During the vast majority of Egyptian history, men ruled the country. But under certain circumstances

Women in ancient Egypt played an important role in many aspects of daily life and religion. They had equal rights to men with regards to the property and in court cases, but the average woman’s focus was on a traditional role as wife and mother. Women at the upper echelons of society could reach the same level as men, sometimes ruling the country and playing a prominent role in religious cults. In this article, I will review the role that women played in ancient Egyptian civilization.During the vast majority of Egyptian history, men ruled the country. But under certain circumstances, women ruled as kings, especially when a suitable male candidate for the throne was lacking.

The most famous of these Egyptian rulers was Hatshepsut. She ruled Egypt when her husband Tuthmosis II died and her stepson Tuthmosis III was too young to take the throne. She built a memorial temple known as Deir el-Bahari and sometimes had herself depicted in statuary with a royal beard.