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)
Marriage
Once a peasant girl reached the approximate age of 12, she was able to become qualified for marriage. The boys, however, became qualified a few years later than the girls’ in order to become established and become able to support a family.
Marriages were usually arranged by the parents of the children, although some young people chose their own spouse.
Normally, men would have one wife. However, most kings had several.
During the marriage ceremony, there were no vows, no priests or anything like what we have in our modern society. Instead, the couple signed an agreement. The agreement most usually stated that the wife was to receive allowance from the husband; it also stated that any material good the wife brought into the marriage was hers to keep if the couple were to be divorced. Both could own land separate from each other but the wife normally let the husband administer both their lands.
Marriages were usually arranged by the parents of the children, although some young people chose their own spouse.
Normally, men would have one wife. However, most kings had several.
During the marriage ceremony, there were no vows, no priests or anything like what we have in our modern society. Instead, the couple signed an agreement. The agreement most usually stated that the wife was to receive allowance from the husband; it also stated that any material good the wife brought into the marriage was hers to keep if the couple were to be divorced. Both could own land separate from each other but the wife normally let the husband administer both their lands.