An archaeologist has claimed that lesbianism was culturally acceptable in ancient Egypt based on texts and statues dating back to the 5th Dynasty.
Jen Cullison, who goes by Jen the Archaeologist on TikTok, explained that a 970BC copy of the ‘Book of the Dead’ and a passage in the ‘Book of Dreams’ from 1350 BC tells stories regarding women having sexual relationships without repercussions.
Cullison also highlighted ancient Jewish writings discussing the liberal lifestyles, referring to lesbianism as ‘the acts of Egypt, and parts of the Torah have also been interpreted as the civilization allowing two women to marry.
While no evidence has been discovered that mentions same-sex relationships were punishable, homosexuality has been a major debate among Egyptologists who have said imagery of same-sex couples are nothing more than siblings.
Idet and Ruiu, who were immortalized in a limestone statue, might have been a mother and daughter, sisters or a same-sex couple
Cullison shared her claims in the TikTok video on her account that shows she has a Masters degree in Anthropology and is currently working on her Doctrine.
Many discoveries from ancient Egypt have depicted what some claimed to be same-sex couples.
The statue of Idet and Ruiu that was created in the 18th Dynasty has been a mystery since it was discovered in 1914.
The painted limestone figurine shows the two women side by side with their arms wrapped behind each others backs.
Experts are unsure of their relation, speculating they could possibly mother and daughter, sisters, or a same-sex couple.
Other potential evidence has been found in the ‘Book of the Dead,’ which Cullison described as text written by a woman in 970BC, stating ‘that she has never had relations with the woman inside of the temple.
Cullison noted that ‘inside the temple’ was the key part as it suggested that outside of the temple is perfectly acceptable and that ‘she may have engaged in activities outside of the temple.’
The ‘Book of the Dead’ is a modern term for a collection of magical spells that the Egyptians used to help them get into the afterlife.
The manuscript has been found in dozens of tombs, but the first known copy was uncovered in 1888 – it now resides in the British Museum.
Another piece of text from the ‘Book of Dreams’ described one woman admonishing another for dreaming that she was intimate with a married woman, yet the part that was criticized wasn’t that she was with a woman, but that it was adultery.
The ‘Book of the Dead’ is a modern term for a collection of magical spells that the Egyptians used to help them get into the afterlife
‘If the woman wasn’t married, it seems like it would have been fine,’ Cullison said.
The Egyptians’ sexual lifestyles were also discussed in the Talmud – an important Jewish text about religious law and theology that was written between the 3rd and 6th centuries BC.
The Talbut described ‘lesbianism … as common in Egypt and this became so accepted by Jewish people that the term ‘the practices of Egypt’ became a euphemism for lesbianism,’ said Cullison.
‘However, it should be noted that all of this was said as a condemnation of Egypt.’
Ancient Egyptian women weren’t the only ones who were intimate, with history revealing that the same was likely true for men.
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were royal manicurists to King Nyuserre Ini and were described as his ‘royal confidants,’ but what surprised researchers was the question mark hovering over the two men, prompting them to question why they were sharing an intimate tomb (pictured)
An image showed Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep touching noses – a form of kissing – indicated the pair could have been romantically involved (pictured)
Cullison shared her claims in the TikTok video on her account that shows she has a Masters degree in Anthropology and is currently working on her Doctrine
Archaeologists uncovered the tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep from the 5th Dynasty where the words: Joined in life and joined in death’ were inscribed on the entrance.
The pair were royal manicurists to King Nyuserre Ini and described as his ‘royal confidants.
But what surprised researchers was the question mark hovering over the two men, prompting them to question why they were sharing an intimate tomb.
The Legacy Project reported that ‘two men of equal social standing being buried together in the same tomb – in spite of the fact that they were undoubtedly married to women – was unique.’
Their wives and children were featured on the panels surrounding the tomb, but they were drawn as background figures rather than showing them behaving intimately with each other.
Another image showing the pair touching noses – a form of kissing – indicated the men could have been romantically involved.
Speaking about the tomb in a vlog, award-winning scholar Raven Todd Da Silva urged people to use independent thinking when looking at clues to identify how people behaved in the past.
‘We’re all too aware of queer erasure in history,’ said Da Silva. ‘There were so many gay couples in history that all these older historians described as ‘close friends’ or ‘roommates,’ especially for women.’
