Women in Egypt: Matriliny in New Kingdom Egypt

Ankhesenamon
18th Dynasty, c. 1355-1342 BCE
back of Throne of Tutankhamon
height of throne 3 feet 5 inches
(Egyptian Museum, Cairo)

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Women in Egypt Egyptian Queens and Pharaohs Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe

Matriliny in New Kingdom Egypt

Over the course of Egyptian history, the female line of inheritance was broken many times, only to re-established. There is evidence to show that it was still intact in the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE). In the 18th Dynasty (1550-1307 BCE), Akhenaten [see Akhenaten] became pharaoh through his "marriage" to Nefertiti [see Nefertiti], and Tutankhamun [see Tutankhamun] became pharaoh through his "marriage" to Nefertiti's daughter Ankhesenamon [see Ankhesenamon].

Ankhesenamon's considerable importance is indicated by the frequency with which her name and person appear upon Tutankhamon's tomb furniture. On the back of Tutankhamon's throne, for example, she is shown anointing the pharaoh with perfume.

Evidently, soon after Tutankhamon's death and burial, Ankhesenamon, who was only seventeen or eighteen years old, began the search for a new pharaoh and wrote to Suppiluliumash, the King of the Hittites [see Suppiluliumash]:

"My husband is dead and I am told that you have grown-up sons. Send me one of them, and I will make him my husband, and he shall be king over Egypt."

Perhaps unfamiliar with Egyptian matrilineal custom and a little suspicious, the Hittite king responded:

"Where is the son of the late king, and what has become of him?"

Ankhesenamon wrote in reply:

"Why should I deceive you? I have no son, and my husband is dead. Send me a son of yours and I will make him king."

These letters make it clear that Ankhesenamon is in no doubt about who she is and the power she has. Evidently, the Hittite king was convinced and he duly sent one of his sons. The Hittite document recording this correspondence breaks off here, but Egyptian records indicate that the plan to make the Hittite prince pharaoh was changed and instead Ankhesenamon "married" her uncle Ay thereby making him pharaoh.

Matrilineal descent in Ancient Egypt persisted even through the Ptolomaic period (323-30 BCE), ending finally with the death of Queen Cleopatra VII.

IMAGES OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT ART
Chris Witcombe | Sweet Briar College