In modern-day media, depictions of ancient Egyptian society are of a highly sexualized, 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 featured heavily in Egyptian religion, mythology, and artwork, and was not considered the taboo it is sometimes treated as today. This book examines all aspects of ancient Egyptian sex lives, from idealized beauty and attitudes towards sexuality, to representations of fertility in art and the relationship between sex and religion. Marriage, divorce, and adultery are all discussed, as well as prostitution, homosexuality, sexual health, and fertility. While many of the remedies seem bizarre to the modern mind, some of the attitudes are surprisingly liberal. From Akhenaten and his famously beautiful queen, Nefertiti, to the seductive Cleopatra’s affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, Booth provides a tantalizing glimpse into this extremely personal aspect of ancient Egyptian life.
