Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt (Penguin History) [Paperback]

Joyce A. Tyldesley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Penguin History | Publication Date: September 1, 1995

In ancient Egypt women enjoyed a legal, social and sexual independence unrivalled by their Greek or Roman sisters, or in fact by most women until the late nineteenth century. They could own and trade in property, work outside the home, marry foreigners and live alone without the protection of a male guardian. Some of them even rose to rule Egypt as 'female kings'. Joyce Tyldesley's vivid history of how women lived in ancient Egypt weaves a fascinating picture of daily life - marriage and the home, work and play, grooming and religion - viewed from a female perspective, in a work that is engaging, original and constantly surprising.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Histories of women usually bring with them histories of women's world and women's work--in other words, the daily life of a culture. This look at ancient Egyptian women is no different. British archaeologist and researcher Tyldesley illuminates women's positions as cooks, washerwomen, dancers, mourners, weavers, priestesses, mothers, wives and--on very rare occasions--pharaohs. Tyldesley doesn't try to simplify a subject complicated by linguistic subtleties, lack of archaeological evidence, ancient propaganda and the orientalist mythology of seething harems that early excavators imposed on ambiguous digs. What she does, and does well, is give an idea of what evidence is available and, in accessible, slyly cheery prose, recreate how women (and men) shopped, dressed and ate (``the menus of the poor and less enterprising usually involved a fairly dull and rather flatulent rotation of bread, onions, lettuce, radish and pulses''). Most intriguing, though, are Tyldesley's all-too-brief initial observations of the standing of Egyptian women. For all its emphasis on tradition, Egypt differed from much of the worst of Graeco-Roman paternalism: women were important factors in a child's heredity, not just passive bearers of men's genetics; they could own property; make legally binding contracts; sue; and, most amazingly, live alone.

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140175962
• ISBN-13: 978-0140175967
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > History > Ancient > Africa
  • #58 in Books > History > Ancient > Egypt

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Queens to Slaves--A Scholarly Work of Egyptian Women, January 19, 2001

By 

Kat K. Munro (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt (Penguin History) (Paperback)

This book is an excellent scholarly study of the women of Ancient Egypt. Pulling exclusively from written accounts and archaeology finds, Ms. Tyldesley remarks on what we know of all facets of the lives of the women of this age. She is careful to admit when we don't have enough knowledge to guess the meaning of this, or the customary use of that. She is never afraid to admit we just don't know for sure.

The great scope of this work manages to be laid out in an easy to read and understand format that is entertaining as well as informative. Interspersed throughout the text is quotes from various ancient translated sources that give an insight to daily life and beliefs. The book also is wonderful because it looks at both the wealthy Queens and the lowly servants, the slaves, the merchant's wives.

What did they wear? Why did they wear wigs and shave their natural hair? What jobs did women hold? How were marriages arranged? Did harems of women really exist? Which women ruled Egypt alone? What rights did women have in Ancient Egypt? What was day to day life like? Why was Ancient Egypt the very best society for women at the time? What did they eat?

It is all explained with supporting information, footnotes, and an extensive bibliography to advance your search for information after you've read this book. Highly recommended addition to your library!

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful view of ancient Egypt in the female perspective!, April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt (Penguin History) (Paperback)

"Daughters of Isis," is a must from those who want to know the ins and outs of Egyptian civilization, which includes the often over-looked role of women. This book covers the life of women from birth to death and contains a wonderful chapter on female kings, including Maatkare Hatchepsut and Neferuaten Nefertiti along with other, lesser known great women. Changes in styles and beliefs through the history of Ancient Egypt are noted with wonderful detail. The plates are superb and portray a variety of household implements and portrayals the Egyptians, themselves, made of their women. Forming a wonderful compliment to other literature that examines the lives of those below Pharaoh as well as other works by Joyce, "Daughters of Isis" does those same daughters and their goddess quite the justice.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at ancient Egyptian women!, March 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt (Penguin History) (Paperback)

From the moment I began reading this wonderful book, I was hooked! Joyce Tyldesley draws you in with her evocative narrative and transports you to a time and place often romanticized by modern Western culture. She "sets the record straight" and tells the reader, based on current archaeological evidence, what women's lives were like 3,000 years ago in Egypt. The great thing about this book is that it's written with the average reader in mind (in other words, in plain English), so you don't have to have a Ph.D in Egyptology to understand it. Tyldesley discusses every aspect of women's lives, from what makeup they used, how they dressed, what they ate, and their daily household duties. She describes women from every social class--from the poor all the way up to royalty. The author does a good job of presenting available evidence and making objective interpretations, not assumptions as many archaeologists have in the past. She constantly points out throughout the book how little is actually known about women's lives, since Egyptian history was recorded by men. Even the ever-present wall paintings which adorn tombs and temples present Egyptian life in an idealized manner, so it is often hard to deduce what is real and what is fantasy.

The book includes a plethora of photographs and illustrations which act as effective visual aides to the text. The well-organized timeline in the back of the book was also very helpful, and I found myself referring to it often just to keep track of the time periods and which pharaoh came when. This was a very enjoyable book which I had a hard time putting down. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in ancient women's history.