AUC Press recently conducted an insightful Q&A with Amandine Marshall, author of Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt, translated by Colin Clement, with a foreword by Salima Ikram.
In this interview, Marshall reflects on her fascination with the daily lives of ancient Egyptians, her research journey into the lives of children in antiquity, and her efforts to shed light on often-overlooked aspects of ancient Egyptian society. Read on to discover what inspired her work, the challenges of studying this topic.
You have an impressive background in Egyptology with years of research and writing. What inspired you to focus on the specific topic of motherhood and early childhood in ancient Egypt for this book?
At university, I completed my master’s degree on the subject of the depiction of children in private Theban tombs of the New Kingdom, and I loved working on it. This led me to complete my thesis on the theme of children in daily life in ancient Egypt. Following this, I completed Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt and Childhood in Ancient Egypt, two works published in English translation by the American University in Cairo Press. Together, these works aim to give readers a comprehensive view of the lives of Egyptian children, from before their conception to their death, and their fate in both the world of the living and the world of the dead. To fully understand early childhood, it is essential to explore conception, pregnancy, and childbirth, which is why I expanded the scope of my thesis for this book.
You mention that nearly a third of children didn’t reach the age of five despite the efforts of parents and doctor-magicians. Could you elaborate on the types of protective measures and rituals that were employed to safeguard children during those early years?
The Egyptians developed a type of horoscope meant to predict a child’s fate, with echoes of this found in the tale of The Doomed Prince. Much like in that story, parents did their best to avoid an unfortunate destiny for their child. Practitioners also created viability tests. Magic, which was central in antiquity, played a crucial role through the use of magical wands, protective spells, amulets, and the careful selection of a child’s name. Practitioners also offered a wide range of medical or magical prescriptions specifically for treating young children.
Your previous publications show a remarkable interest in the daily life of ancient Egyptians, can you tell us more about this research interest?
I have always been fascinated by and interested in the daily lives of others, whether contemporary cultures or those of the past. The topic of children and Motherhood allowed me to bring attention to beings who were present but often invisible. This invisibility stems from two factors: archaeologists have largely ignored subjects related to children, including publishing their tombs, considering the topic unworthy or uninteresting.
On the other hand, children, while omnipresent in ancient Egypt, are invisible in the documentation we have. Texts and iconography mentioning or depicting them come from adults, mostly men, who were not concerned with emotional considerations. Likewise, objects placed in their tombs, including toys and games, were created by adults.
The only traces children left of their brief time on earth are school drafts showcasing their attempts at writing, drawing, and engraving. I had the great privilege of discovering several of these during the excavations at the House of Life in the Ramesseum, the educational institution associated with the temple dedicated to the glory of Ramesses II.
What are your current research project and your upcoming book/article?
