Ancient Egyptian Marriages

Ancient Egyptian Marriages Although many marriages were arranged by families, we know from poetry that ancient Egyptian spouses did love and respect one another. Even though Egyptian women in ancient times were considered the subordinate sex, they could inherit, control or dispose of property in their own names, and could sign contracts. Their career options were limited to working as a servant, weaver, laundrywoman, shop manager, mourner, singer, dancer, musician, prostitute, or doing secondary priestly …

…often married for a second or third time. Although adultery was condemned, infidelity by a wife was more severely judged than if a husband strayed. Polygamy was very rare because few men could afford to support two wives and two families. Monogamy was then the norm for most ancient Egyptian marriages. In “The voice of the turtledove speaks out,” the speaker may be a man’s mistress who does not want to leave “his bed” (292).