Various other substances were used inside of the vagina, including pessary made of crocodile dung. Your post was very interesting and included a lot of information regarding the sexuality of Ancient Egyptians. Adultery was highly taboo in Ancient Egyptian society with both men and women punished for this act. According to the majority of the texts available on the subject, in ancient Egyptian (Pharaonic) society, heterosexual relationships seemed to be the norm. Brothers from other mothers or... Elagabalus was a Roman emperor who lived at the beginning of the 3rd century AD. King Tutankhamen is shown on a chest using a bow, an event in which the Pharaoh would ceremoniously ejaculate into the Nile, one can see a woman seated on a vase to pleasure herself, male extramarital affairs with unmarried women, Seth and Horus have had a long history of one-upsmanship, tries to assert his dominance over Horus by having sex with him, This tale alludes to the relationship between Osiris and Ra, The Ancient Egyptians apparently engaged in bestiality often, even after death a person still had sexual power. David and Jonathan: A Secret Biblical Bromance? In the tale of "King Neferkare and General Sasenet", three fragments of a papyrus dating from the late New Kingdom (although the story may have been composed earlier), report clandestine nocturnal meetings with a military commander – a General Sasenet or Sisene. Some like R. S. Bian… ( Public Domain ) After swearing the “Negative Confesion” (having not committed any of the 42 sins), the deceased’s heart would  be weighed to test the validity of their confession. Others consider it to be purely pornographic and that it was used as such. Pharaoh Neferkare (Pepi II) and Sasenet (or Sisene), a military commander, lived during the 6th Dynasty in the Old Kingdom. (Edit 10/26/14: Didn’t finish my thought on lesbianism!). This is one of the most interesting pieces of information I have read! Kungagraven – A Grave Fit for a Nordic Bronze Age King, But Who Was Buried Inside? This culminated a family line of inbreeding that caused the family to suffer from many malformations, infections and genetic diseases. This tale alludes to the relationship between Osiris and Ra, the later rising to fulfill his duties as a sun deity at the end of their nightly embrace. about David and Jonathan: A Secret Biblical Bromance? Norms in regard to sexual behavior cannot be looked at with our Western understanding of sexual identity as many cultures, both past and present, do not create categories based on the same things we do. “Marriage is, of course, no evidence for a lack of ‘homosexual’ activities or inclinations, but it is an indication of the prevailing social attitudes.”. However, this is under the biphobic suggestion that these two men must be monosexual. Translation of 5,500-Year-Old Babel Text from China Reveals Oldest Known Map of Inner Solar System, The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts, The Carthusians: Solitary Lives Dedicated to Pure Contemplation, Where are Ashkenazi Jews from? Although there seems to be much more proof of men partaking in these activities than women. The stories of these gods are filled with jealousies, trickery and lewd actions. Only after his majesty had reached the Great House, life, prosperity, health, Tjeti went home. the king's) deeds. Your blog mentions bestiality being something that occurred in Ancient Egypt, we can also see this in other cultures such as Poseidon cursing a woman to fall in love with a bull, mating with it, and creating the Minotaur. about What was the REAL relationship Between Alexander the Great and Hephaestion? Less crudely made, the infamous Turin Erotic Papyrus shows scenes of either animals or humans in various sexual acts and positions. Kinship 193. [Online]Available at: http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp455-fs14/2014/10/23/ancient-egyptian-sexuality/, Wilford, J. N., 2005. Another possible depiction of homosexual relations can be found in a story known as King Neferkare and General Sasenet . When most people think of mummies, they picture the Egyptian culture, and sophisticated mummification procedures intended to create a bridge between life and death, resulting in preservation of the... Getting stoned, or high, has always been a way to escape the pressures of day-to-day reality. This is not an adequate response. To understand this part of the myth, one has to bear in mind that Horus and Seth (also known as Set) were constantly engaged in a sort of rivalry. The Ancient Egyptians apparently engaged in bestiality often, from cows to dogs to even crocodiles. I think it was great how much time you put into your article! Homosexuality, on the other hand, may have been frowned upon. 55 The cultural construction of sexuality Cover image of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep (source). Did the ancient Egyptians fear these gods? Homosexuality in ancient Egypt is a disputed subject within Egyptology. At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. The Stoned Ape Theory and the Dawn of Human Consciousness: Did Our Prehistoric Ancestors Evolve by Getting High? Additionally, objects used during sex (e.g. It is a little weird that they held onto dead bodies for a few days sometimes to make sure people would not copulate with the deceased. ( CC BY SA 3.0 ) The two men are depicted with their respective children standing behind them. After his majesty had done that which he had wanted to do with him (i.e. Although homosexuality may have been looked down upon at the time, that does not mean that it was not practiced. The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Ani. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods.... Read More. 1. Thus, homosexuality, based on this piece of text, may have been viewed as something forbidden. I did however, find the idea of necrophilia a little disturbing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog this week. How Pyramids Are Pointing to Former Geo Poles, Alignment of the Pyramids of Chichen Itza, What's your favourite Fairy Tales (and their possible origins). In art, sex is not usually explicitly detailed, though since much artwork was either in tombs or temples it can be argued that their sexual acts were not depicted so as to avoid their desecration. Sexual matters and practices are quite difficult to discern in the archaeological record. Side note: the myth of Horus and Seth is one of the funniest things to me. In Spell 125 of the Book of the Dead or Going Forth by Day , which contains things to be said by the deceased when he/she arrives in the “hall of the Two Truths”, there is a line that reads “I have not done wrong sexually, I have (not) practiced homosexuality”. If you made it this far, congratulations! Another possible depiction of homosexual relations can be found in a story known as King Neferkare and General Sasenet . Therefore, in this version of the myth, although Seth was engaged in what may be considered as a homosexual practice, the purpose of his actions were aimed at dominating Horus, and proving that he was the greater of the two. There are instances in the Egyptian literary sources which may be interpreted as depicting homosexual relations (usually between males rather than females). The Declaration of Naunakhte 195. Neferkare and Sasenet. Concerning the walk of his majesty to the house of the general Sasenet it should be noted that four hours of the night passed. I provide you with a link to the story! While I am not sold on Nephthys being a lesbian–though she and Isis had a close enough relationship I can certainly believe it–I would think that female homosexuality would likely not be seen as strange or as a threat. In thys place seemeth to be some savour of disorderly love, which the learned call paederastice: but it is gathered beside his meaning. As for art showing humans in sexually explicit positions, there is the famous example of graffiti of a pharaoh and a man commonly thought to be Hatshepsut and Senenmut. Nyankh-khnum and Khnum-hotep []. ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ), Anon., The Book of the Dead or Going Forth by Day [Online], [Allen, T. G., (trans. I really enjoyed the myths of the gods also. However, men were not granted a free pass: it has been recorded that in some communities cheating husbands would experience social stigma for their actions. In … Lilith: Ancient Demon, Dark Deity or Sensual Goddess? I thought it was great how they were some of the first to practice birth control as well. Yet another suggestion was the two men were actually conjoined twins. I will definitely be reading the links you embedded in the text! Ancient Origins © 2013 - 2021Disclaimer - Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy - Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. I, too, thought it was surprising how they did not hold much worth on virginity seeing how it had a strong hold in Central and South American around the same time period (or a little later) and would continue to hold a lot of power for a long time after that! It still means a lot today! One form of contraception included the use of acacia gum, about which it has since been learned that when compounded it essentially becomes spermicide. You mentioned that it is necessary to be cautious when thinking about sexuality, as it was not thought of the same way throughout time and space. Only a small number of pharaohs were immortalized in ancient fiction, Pepi II may be among them. Egyptian royalty copied this pattern; King Tutunkhamen’s parents, for example, were siblings. This helped to create the belief that even after death a person still had sexual power, which if unspent could wreak havoc. Temple at Abu Simbel, Egypt. Their Origins May Surprise You, Do you dare enter a fairy ring? The Copper Age: When Metallurgy Came to Rule the World. They didn’t necessarily give the go ahead for people to be in a homosexual or lesbian relationship per se, but they did not persecute them as would be seen all throughout the Middle Ages until quite recently. Achilles The Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior’s roman… I did not want to pass judgement or try to explain their ways of life through the eyes of a modern day westerner. Lesbianism, on the other hand, has little to no evidence whatsoever in Ancient Egypt. Were these men gay because the engaged in homosexual acts? There are some readings of Nephthys being a lesbian due to her infertility and the ambiguous sexual orientation of her husband. Created and owned by Matthew Werner. Their mythology relies heavily on sexual themes, and there are many (possible) coded messages and euphemisms about sex riddled within the art itself. It has always seemed to me that the focus of death and the afterlife was more important in Egyptian culture than any other. Risen once more thanks to Osiris, Sasenet seeks to set the story straight--that totally he isn't. Marriage: Annuity Contracts 196. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exists countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained. I realize that according to their myths Isis had sex with Osiris after he had been torn apart and put back together again and this is how she conceived Horus…but it makes me wonder how it transferred over into real life. Understanding sex in ancient societies becomes even more difficult when dealing with practices that did not involve a sexual act between a (living) man and a (living) woman, including, but not limited to: necrophilia, bestiality, and homosexuality. Possibly, but whether they were or not it was acceptable to engage in these acts due to their culture. Instances of intimate or consensual homosexual relationships were largely condemned by religious texts as foolish means of satisfying sexual appetite.8 Horus does not give Seth his semen as a means of satisfying his The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Premarital sex between two siblings was strange, but it was not considered taboo. I could add, if you like reading old text some stories as the one of King Neferkare and general Sasenet. A more than likely fictional tale from either the 18th, the 19th or the 25th dynasty, Neferkare was a pharaoh and Sasenet was one of his generals. About Neferkare Pepi II, Pharaoh of Egypt Pepi II (reigned c. 2278 BC – c. 2184 BC)[3] was a pharaoh of the Sixth dynasty in Egypt's Old Kingdom. Moreover, their religion itself was stepped in sexual themes, including the ithyphallic god Min. Moreover, for many ancient societies sex was regarded as a taboo subject and was seldom depicted in the material culture. “I have not done wrong sexually, I have (not) practiced homosexuality”. Proudly powered by WordPress. This image depicted the two men embracing each other affectionately. One version of the relevant section of this myth is as follows: “Then Seth told Horus: “Come, let's make holiday in my house.” Horus told him: “I'll do so, surely, I'll do so, I'll do so.” Now afterward, (at) evening time, bed was prepared for them, and they both lay down. First, let’s break it down: behavior does not equal orientation. Homosexuality in Ancient Egypt is a passionately disputed subject within Egyptology: historians and egyptologists alike debate what kind of view the Ancient Egyptians society fostered about homosexuality.Only a handful of direct hints have survived to this day and many possible indications are only vague and offer plenty of room for speculation. The example of Ancient Egyptians and Greeks engaging in homosexual behavior is an example of this. Many tales about Seth focus on his envy of his nephew Horus, the child of Isis and Orisis. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. This process would then repeat itself. Some, like R. S. Bian… Some have even gone so far as assert that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were conjoined twins to explain why they are touching so often in artwork. Last semester I took the History of Sexuality and would recommend it to anyone interested in society, science, or gender. (I say this in a skeptical manner as I cannot find a corroborating article, merely one’s that reference this claim.) The pharaoh went to Sasenet’s house, where he stayed for quite some time in the embrace of his lover before returning to his home. Even other ancient pantheons of Gods seemed to explore an open sexuality. The Story of King Neferkare and General Sasenet . The true nature of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, characters in Homer’s Iliad , has long been a source of speculation. There was supposedly an event in which the Pharaoh would ceremoniously ejaculate into the Nile to mimic Atum/Ra’s creation of Shu and Tefnut; that is, it was to encourage the fertility of the Nile. Beyond Isis and Osiris, Alternate Sexualities in Ancient Egypt. When Egyptologists first uncovered the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep at Saqqara, they were shocked to see that these two men not only shared a tomb, but that there was also art work depicted them in close, very intimate poses. It is a parody piece of that myth, and is useful in determining that, given the tone, homosexual relations at this point in time were scandalous, but were not so taboo as to be unmentionable. We’re the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. To further complicate matters, such sources may not be representative of the entire society, as it usually presents only one point of view. She let out a loud shriek, seized the copper (knife), cut off his hand(s) that were equivalent.”. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. This is in the context of pursuing a relationship with a married woman, so male extramarital affairs with unmarried women did not reflect badly on his character in the same way it did with a married woman or on cheating wives. One night, a spy observed Neferkare going on his own from the royal palace to Sasenet’s house. Only a small number of pharaohs were immortalized in ancient fiction, Pepi II may be among them. His throne name, Neferkare (Nefer-ka-Re), means "Beautiful is the Ka of Re". It has also been argued that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were in a homosexual relationship, a view that has gained support by some scholars over the last two decades. What was the REAL relationship Between Alexander the Great and Hephaestion? So please stop stating that SHE is a male. (On Hunter X Hunter) neferpitou was born a FEMALE!!! It is such a taboo in so many cultures, so I wonder why it was acceptable for so many royals to engage in it? Searching for the Terrifying Mongolian Death Worm, Five Female Olympians of Ancient Greece: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Wootz Steel: The Mysterious Metal that Was Used in Deadly Damascus Blades. about The Truth About Sex in Ancient Greece. The Tale of King Neferkare and his General Sasenet, originating from the Middle Kingdom, tells of how Pepi II would creep from his palace at night and climb into the house of his general, Sasenet, and would leave before dawn. It was obviously something you cared a lot about – and the video links and heading were awesome and very helpful! 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? the general), he left for his palace, Tjeti behind him. They were able to recover every part of Osiris except for his penis, so Isis created a new phallus for him. I especially enjoyed the video links you set up. They were buried together in their joint royal tomb, and depicted intimately touching noses. Elagabalus: The Hated Roman Emperor Who Was Killed And Mutilated! (And) when he entered the Great House four hours were left until dawn.”. As much as they loved one another, Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep could not reproduce together, necessitating them to find wives to fulfill this purpose. Ancient Egyptian Sexuality. In Egyptian mythology, Seth murdered and dismembered Osiris, necessitating Isis and Nephthys to collect the pieces. As previously commented, most other societies we now of mention virginity in some way. Unlike diet or diseases, sexual practices do not to leave traces on human remains. The fact that they both had wives and children, far from discounting their intimate relationship with each other, actually clues us that, like most ancient cultures, male / male relationships were common and a non-issue as long as they fulfilled their duty to reproduce and care for their offspring. Pictures of men in both positions, where women were merely “assumed” to be a lesbian or have lesbian tendencies when she was unable to conceive. While the subject of necrophilia is disturbing, I do wonder if it played a part in another other cultures. On the Turin Erotic Papyrus one can see a woman seated on a vase to pleasure herself while it is believed that Cleopatra may have created a vibrator for herself using bees. contraceptives) do not usually survive in the archaeological record, assuming they existed in the first place. This tale, which is quite likely to be fictional, is about King Neferkare’s (known also as Pepi II) nightly exploits at the house of General Sasenet: The Story of Setne Kbaemwas 198. The two are said to have formed a covenant of friendship, even though their situation essentially... An exhibition at the British Museum promises to lift the lid on what beauty meant for the ancient Greeks. Some consider it to be “a satire on human manners and desires, as the animal vignettes on the first third of the papyrus suggest,” which also mocks individuals of the upper class. The story goes that a man named Tjeti saw Neferkare walking somewhere during the night and decided to follow him. In the tale of King Neferkare and General Sasenet, three fragments of a papyrus dating from the late New Kingdom (although the story may have been composed earlier), report clandestine nocturnal meetings with a military commander – a General Sasenet or Sisene. Once before the house, Neferkare ‘threw a brick after stamping with his foot. Gods Seth (left) and Horus (right) adoring Ramesses. Only a small number of pharaohs were immortalized in ancient fiction, Pepi II may be among them. Neferkare and Sasenet A piece of broken pottery depicting a man having sex with another man Wikicommons. That is not to say that the ancient Egyptians never drew graphic pictures; often, at least one party was drawn as an animal to censor the act as the Egyptians had a certain prudishness towards illustrations of sex between two humans. The best known case of possible homosexuality in ancient Egypt is that of the two high officials Nyankh-Khnum and Khnum-hotep.Both men lived and served under pharaoh Niuserre during the 5th Dynasty (c. 2494–2345 BC). Three tales of same-sex love in Ancient Egypt. One fragment specifies that there was no woman, or wife, in Sasenet’s house, and the same incomplete sentence also contains the word ‘love’. Rather than believing that they were in a romantic and/or sexual relationship, the theory was immediately proposed that these two were merely brothers–nothing else. I was surprised to read that Egyptians did not really have a concept of virginity as well. This image is seen again “inside the final offering chamber on the reverse side of the entrance pillar.” The initial interpretation of this image was that the two men were brothers, or perhaps even twins. In the tale of King Neferkare and General Sasenet, three fragments of a papyrus dating from the late New Kingdom (although the story may have been composed earlier), report clandestine nocturnal meetings with a military commander – a General Sasenet or Sisene. Individuals could freely pursue sexual relationships so long as both parties were unattached. In the class we covered large portions of history in Europe and the US but we did not cover Ancient Egypt so I was excited to read your post. Did people expect to conceive if they repeated her actions? The Adoption Papyrus (Papyrus Ashmolean Museum 1945.96) 194. Lost Golden City Discovered in Luxor, How King Arthur Became One of the Most Pervasive Legends of All Time, Scota: Mother of Scotland and Daughter of a Pharaoh. Dubbed an elaborate hoax by many, this image has become the... How about a "Books and Literature" forum? Bas relief of Neferkare (Pepi II) from his tomb at Saqqara, Egypt. about Elagabalus: The Hated Roman Emperor Who Was Killed And Mutilated! This has spawned a very intense debate. Some have suggested this reflects a homosexual relationship; although it is disputed that the text relates to Pepi II at all. However, modern artists and psychonauts are at the end of a long chain of stoners that apparently began with subterranean artists working in caves who were starved of oxygen and thus “high.”. Beyond this, the Ancient Egyptians did not seem to be terribly shy about sex. It is obvious you put a lot of time and research into it and the information was well organized, informative, and extremely interesting. With its atmosphere of nocturnal mystery and intrigue it is an early example of the literary cloak and dagger tradition. They are depicted embracing in the same manner as heterosexual couples, which carries the same connotations of closeness in the context of sexual relations. The Ancient Egyptians have a history of using birth control; different methods can be found in the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus. [Online]Available at: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/niankhnumt.htm, Johnston, J. J., 2010. It was a long post, and definitely worth the time. This practice was illegal and carried high penalties, but amazingly people continued to practice it anyway. Male lovers in the Trojan War? At present, the strongest argument for homosexuality in ancient Egypt comes from two images from the Old Kingdom tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep in Saqqara. The Tale of King Neferkare and General Sasenet 193. King Neferkare and General Sasenet. It is well established that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep shared the title of Overseer of the Manicurists in the Palace of King Niuserre. Known from three fragmentary copies, from the 19th-25th Dynasties (1295-656 BC), this text also probably originated earlier and had a long reading history. This does not come to pass, however, thanks to aid of Isis who helps her son keep Seth’s semen off his body and plots to turn the tables around, making Seth appear to be the receptive partner by tricking him into eating Horus’s semen. September 2018 um 09:30 Uhr bearbeitet. Seth and Horus have had a long history of one-upsmanship and some pretty awkward sexual tension. To understand how the society that created such works wanted to present these images, one would need to rely on its literary sources. Then a ladder was lowered to him (and) he climbed up. Then Tjeti, son of Henet, followed this god, without letting his heart put blame on him, in order to observe every one of his (i.e. This tomb was discovered in 1964 and contained a particularly interesting image “on the section of the west wall between the two openings that lead to the offering rooms”. 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[Online]Available at: http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/texts/sasenet.htm, Dunn, J., 2013. Herodotus wrote that some corpses would not be delivered to the embalmers for several days to prevent them from copulating with the deceased. One of these can be found in the myth entitled The Contendings of Horus and Seth . Both could have been attracted to multiple genders or sexes, and so may have had a romantic and/or sexual attachment to their wives and each other. Theme: Bushwick by James Dinsdale. As to whether or not two women could be stigmatized for being in a relationship, it is unknown. Primary sources from the period are largely silent on the subject of same-sex love, and the principal evidence, which is open to interpolation, comes from just three areas: a myth about the gods Horus and Seth, a historical tale about Pharaoh Neferkare and his general Sasenet, and the excavated tomb of court officials Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. The theory of them being siblings is a weird heteronormative approach to this relationship that quite honestly is baffling to the mind: they could not be lovers because their wives and children are depicted on their tomb’s walls.