Women in Ancient Egypt – Nicky van de Beek

A work in progress bibliography on the subject of women in ancient Egypt.

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Women and Gender Practices in Ancient Egypt

General

Ayad, M.F., Women in Ancient Egypt: Revisiting Power, Agency, and Autonomy (2022). Preview
Capel, A.K. and Markoe, G., Mistress of the House, Mistress of Heaven: Women in Ancient Egypt (1996). Preview
Graves-Brown, C., Dancing for Hathor: Women in Ancient Egypt (2010). Preview
Lesko, B.S., The remarkable women of ancient Egypt (1978).
Robins, G., Women in Ancient Egypt (1993). Preview
Sabbahy, L., Daily Life of Women in Ancient Egypt (2022).
Schulze, P.H., Frauen im Alten Ägypten: Selbständigkeit und Gleichberechtigung im häuslichen und öffentlichen Leben (1986).
Tyldesley, J., Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt (1994). Preview
Watterson, B., Women in Ancient Egypt (1991). Preview
Wenig, S., Die frau im alten Ägypten (1967).

Ancient World

Budin, S.L. and Turfa, J.M., Women in Antiquity: Real Women across the Ancient World (2016). Preview
James, S.L. and Dillon, S., A Companion to Women in the Ancient World (2012). Preview

Conference proceedings

Lesko, B.S., Women’s Earliest Records: From Ancient Egypt and Western Asia (1989).

Royal women

Dodson, A. and Hilton, D., The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (2004).
Kelly S.A., Unveiling Female Social Power in Early Egypt (2024).
Roth, S., Die Königsmütter des Alten Ägypten von der Frühzeit bis zum Ende des 12. Dynastie (2001). Preview
Troy, L., Patterns of Queenship in Ancient Egyptian Myth and History (1986).
Tyldesley, J., Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt from Early Dynastic Times to the Death of Cleopatra (2006).
Ziegler, C., Queens of Egypt: From Hetepheres to Cleopatra (2008).

Old Kingdom

Baud, M., The Tombs of Khamerernebty I and II at Giza, GM 164 (1998), 7-14.
Callender, V.G., Queen Hetepheres I, BACE 1 (1990), 25-29.
Callender, V.G. and P. Jánosi, The Tomb of Queen Khamerernebty II at Giza, MDAIK 53 (1997), 1-22.
Callender, V.G., The Iconography of the Princess in the Old Kingdom, in: The Old Kingdom Art and Archaeology (2006), 119-126.
Callender, V.G., In Hathor’s image I: The wives and mothers of Egyptian kings from Dynasties I-VI (2011).
Callender, V.G., Curious names of some Old Kingdom royal women, JEA 97 (2011), 127-142.

Middle Kingdom

Sabbahy, L.K., Comments on the Title ẖnmt-nfr-ḥḏt, SAK 23 (1996), 349-352.
Stünkel, I., Royal women: Ladies of the Two Lands, in: Ancient Egypt transformed: The Middle Kingdom (2015), 92-95. Preview

New Kingdom

Arnold, D., The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt (1999).
Davis, T.M., The Tomb of Queen Tîyi (1910).
Dodson, A., Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt: Her Life and Afterlife (2020).
Fletcher, J., The Search For Nefertiti (2004).
Lilyquist, C., The Tomb of Three Foreign Wives of Tuthmosis III (2003).
McCarthy, H.L., The Osiris Nefertari: A Case Study of Gender, Decorum and Regeneration, JARCE 39 (2002), 173-195.
Roth, S., Gebieterin aller Länder: Die Rolle der königlichen Frauen in der fiktiven und realen Aussenpolitik des ägyptischen Neuen Reiches (2002). Preview
Tyldesley, J., Nefertiti: Egypt’s Sun Queen (1998). Preview
Tyldesley, J., Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon (2018).
Winlock, H.E., The Treasure of Three Egyptian Princesses (1948).

Kushite/Nubian/Sudan

Lohwasser, A., Die kuschitischen Königinnen: Ethno-archäologische und ikonographische Zugänge zum Queenship von Kusch, in: Matronage: Handlungsstrategien und soziale Netzwerke antiker Herrscherfrauen (2013), 27-30.
Wildung, D., Kandake: The queens of ancient Sudan, in: Queens of Egypt: From Hetepheres to Cleopatra (2008), 200-205.

Female rulers

Cooney, K., When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt (2018).

Neferusobek

Fay, B. et al., Neferusobek Project: Part I, in: The World of Middle Kingdom Egypt I (2015), 89-91.

Hatshepsut

Cooney, K., The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt (2014). Preview
Roehrig, C.H. (ed.), Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (2005).
Roth, A.M., Models of authority: Hatshepsut’s predecessors in power, in: Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (2005), 9-14.
Roth, A.M., Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri: Architecture as political statement, in: Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (2005), 147-151.
Roth, A.M., Erasing a reign, in: Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (2005), 277-281.
Tyldesley, J., Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh (1996). Preview

Tausret

Altenmüller, H., Das Grab der Königin Tausret im Tal der Könige von Theben, SAK 10 (1984), 1-24.
Callender, V.G., Queen Tausret and the End of Dynasty 19, SAK 32 (2004), 81-104.
Creasman, P.P., T.L. Finlayson and R.H. Wilkinson, The Temple of Tausret 2 (2024).
Wilkinson, R.H. (ed.), The Temple of Tausret (2011).
Wilkinson, R.H. (ed.), Tausret: Forgotten queen and pharaoh of Egypt (2012). Preview

Cleopatra VII

Tyldesley, J., Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt (2008). Preview

Non-royal, elite and ‘private’ women

Predynastic

Savage, S.H., The Status of Women in Predynastic Egypt as Revealed through Mortuary Analysis, in: Reading the Body: Representations and Remains in the Archaeological Record (2000), 77-92.
Walters, E., Hierakonpolis women of stature and the legacy from the Near East in Egypt, in: Moving across borders: Foreign relations, religion and cultural interactions in the ancient Mediterranean (2007), 267-297.

Early dynastic

Kelly, S.A., Women’s work in the Early Dynastic Period, PES 23 (2019), 92-105.
Kelly S.A., Unveiling Female Social Power in Early Egypt (2024).

Old Kingdom

Callender, V.G., A Contribution to the Burial of Women in the Old Kingdom, in: Abusir and Saqqara in the year 2001 (2002), 301-308.
Fischer, H.G., Egyptian women of the Old Kingdom and of the Heracleopolitan period (2000).
Guigner, M., Meretites: A Woman of Power, ZÄS 152 (2025), 18-29.
Kelly S.A., Women in the Economic Domain: First to Sixth Dynasties, in: M. Ayad (ed.), Women in Ancient Egypt: Revisiting Power, Agency, and Autonomy, 165-186.
Kelly, S.A., New insights into prevalent Old Kingdom women’s titles, in: Current Research in Egyptology 2023 (2024), 221-233.
McCorquodale, K., Representations of the family in the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Women and Marriage (2013).
Roth, A.M., Little women: Gender and hierarchic proportion in Old Kingdom mastaba chapels, in: The Old Kingdom Art and Archaeology (2006), 281-296.
Vasiljevic, V., Hierarchy of women within elite families: Iconographic data from the Old Kingdom, in: Art and Society: Ancient and Modern Contexts of Egyptian Art (2012), 139-149.
Vasiljevic, V,. Female owners of carrying chairs: Sitzsänfte and Hocksänfte, SAK 41 (2012), 395-406.

Middle Kingdom

Grajetzki, W., Tomb Treasures of the Late Middle Kingdom: The Archaeology of Female Burials (2014). Preview
Quirke, S., Women of Lahun (Egypt 1800 BC), in: Archaeology and women: Ancient and modern issues (2007), 246-262. Preview
Stefanović, D., Dossiers of Ancient Egyptian Women: The Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period (2016).

New Kingdom

Backhouse, J., Figured ostraca from Deir el-Medina, in: Current Research Egyptology XII (2012), 25-39.
Backhouse, J., Female Figurines from Deir el-Medina: A Review of Evidence for their Iconography and Function, in: Current Research in Egyptology XIII (2013), 22-40.
Donker van Heel, K., Mrs. Naunakhte & Family: The Women of Ramesside Deir Al-Medina (2016).
Koltsida, A., Domestic Space and Gender Roles in Ancient Egyptian Village Households: A View from Amarna Workmen’s Village and Deir el-Medina, in: Building Communities: House, Settlement and Society in the Aegean and Beyond (2002), 121-414.
Meskell, L., Private Life in New Kingdom Egypt (2002). Chapter 1
Pemler, D., Looking at Nubians in Egypt: Nubian Women in New Kingdom Tomb and Temple Scenes and the Case of TT 40 (Amenemhet Huy), Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies 5 (2018), 25-61.
Sweeney, D., Gender and Language in the Ramesside Love Songs, BES 16 (2003), 27-50.
Sweeney, D., Women Growing Older in Deir el-Medina, in: Living and Writing in Deir el-Medine (2006), 135-153.
Sweeney, D., Gender and Oracular Practice in Deir el-Medina, ZÄS 135 (2008), 154-164.
Sweeney, D., Gender and Requests in New Kingdom Literature, in: Sex and gender in ancient Egypt: ‘Don your wig for a joyful hour’ (2008), 191-213.
Sweeney, D., Women at Worship on Deir el-Medina Stelae, in: Deir el-Medina Studies (2014), 181-193.
Toivari-Viitala, J., Women at Deir el-Medina: A study of the status and roles of the female inhabitants in the workmen’s community during the Ramesside period (2001).
Wilfong, T.G., Menstrual synchrony and the “place of women” in ancient Egypt (Oriental Institute Museum Hieratic Ostracon 13512), in: Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente (1999), 419-434.

Third Intermediate Period

Li, J., Women, Gender and Identity in Third Intermediate Period Egypt: The Theban Case Study (2017). Preview
Swart, L., Observations on the Status of Women in the 21st and 22nd Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt, JSSEA 35 (2008), 207-216.

Late Period

Azzoni, A., Women and property in Persian Egypt and Mesopotamia, in: Women and property in ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean societies (2005).
Donker van Heel, K., Mrs. Tsenhor: A Female Entrepreneur in Ancient Egypt (2014).
Johnson, J.H., Women, property, and legal documents: A case study from the Persian Period, in: Joyful in Thebes: Egyptological Studies in Honor of Betsy M. Bryan (2015), 283-292. Preview

Greco-Roman Period

Bagnall, R.S., Women’s petitions in late antique Egypt, in: Hellenistic and Roman Egypt: Sources and approaches (2006), 53-60. Comparable article | Preview book
Johnson, J.H., Women, Wealth and Work in Egyptian Society of the Ptolemaic Period, in: Egyptian Religion: The Last Thousand Years: Studies Dedicated to the Memory of Jan Quaegebeur (1998), 1393-1421.
Nifosi, A., Becoming a Woman and Mother in Greco-Roman Egypt (2019).
O’Brien, A.A., Women in Ptolemaic and Roman Thebes, in: Acts of the Seventh International Conference of Demotic Studies (2002), 273-281. Preview
Parca, M., The women of Ptolemaic Egypt: The view from papyrology, in: A companion to women in the ancient world (2012), 316-328.
Riggs, C., Portraits, prestige, peity: Images of women in Roman Egypt, in: A companion to women in the ancient world (2012), 423-436.
Rowlandson, Women & Society in Greek & Roman Egypt (1998). Preview
Vandorpe, K. and Waebens, S., Women and gender in Roman Egypt: The impact of Roman rule, in: Tradition and transformation: Egypt under Roman rule (2010), 415-435.

Late Antique/Coptic Period

Sheridan Moss, J., Women in late antique Egypt, in: A companion to women in the ancient world (2012), 502-512. Preview
Wilfong, T.G., Women of Jeme: Lives in a Coptic town in late antique Egypt (2002). Preview
Wilfong, T.G., Gender and Society in Byzantine Egypt, in: Egypt in the Byzantine World (2007), 309-327. Preview

Work/Occupations

Ashby, S., Dancing for Hathor: Nubian Women in Egyptian Cultic Life, Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies 5 (2018), 63-90.
Ayad, M.F., God’s Wife, God’s Servant: The God’s Wife of Amun (2009). Preview
Bryan, B., Property and the God’s Wives of Amun, in: Women and property in ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean societies (2005).
Graefe, E., Untersuchungen zur Verwaltung und Geschichte der Institution der Gottesgemahlin des Amun vom Beginn des neuen Reiches bis zur Spätzeit (1981).
Kelly, S.A., Women’s work in the Early Dynastic Period, PES 23 (2019), 92-105.
Lesko, B.S., The women of Karnak, in: Perspectives on ancient Egypt (2010), 221-227.
Lorenz, M., Women and their employment, in: The life of Meresamun: A temple singer in ancient Egypt (2009), 98-104.
Onstine, S.L., The Role of the Chantress in Ancient Egypt (2005).
Teeter, E. and Johnson, J.H. (eds.), The life of Meresamun: A temple singer in ancient Egypt (2009).
Van de Beek, Saqqara scenes: Women in the marketplace, Saqqara Newsletter 14 (2016), 31-38.

Legal/Marriage

Johnson, J.H., “Annuity contracts” and marriage, in: For his ka: Essays offered in memory of Klaus Baer (1994), 113-132.
Johnson, J.H., The Legal Status of Women in Ancient Egypt, in: Mistress of the House, Mistress of Heaven: Women in Ancient Egypt (1996), 175-186.
Johnson, J.H., Speculations on Middle Kingdom Marriage, in: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honour of H.S. Smith (1999), 169-172.
Johnson, J.H., Sex and marriage in ancient Egypt, in: Hommages à Fayza Haikal (2003), 149-159.
Johnson, J.H., The social, economic, and legal status of women in ancient Egypt, in: The life of Meresamun: A temple singer in ancient Egypt (2009), 82-91.
Johnson, J.H., The Range of Private Property Envisioned in Demotic Documents Pertaining to Marriage and Inheritance, in: Mélanges offerts à Ola el-Aguizy (2015), 249-265.
Pestman, P.W., Marriage and matrimonial property in ancient Egypt: A contribution to establishing the legal position of the woman (1961).

Childbirth

Dupras, T.L. et al., Birth in ancient Egypt: Timing, trauma, and triumph? Evidence from the Dakhleh Oasis, in: Egyptian bioarchaeology (2015), 53-65.
Pinch, G., Childbirth and Female Figurines at Deir el-Medina and el-‛Amarna, Orientalia 52 (1983), 405-414.
Roth, A.M. and C.H. Roehrig, Magical bricks and the bricks of birth, JEA 88 (2002), 121-139.

Gender

Depauw, M., Notes on Transgressing Gender Boundaries in Ancient Egypt, ZÄS 130 (2003), 49-59.
Eaverly, M.A., Tan Men/Pale Women: Color and Gender in Archaic Greece and Egypt (2013). Preview
Graves-Brown, C. (ed.), Sex and gender in ancient Egypt: ‘Don your wig for a joyful hour’ (2008).
Wilfong, T.G. (ed.), Women and Gender in Ancient Egypt: From Prehistory to Late Antiquity (1997).
Wilfong, T.G., Gender in ancient Egypt, in: W. Wendrich (ed.) Egyptian Archaeology (2010), 164-179.

Writing/Literacy

Bagnall, R.S. and Cribiore, R., Women’s letters from ancient Egypt, 300 BC-AD 800 (2006). Preview
Bryan, B., Evidence for Female Literacy from Theban Tombs of the New Kingdom, BES 6 (1985), 17-32
Shubert, S.B., Does she or doesn’t she? Female literacy in ancient Egypt, in: Proceedings of the Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations Graduate Students’ annual symposia, 1998-2000 (2001), 55-76.
Taylor, M.P.M., Looking in the Wrong Places: the Search for Female Literacy in Ancient Egypt (2022), 1-9.

Art/Iconography

Asher-Greve, J. and Sweeney, D., On Nakedness, Nudity, and Gender in Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art, in: Images and Gender: Contributions to the Hermeneutics of Reading Ancient Art (2006), 125-176.
Eaverly, M.A., Tan Men/Pale Women: Color and Gender in Archaic Greece and Egypt (2013). Preview
Robins, G., Some Principles of Compositional Domination and Gender Hierarchy in Egyptian Art, JARCE 31 (1994), 33-40.
Roth, A. M., The Absent Spouse: Patterns and Taboos in Egyptian Tomb Decoration, JARCE 36 (1999), 36-53.
Sweeney, D., Forever young? The representation of older and ageing women in Ancient Egyptian art, JARCE 41 (2004), 67-84.
Wenig, S., The woman in Egyptian art (1969).

Other topics

Austin, A. and C. Gobeil, Embodying the Divine: A Tattooed Female Mummy from Deir el-Medina, BIFAO 116 (2017), 23-46.
Eyre, C., Women and prayer in pharaonic Egypt, in: Decorum and experience (2013), 109-116.
Hoffmann, F., Warlike women in ancient Egypt, CRIPEL 27 (2008), 49-57.
Köpp, H., Weibliche Mobilität im Alten Ägypten: Frauen in Sänften und auf Streitwagen, in: Miscellanea in honorem Wolfhart Westendorf (2008), 34-44.
Lesko, B.S., Women’s Monumental Mark on Ancient Egypt, The Biblical Archaeologist 54 (1991), 4-15.
Morris, E., Paddle Dolls and Performance, JARCE 47 (2011), 71-103.
Szpakowska, K., Hidden voices: Unveiling women in ancient Egypt, in: A companion to women in the ancient world (2012), 25-38.

Dissertations

Li, J., Elite Theban Women of the Eighth-Sixth Centuries BCE in Egypt: Identity, Status and Mortuary Practice (Berkeley 2010).
Lisle, M., The presence and involvement of women in religious practice of the nineteenth dynasty (Macquarie 2014).
Küllmer, H., Marktfrauen, Priesterinnen und ‘Edle des Königs’ : Untersuchung über die Position von Frauen in der sozialen Hierarchie des Alten Ägypten bis zum Ende der 1. Zwischenzeit (Hamburg 2007).
Mertz, B., Certain Titles of the Egyptian Queens and Their Bearing on the Hereditary Rights to the Throne (Chicago 1952).
McCorquodale, K.E., Representations of the family in the Old Kingdom: Women and Marriage (Sydney 2010).
Millard, A., The Position of Women in the Family and in Society in Ancient Egypt, with Special Reference to the
Middle Kingdom (London 1976).
O’Brien, A.A., Private tradition, public state: Women in demotic business and administrative texts from Ptolemaic and Roman Thebes (Chicago 1999).
Reiser, E. Der Königliche Harim im alten Ägypten und seine Verwaltung (Vienna 1972).
Sabbahy, L.K., The Development of the Titulary and Iconography of the Ancient Egyptian Queen (Toronto 1982).
Seipel, W., Untersuchungen zu den ägyptischen Königinnen der Frühzeit und des alten Reiches: Quellen und Historische Einordnung (Hamburg 1980)