In Bed with the Ancient Egyptians

In modern-day media, depictions of ancient Egyptian society are of a highly sexualised, lustful culture, but how accurate are these depictions of a people so shrouded in mystery and legend that it is sometimes hard to tell truth from fiction? In this fascinating and intimate insight into ancient Egyptian sex and sexuality, Charlotte Booth demystifies an ancient way of life, drawing on archaeological evidence and the written record to build a picture of what really went on in the bedrooms of the pharaohs and their subjects.Sex was a prominent part of ancient Egyptian society. It featured heavily in religion, mythology and artwork, and was not considered the taboo it is sometimes treated as in modern cultures. This book examines all aspects of ancient Egyptian sex lives, from idealised beauty and attitudes towards sexuality, to representations of fertility in art and the relationship between sex and religion. Many of the trials and tribulations that were faced are as relevant today as they were in the past: marriage, divorce and adultery are all discussed, as well as prostitution, homosexuality, sexual health and fertility. Whilst many of the remedies seem bizarre to the modern mind, some of the attitudes are surprisingly liberal, and all make for fascinating reading.From Akhenaten and his famously beautiful queen, Nefertiti, to the seductive Cleopatra’s affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, Booth provides a tantilising glimpse into this extremely personal aspect of ancient Egyptian life. The ancient Egyptians were very open towards sex and it featured heavily in religion, mythology, and artwork. In an ancient culture that has become increasingly sexualised in its modern-day representation, Charlotte Booth demystifies the myth surrounding Egyptian sex. She draws on archaeological evidence and the written record to build up a picture of sex in the time of the pharaohs A fascinating history of sex in ancient Egyptian society, from homosexual pharaohs to beauty regimes and aphrodisiacs