Famous Love Stories in Ancient Egypt

By Ali Abo Dashish and Nawal Sayed

CAIRO,Feb. 9 (SEE)- Love was the key core of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Goddess Hathor was the lord of love and tenderness and the ancient Egyptians loved working, so they succeeded to build the greatest civilization of the world.

Pharaonic civilization was full of many love stories. Poetry was found written on papyrus and on the walls of tombs and temples. Love during the Pharaohs’ eras was reflected in their writings.

Ancient Egyptians were clever in selecting words which expressed their passion. They used the word "Mer Ek” which means ‘love’ in hieroglyph.

Love songs often expressed love stories that had happy endings.

One of the greatest stories of love during the Pharaohs’ eras was the love story of Isis and Ozris, the most famous ancient love story. Isis adored her husband and preserved his dead body and cried over him. Her tears made the Nile River, according to the myth.

There were also other stories of kings such as King Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti. History narrated how Queen Nefertiti supported her husband despite differences of religion and origin.

The throne of King Tutankhamun appears to be a manifestation of love. It was discovered that Queen Ankh Asun Amun used to massage her husband with essential oils.

Queen Nefertari, the wife of the great king Ramses II, played an important role in the most beautiful meaning of love.

On the front facade of Nefertari’s temple in Abu Simbel, her husband King Ramesses II ordered to engrave the following phrase: "His Majesty King Ramesses II ordered establishment of this temple from a fine stone to his wife, Nefertari, for whom the sun shines.”

Another famous love story is for a dwarf called Snape and his wife. Although his wife had a normal body, she accepted to get married to a dwarf. Their statues at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo show them smiling and that also reflected how happy they were.

Many Egyptian statues represent love such as the statue of Amenhotep and Tet, the Statue of Rae Hetep and Nefert and the statue of Munkawra and his wife.