The ‘Daughters of the Nile’ exhibition provides an overview of the role of women in the Pharaonic era through 300 pieces spanning four millennia
In ancient Egypt, elite women slept and married whomever they pleased. They could rule, be priestesses, inherit, travel, trade and do business without subjecting themselves to the will or whims of men. “Egypt was an island of equality in ancient times, something that did not exist in Greece or Rome”, summarizes Nacho Ares, together with Esther Pons curator of the exhibition ‘Daughters of the Nile. Woman and Society in Ancient Egypt’, organized by the Eulen Group and the cartel until the end of the year at the Palacio de las Alhajas in Madrid.
It goes on for 4,000 years to show us the active and free role of Egyptian women of high birth – also sexual – through 300 pieces donated by 27 museums and public and private institutions from twelve countries. Discover the influence of goddesses and queens and cover all areas of the female world, from religious life to everyday life, through outfits or cosmetics. There are sculptures, reliefs, documents, household utensils, coins, musical instruments, jewelry and religious and funerary objects, such as coffins, cartonnage, amulets and canopic jars.
Many of the pieces are on display for the first time. One of the most notable is the Papyrus of Turin, a type of Egyptian ‘Kamasutra’ from 3000 years ago. An antecedent of pornography showing the brutality of the orgiastic sexual practices of the Egyptians. “It combines sex and comedy, with gigantic phalluses and breasts, and shows us that our instincts have changed little in 30 centuries,” Ares says ironically. “The concept of sexuality was free and open. Homosexuality was not labelled, which was considered normal behaviour,” says the journalist and Egyptologist.
But not all Egyptian women enjoyed complete sexual and social freedom. “Over the course of 4,000 years, the social, economic and religious structure evolved over a vast area, so there would be differences depending on area and status,” Ares notes. “There was an open mentality in the top tiers. Marriage between brothers was practiced for dynastic and state reasons and was not considered incest, but it did not occur in the lower strata of society,” he says.
“What is undeniable is that men and women were equal before the law. The woman was the man’s companion, his complement. A concept that is far removed from the existing one in Greek society, where women were considered minors,” said the commissioner.
Remember that Egypt “was a theocracy, and therefore the right to the throne was divine.” “Woman transferred that right and conferred legitimacy,” he explains, recalling unconfessed queens, such as Hatshepsut (1479-1425 BCE) or Cleopatra VII (51-30 BCE), the last pharaoh. after Nitocris, Neferusobek, Hatshepsut, Semenejkara and Tauser, “The Great Royal Wife exercised great influence on the pharaoh and on politics,” Ares notes, recalling the cases of Tiyi (1390-1340 BCE), her daughter-in-law Nefertiti (1353-1332 BC) and Nefertari (1279-1255 BC).
The exhibition includes life-size reproductions of the central chambers of Sennejdem’s tomb and an immersive audiovisual representation of Queen Nefertari’s burial chamber. Designer Lorenzo Caprile brings two dresses inspired by ancient Egypt.
In a year of ephemeris for Egyptology – 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter, 200 years since the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone by JF Champollion and 50 years since the inauguration of the Temple of Debod, in Madrid – , Grupo Eulen wanted to celebrate its 60th anniversary by supporting this exhibition, which will be on the Plaza de San Martín in Madrid until December 31.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
