The Egyptians appear to have reversed the ordinary practices of mankind. Women attend markets and are employed in trade, while men stay at home and do the weaving! Men in Egypt carry loads on their head, women on their shoulder. Women pass water standing up, men sitting down. To ease themselves, they go indoors, but eat outside on the streets, on the theory that what is unseemly, but necessary, should be done in private, and what is not unseemly should be done openly.
(Herodotus II: 33-37)
(Herodotus II: 33-37)
Introduction
Family was the core of Egyptian society. In fact, many of their gods were arranged in such groupings.
Tremendous pride was held in one’s family; lineage was traced through both the mother and father’s lines.
Respect for one’s parents was extremely important to the Egyptians.
Countless genealogical lists indicate how important family ties were, although Egyptian kinship lacked specific terms to identify blood relations beyond basic family ties.
For instance, the word used for “mother” was also used for “grandmother”, and the word for “father” was also used for “grandfather”.
The terms for “son”, “grandson”,and “nephew” were also identical. It’s the same for “daughter”, “granddaughter” and “niece”.
“Uncle” and “brother”, or “sister” and “aunt”, also used the same terms.
To make matters even more confusing, the Egyptians also used the same term for “sister” and “wife”.
This was, perhaps, an indication of the strength of the bond between spouses.
Tremendous pride was held in one’s family; lineage was traced through both the mother and father’s lines.
Respect for one’s parents was extremely important to the Egyptians.
Countless genealogical lists indicate how important family ties were, although Egyptian kinship lacked specific terms to identify blood relations beyond basic family ties.
For instance, the word used for “mother” was also used for “grandmother”, and the word for “father” was also used for “grandfather”.
The terms for “son”, “grandson”,and “nephew” were also identical. It’s the same for “daughter”, “granddaughter” and “niece”.
“Uncle” and “brother”, or “sister” and “aunt”, also used the same terms.
To make matters even more confusing, the Egyptians also used the same term for “sister” and “wife”.
This was, perhaps, an indication of the strength of the bond between spouses.