Women in Egypt

Fragmentary female

Fragmentary female

This limestone fragment from a statue of a woman was found in the remnants of the Temple of Mentuhotep II, at Deir el-Bahari. At 26.50cm tall, unfortunately, her lower body and right arm are missing. She was discovered among other statues, known as “votive statues”, during an excavation of the Temple of Menuthotep II. It...

Coffin of Lady Madja

The tomb of Lady Madja was discovered in a cemetery in Western Thebes overlooking the valley of Deir el-Medina, behind the hill of Qurnet Mourai. What is interesting about the tomb, is that the coffin of Lady Madja was the only depiction of funerary texts and scenes of offerings that the Egyptians believed to be...

Hairdressing and Nursing Scene

This limestone statuette, despite its small size (h: 7.1 cm), showcases a charming scene of sentimentality. A woman does the hair of another woman who is nursing a son. The delicate detailing gone into carving the plaited hair and the remnants of paint tells us what care went into creating this piece. Pigments of yellow...

Middle Kingdom Figure of a Woman

This wooden statuette of a woman stands 16 1/8 in. (41 cm) tall and dates from the Middle Kingdom, c. 1900-1800 B.C.From Asyut, Egypt, this figure showcases a slender woman with a tight-fitting dress with long plaited wig cascading over her bosom. Pigments of yellow, black and white paint remain in fragments upon the wood....

Daughters and wife of Rekhmire

Daughters and wife of Rekhmire

The four daughters of Vizier Rekhmire and his wife, Meryt, stand before an offering table of tribute placed in dedication to their parents.The two older daughters stand behind the two smaller, younger daughters. The four sisters offer their parents sistrums, alongside a perfume dish and vessel. Tomb of the Vizier Rekhmire (TT100), reign of Thutmose...

Painted limestone head of an Old Kingdom woman

This painted limestone head of a woman was found in the mud brick mastaba Tomb of Nikhasutnisut (G 7911), Giza. Found among the debris of a pit, during the Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts Expedition of 1930/31, the head of the woman measures at 9.2 cm high and 6.8cm wide. She is broken at the...

Meryt wife of the Mayor of Thebes Sennefer

Meryt, wife of the “Mayor of the Southern City (Thebes)”, Sennefer, as depicted within his tomb, TT96 (“Tomb of the Vineyards”).New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep II, c.1439-1413 B.C.Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Theban Necropolis.

Alabaster figure of a woman

Alabaster figure of a woman

This calcite or Egyptian Alabaster figure of a woman dates from the Old Kingdom’s 4th Dynasty, c. 2613-2566 B.C. Read more about women in Ancient Egypt: Daughters of Isis, Women of Ancient Egypt

Lady Wadjkaues

Lady Wadjkaues

This relief fragment was found in Deir el-Bersha, Egypt and depicts Lady Wadjkaues, mother of Sep and wife of the nomarch, sat before an offering of food. She has an Egyptian blue lotus flower held to her nose. Lady Wadjkaues is depicted in the typical style of her time with a slender physique, yellow skin,...

Bes ceremonial staff terminal

This green-blue glazed compisition figure of Bes was discovered at Abydos, and was originally made to be placed upon a ceremonial staff (cane). It currently resides in the British Museum (EA26267), although not on display. It dates from the 22nd Dynasty, c. 943-720 B.C. Summary:Green-blue glazed cane terminal in the form of Bes22nd Dynasty, c.943-720...