A threat with divorce in ancient Egypt (Prague hieratic ostracon with a private letter)

Abstract

An interesting Ramesside (cca 1200 BCE) hieratic ostracon (P 2027) with a private letter is deposited in the National (Náprstek) Museum in Prague. The text contains a letter addressed by a woman named Takhentyshepset to her sister Iyet to add emmer to the barley she is sending her at the same time and to return it in the form of loaves of bread.Thus she could silence her husband, who threatens her with divorce.

Probably from Deir el-Medina. Study deals with marriage and divorce in ancient Egypt.

Keywords

• Ancient Egyptian letters
• divorce
• Deir el-Medina
• Ramesside hieratic ostraca
• The National Museum in Prague