices.
- So women had more legal rights than in many ancient societies, but not equal power.
Answer: Strong legal rights, limited public power.
Common mistake