Female Pharaohs Part I

In this episode: Dr. Mariam Ayad and Dr. Jacquelyn Williamson will discuss the status of women in ancient Egypt relative to their counterparts in other contemporary cultures and the level of objectivity of our views of ancient Egyptian culture and society. They will answer the questions of why Egyptian female rulers are referred to as “kings”, how did female pharaohs legitimize their rule, and did the ancient Egyptians really reject the idea of female rulers or are we imposing our modern views on an ancient culture? Ayad and Williamson will also ponder Hatshepsut’s ascent to the throne, her relationship with Thutmose III and his attempt to eradicate her memory after her death. They will also shed light on the fact that many scholars need to acknowledge that their views are often mere speculation and that we need to read history with a more critical eye. For more information please go to www.arce.org/podcast