Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt

Book excerpt: This is the book that introduced readers to the erotic life that flourished along the banks of the Nile at all levels of society. While much was known about the sexual life of the Greeks and Romans, this was the first to describe the rich and varied sexual life of the ancient Egyptians, which they described in words and pictures, many of which are reproduced here as photographs and facsimile drawings, drawn from sources such as sculptures, reliefs, paintings, sketches of erotic scenes and objects such as pottery and jewellery, as well as texts which vividly describe the passions of gods and men. Lise Manniche discusses all aspects of the intimate life of Egyptians including prostitution, concubines, adultery, homosexuality, intercourse with animals, necrophilia, incest and polygamy, from the Old Kingdom to the start of the Graeco-Roman period. First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.