The Widow and Orphan in Egypt before the New Kingdom

Kóthay, Katalin Anna (2006) The Widow and Orphan in Egypt before the New Kingdom. Acta Antiqua, 46 (1-2). pp. 151-164. ISSN 0044-5975

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Abstract

The changing attitude of the Egyptian elite towards widows and orphans is analysed on the basis of Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period, and Middle Kingdom biographical inscriptions, as well as pieces of Middle Kingdom literature. The appearance of an obscure group of female titles composed with the word nmhyt, often translated as 'ward', during the late Middle Kingdom represents a crucial stage in this process. The relevant titles are interpreted in the context of the well known and often discussed social changes around the reign of Senwosret III. Finally, through a case study, the hypothesis concerning the understanding of the term nmhyt is tested on a set of documents from El-Lahun.

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