Westerners of today still suffer from some lingering effects of prudence and stigma derived from Britain’s Victorian Age. One of the unpleasant reminders of this era is the stigma of shame that exists around body image and sexual preference. Instead of feeling empowered and at-ease with their truth and sexual identity, a person might feel self-conscious and exposed. Queen Victoria’s rule in the 19th century incorporated a code of ethics that included punishment for public displays of sexuality. This fear of punishment fueled shame around the sexual liberation that ancient civilizations publicly celebrated and documented as far back as history can date. One such sexually progressive civilization is ancient Egypt, an advanced culture that has intrigued historians for centuries. Ancient artifacts and legends depicting public masturbation, nudity, and gender fluidity suggest that Egyptians viewed sexuality as simply another aspect of life that was to be shared with the Gods.
Ancient Egypt believed masturbation to be an act of generosity that could lead to creation. The significance of self-gratification is evident in the famous creation myth of the first God, Atum. Before there was anything, there was a small mound of earth barely protruding from the chaotic waters of Nu. Atum is said to have created himself by ejaculating onto that mound and using the divine female spirit within his soul to give birth to himself. The act of self-pleasure wasn’t considered vulgar. To Egyptians, it represented the sharing of lifeforce from one to another. This is seen in artifacts depicting Egyptian Pharaohs ejaculating into the Nile River. A Pharaoh’s semen was simply his contribution to maintaining a fertile river and supporting the advancement of civilization.
Atum wasn’t the only god to carry the divine creative energies of both the feminine and the masculine. God of the Nile, Hapi, was often shown with breasts to represent his fertility. History also shows female Pharaohs and Goddesses with penises, suggesting that Egyptians had an understanding of gender fluidity and the presence of feminine and masculine essences within an individual. Unlike many modern-day societies that preach virginity for women and chastity before marriage, Egyptians were open to having multiple partners throughout their life. Sex-workers were held in high esteem and prostitution was profitable and socially acceptable. Sex was something that could be done to appease and connect with the Gods and Goddesses. While sexual freedom was encouraged, infidelity was a sin. Sex outside of marriage was punished by allowing the victimized partner to have sex with someone of their choice—the eye for an eye method. The victim could also choose divorce, which might also lead to social shaming and exile.
Ancient Egyptians had advanced knowledge of medicine and anatomy. They used their ingenuity to design effective contraceptives to protect themselves from disease and unwanted pregnancy. One of their most famous inventions was a condom-like contraceptive made from sheep intestine. They also used their knowledge of herbalism to create a form of spermicide made from the gum of the Acacia tree.
While it’s considered taboo to openly discuss sex in modern-day society, ancient Egypt believed the exploration of human sexuality to be a liberating spiritual experience. They didn’t believe in strict rules or sexual shame, but they did believe that human beings had a responsibility to maintain the fertility and health of the earth. You may not agree with everything that took place in ancient Egypt, but by observing the evolution of human sexuality throughout various cultures, people of today can easily look beyond the limiting bubble of their society and see an array of viewpoints and paths available to them. Regardless if you were born into a society where elements of sexuality are considered black and white, the ancient Egyptians encourage us to create our own shades of grey.