Most women had to take second place to the men of the family. As far as society was concerned, “a woman’s place was in the home”.

Their daily chores included fetching water, cooking, cleaning, grinding grain, baking bread, brewing beer and washing and mending clothes. Some women had vegetable gardens to tend and animals to care for too.

Others did spinning and weaving or made clothes. Women from wealthy families could afford to hire servants to help them and they also had maids to do their hair and make up. Poor women had to do everything themselves.

Some women worked as servants for others, while others worked as mucicians, dancers or entertainers. Women could own farms and businesses and were often quite successful. They were even allowed to leave their property (in their will) to anyone they wanted.

Filed under: Egyptian