Ancient Egypt and Laws Relating to the Status of Women

Abstract This article strives to accomplish three objectives. First, it provides a general overview of jurisprudence and the organization of procedural law in ancient Egypt. Second, it considers several legal topics and how they relate to women in ancient Egypt. Third, it examines, in greater detail, how Egyptian law viewed gender roles and how the law influenced the status of men and women in ancient Egyptian society. The article highlights the special place that ancient Egyptian law occasionally gave to women within the broader legal context. Included among these observations are the following: women served as judges; they testified as witnesses during trials; they had legal authority to own, buy, and sell property; women paid taxes; women owned one-third of the property acquired during marriage, and children inherited their mother’s dowry; women could inherit property and could also make valid wills of their own; and they had capacity to enter into binding contracts. The article demonstrates that the legal status of women in ancient Egypt was unique among ancient civilizations.