The Unspoken Sexuality in the Art of Ancient Egyptians
An air of haunting mystery revolves around the land of ancient Egyptians from their grand pyramids and dressed up mummies to their mysterious writings. However, there is a deeply ingrained sexuality within this ancient world that has not been portrayed as strongly in compared to the importance it partook in the lives of the ancient Egyptians. A profoundly religious people, the ancient Egyptians believed sex played a significant role in not only this life but moreover in the afterlife. Sexuality portrayed in art occurs as both candidly and symbolically. A considerable amount of their artwork reveals their philosophies towards sex within the realm of their gods, their journey into the afterlife, …show more content…
“The creative abilities of the early Egyptian culture were strongly direct to preparation for the afterlife” (Hornung 55). The Egyptians believed that one was rebirthed into the afterlife. Sexual images, even symbolically, are observed within the tombs as what is believed to be a guide for the rebirth into afterlife. “Osiris, the god of the dead, is a green god, an image of the seed waiting in the dark to burst forth into renewal. His death and rebirth illuminated the path from darkness to light, from unconsciousness to enlightenment” (Ellis 15). For the ancient Egyptians sex, rebirth, and the illumination of the afterlife harmonized into one’s life path. Different representations of gods and goddesses present the idea of life, sex, and being rebirthed into the afterlife as importance to the ancient Egyptians. “Nut also appears frequently on the top or bottom of wooden coffins, stretched out to cover or embrace the deceased. Here the symbolism of the wood itself is joined with that of the representation, for the wooden coffin represents the womb of the goddess to which the deceased returns” (Wilkinson 102). “The pattern uses the winged scarab with a sun disc, symbolizing rebirth after death” (D 'Avennes
An air of haunting mystery revolves around the land of ancient Egyptians from their grand pyramids and dressed up mummies to their mysterious writings. However, there is a deeply ingrained sexuality within this ancient world that has not been portrayed as strongly in compared to the importance it partook in the lives of the ancient Egyptians. A profoundly religious people, the ancient Egyptians believed sex played a significant role in not only this life but moreover in the afterlife. Sexuality portrayed in art occurs as both candidly and symbolically. A considerable amount of their artwork reveals their philosophies towards sex within the realm of their gods, their journey into the afterlife, …show more content…
“The creative abilities of the early Egyptian culture were strongly direct to preparation for the afterlife” (Hornung 55). The Egyptians believed that one was rebirthed into the afterlife. Sexual images, even symbolically, are observed within the tombs as what is believed to be a guide for the rebirth into afterlife. “Osiris, the god of the dead, is a green god, an image of the seed waiting in the dark to burst forth into renewal. His death and rebirth illuminated the path from darkness to light, from unconsciousness to enlightenment” (Ellis 15). For the ancient Egyptians sex, rebirth, and the illumination of the afterlife harmonized into one’s life path. Different representations of gods and goddesses present the idea of life, sex, and being rebirthed into the afterlife as importance to the ancient Egyptians. “Nut also appears frequently on the top or bottom of wooden coffins, stretched out to cover or embrace the deceased. Here the symbolism of the wood itself is joined with that of the representation, for the wooden coffin represents the womb of the goddess to which the deceased returns” (Wilkinson 102). “The pattern uses the winged scarab with a sun disc, symbolizing rebirth after death” (D 'Avennes