Pregnancy Vases

1004 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women in greek epics

Term Paper
The Pregnancy vase was used to hold creams and oils. The oils and creams helped women while they are pregnant such as getting rid of the stretch marks or soothing them. The vase that held the creams and oils were made out of ceramics. It was found during the New kingdom. It does not name specifically where it was found and the date. The vase has the human head with the body of a hippopotamus. This is not only a vase but the statue represented or is closely related to the goddess named Tawaret. Tawaret was the goddess that protected mothers and babies before and during childbirth. Tawaret is always shown as a hippopotamus standing up on a birthing table. She is often clinching the sides of the stand and gritting her teeth. She would …show more content…

But yet, women held powerful positions. It takes a great deal of strength to be a mother. And a priestess. These women were not given the credit they deserve. When the child is born, he or she is nursed and well nurtured even after death. In death, they were watched over and celebrated by women. In hundreds of reliefs, wives accompany their husbands, servants accompany their master, and nurses accompanied their kings and so on. But without them, these societies would have crumbled. If there was no woman to give birth there would be no ruler. While women were taking on such amazing roles, I do not believe they got the recognition they deserved, because when the pharaoh dies or the children grow up, people do not remember the face or the name that brought these individuals to life. If this idea of nurturing a child was not important, then numerous Pharaohs, maybe even every Pharaoh would not have shown himself as being breast fed by a god. And by death being a celebration that required women, then that too would have been pointless. They needed the women to cook, dance, play music, etc. Women were essential to the kingdom and rise of Egypt but the face of Egypt was always a man, even when Queen Hatshepsut ruled, she turned her portraits into a male figure. It is like saying the only way I will be remembered is if I am a man, and based on how Egyptian history is studied today, I would

Show More
Related

  • Statuette Of Youthful Dionysos Analysis

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    sculpture of Dionysos, it tells us about a little bit of culture. The unclothed Dionysos indicate a common

    Read More

  • Comparison of Ancient Greek Pottery

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite the artistic beauty of the two vases, both were made for more than just decoration. The vase depicting Artemis is what was called a Bell Krater and was used for mixing the popular Greek drink of water and wine. The other, called a Lekythos was used to pour liquids during elaborate burial ceremonies to honor the wealthy. Another main function of pottery in many cases is to tell a story, which is exactly what Artemis Slaying Actaeon intends. The vase depicts the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, slaying a hunter Actaeon, whom accidentally intruded on her bathing while on a hunt. On the other hand, Woman and Maid is intended as a remembrance of a wealthy woman, and depicts an offering of a chest of valuables from a slave girl to the deceased.

    Read More

  • Hatshepsut His Majesty Herself Analysis

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before Hatshepsut, there were other woman who attempted to rule over Egypt. Every time a woman came to power, there was some sort of problem that was left for them to solve. Unlike Hatshepsut, the other woman did not have any confidence to name themselves pharaoh and they did not grow up in the royal family like Hatshepsut did. In paragraph 13, it states, “A few women had tried to rule Egypt before, but never would search valid claim to the throne,” and, “These women had not ruled long or well and neither had had the audacity to proclaim herself pharaoh.” These quotes explain that Hatshepsut was recognized for taking power at a good time and not stepping

    Read More

  • Beauty is More Than Skin Deep: Depictions of Aging Women in Ancient Egyptian Art

    2049 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Ancient Egypt, women are typically shown as youthful and beautiful while more mature, older women are very rarely depicted. For men of the time, ageing is shown in art more frequently because it was a positive aspect of manhood. For ancient Egyptians, art wasn’t just made for pleasure or beauty; it was a very practical and necessary part of the day-to-day lives of the Egyptians. In art, Egyptian belief was that people needed to be depicted at their peak of energy and beauty in order to remain that way forever when they cross over into the afterlife. In most ancient Egyptian art, male ageing is represented more frequently than women since it was considered a positive image for men. Egyptian art seldom depicted older women or women growing older: "neither pregnancy nor the spreading waistline that many women must have had after years of bearing children is part of the image." However, there are examples that feature elements of ageing that are linked to elite and non-elite women alike. These demonstrations of older women are possibly an attempt to outwardly show on women the authority and honor in the same way the image of male ageing is represented. Though it is rarely depicted, we can use art to trace the portrayal of older women and women growing older in Egypt, from the Third Dynasty down to the end of the New Kingdom.

    Read More

  • The Geography Of Ancient Egypt: Queen Hatshepsut

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ancient Egypt is home to one of the greatest female pharaoh. Queen Hatshepsut. She was the first female pharaoh and did great things.

    Read More

  • From Aphrodite Of Knidos To The Old Market Woman

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...dite of Knidos was sculpted for the Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos as a votive and because of its nudity, people were not sure what to think about it at first. Later, it caught the boys attentions, and they would come by and “talk to her.” It has not been concluded what purpose The Old Market Woman was for. However, it was found around a public place, where everyone was able to see it, but is also believed to be a votive for Dionysus.

    Read More

  • Comparison Essay

    703 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...nt through the women. The power to rule was passed from wife to husband. Kha-merer-nebty II is shown here presenting her husband, Mycerinus, as the pharaoh. Unlike the sculpture of Augustus, this sculpture also has a religious purpose. The Egyptians believed that in order for the “ka” (spirit) to live forever, the body had to be preserved which is why they mummified their bodies. As an extra precaution, sculptures like these were made to serve as a “replacement body” for the ka should something happen to their body.

    Read More

  • Impact Of The Hyksos On The Development Of New Kingdom Egypt

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    The fundamental features of the Warrior Pharaoh image during New Kingdom Egypt included; leading his soldiers into battle and returning in victory, attacking the enemy in his horse-drawn chariot which was adopted from the Hyksos, wearing war regalia , larger than life expectations and finally offering the spoils of war to the god Amun, the inspiration of his victory. Due to the absence of the their pharaohs on military campaigns, the Queens began to play a more prominent role within the New Kingdom Egypt’s society, however this was a short term consequence of the civil war as it was only necessary when the Pharaoh left to go to war or on a campaign. The rise in roles and prominences amongst the Queen’s slowly decreased towards the end of the war until Hatshepsut comes into power. After this the Queen’s involvement seems to disappear and we begin to no longer hear about

    Read More

  • Cleopatra: The Historical Seductress

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    The woman, by definition is the nurturer of life. She labors through birth, tends to the needs of her family, and assumes unending responsibilities. And while women have given birth to the ancient and modern day male heroes we've come to glorify to this day, we must remember that some of those same women have also been tremendously influential and invaluable all throughout the depths of history. One such woman is Cleopatra, the temptress whose ambition and seduction both augmented her empire's prestige and brought about her theatrical downfall.

    Read More

  • Relative Points and Insights Relating to Sculpture of the Paleolithic Era

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Witcombe further speculates that these statuettes may have served as a representation of the Mother Goddess, also referred to as Earth Mother and that the deity may have been represented in the form of a leader or matriarch.

    Read More

  • Why was Cleopatra Famous?

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...se days a male child was more valued than a girl. Her guard had to always be up, while she had all the power in Egypt there were other people who had the same power as she.

    Read More

  • Ancient History: The Legacy of Hatshepsut

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the time of Ancient Egypt, having strong Pharaohs was essential to the maintenance and growth of the civilization, as the Pharaohs were believed to be living Gods. Although leadership of Ancient Egypt was often male dominated, there were admirable female Pharaohs who successfully gained power and left behind a positive legacy; one woman to achieve this was Hatshepsut, meaning ‘foremost of female nobles’. Her innovation and determination allowed her to maintain her position of Pharaoh for about twenty years (1479-1458 BCE). Hatshepsut was considered to be a very successful leader because of her confidence and ambition, magnificent building projects, and establishment of a strong trading network.

    Read More

  • Ancient Egypt

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    Egyptians cherished family life the way we cherish food or money. Children were considered a blessing. They prayed for them and used magic to have children, but if a couple could not conceive they adopted. Men were the head of the household and the oldest son inherited everything of the father’s.     Egyptian women were to obey their fathers and husbands, but were equal in many other ways. For example, women could have jobs, some rights in court cases, and they were able to own land. Women were also allowed to own businesses. Only noble women, however, could be priestesses. The women raised the children and took care of the house. Wealthy families would hire maids and nannies to do such things. Divorce was not common in Ancient Egypt, though it was an option. Problems were talked about between families, and if they could not be settled a divorce would take place. Some women became rulers but only in secret. The only woman who ruled as a pharaoh in the open was Queen Hatsheput. Ordinary men normally had one wife, while pharaohs and kings had several. Most marriages were arranged by parents. Most girls married at age twelve while boys were usually a little older.

    Read More

  • Analysis On The Bust Of Nefertiti

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Bust of Nefertiti is a fourteenth century BC treasure. Egyptian sculptor Thutmose created the bust in 1345 B.C. There is almost no information on the life of Thutmose. The bust is made from limestone with a thin layer of plaster cover the entire bust. Sculpting during this time period usually involves wood, clay or metals. The use of limestone indicates that the sculptor is trying to enhance the image of Queen Nefertiti. Using limestone allows Thutmose to make her cheekbones more defined, fix any imperfection in her skin, specifically the area surrounding her mouth and fix the uneven marks on the Queen’s nose. Today, there is a medical procedure in cosmetic surgery with the name, “The Nefertiti

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Ancient Egyptian Society

    3830 Words  | 8 Pages

    ... Egyptian women were looked at differently than men; their role was that of the nurturer and the caregiver, the bearer of a family’s future. They were just as important to the society as the men. Ancient Egypt was a very complex world, and just as complex was the role that women played in its society. They were not free, but they also were not enslaved. They were vital, but only in terms of their husbands and their children. Egypt offered women a far more free life than the rest of the ancient world. In the end, women played a secondary role to men putting their desires for achievement aside so their husband could be king.

    Read More

More about Pregnancy Vases

Open Document