The Installation and its Ceremonies of High priestesses in Ancient Civilisations of Mesopotamia and Egypt A comparative study
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Abstract
Not all the tasks of the priestesses in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt were limited to religious tasks within the temples, but some of them were related to the ruling palace and took on political tasks motivated by their husbands or fathers who were kings. These political tasks were manifested in one position that appeared in parallel in both Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, namely the position of the high priestess, that priestess who played the role of the divine wife of the main deity in both civilizations, and therefore gained social and political importance that enabled her to assume some political responsibilities for managing parts of the country.
It seems that this parallel in this religious-political position of the priestesses in both ancient civilizations reflected on some details related to the motives of their appointment to this position, as well as some of the installation ceremonies, titles, and names they carried. This research aims to shed light on the factors of similarity and convergence between the title of the high priestess in both civilizations and to identify their specialties and political roles in particular.
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