A discussion of noble women in ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian society
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Kings' wives
- The wife of Zimri-Lim, king of Mari
- The queen's correspondence with her husband
- Queen Meresankh III wife of Khafra
- Nefertiti: The great royal wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep IV
- The Kings' Mothers
- The power exercised by the queen mother
- Addu-dui: The mother of Zimri-Lim
- Naqi'a-Zakutu
- Ruling Queens
- The queen Ku-Bau or Kubaba
- Mesopotamian queens
- Queen Nitocrisis
- The reign of Hatshepsut
- Conclusion
- Works cited
SummaryAncient Mesopotamia and Egypt were both patriarchal societies. Women were second class citizens. However, in both civilizations women rose to prominence and even managed to rule. This paper will contrast those exceptions to male domination and the way they differed.
The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia based their societies on monarchy which doubled as theocracy. Egypt viewed their pharaohs as both divine and mortal. Not only was the Egyptian pharaoh the connection between the citizenry and the gods, but also a god himself. Mesopotamians were less slightly inclined to grant divinity to their kings. Their kings were still connections between gods and citizens but they were merely agents.Even though kingship was usually passed down from father to son, the queen was an important component of legitimizing the king's rule. The people needed reassurance that their king had divinity and permission of the gods.
The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia based their societies on monarchy which doubled as theocracy. Egypt viewed their pharaohs as both divine and mortal. Not only was the Egyptian pharaoh the connection between the citizenry and the gods, but also a god himself. Mesopotamians were less slightly inclined to grant divinity to their kings. Their kings were still connections between gods and citizens but they were merely agents.Even though kingship was usually passed down from father to son, the queen was an important component of legitimizing the king's rule. The people needed reassurance that their king had divinity and permission of the gods.
Latest in the category medieval history From the same author
knowledge network
