Discover the fascinating world of ancient Egypt in programs that explore the daily life, culture, and innovations of one of the world’s most influential civilizations. Scholar Shelby Justl of the Penn Museum in Philadelphia draws on the discoveries of ongoing archaeological explorations and experimental archaeology to bring to life the rich history of Egypt and its expanding role on the global stage.
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The Fairer Sex: Women in Ancient Egypt
Justl reviews the multifaceted roles of women in Egyptian society as mothers, wives, and workers inside and outside the home. She also examines women’s rights to divorce, inherit property, and disinherit children who were rude to them in old age. Justl presents items from Penn Museum collections, including an ivory birthing wand and other objects from the museum’s excavations of the city of Abydos in southern Egypt that reveal women leaders in outlying Wah-sut—and the first birth brick (used in delivering a child) ever discovered.
Additional Sessions of the Exploring Ancient Egypt Series
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