The Sexual Symbolism of the Votive Beds’ Decorations and Its Relation to Their Function

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Tourist Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Minia University, Egypt

2 Tourist Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Luxor University, Egypt

Abstract

The baked clay votive beds are small bench-like structures that appeared mainly in the domestic context of only the Third Intermediate Period Theban society. They contained a rectangular front panel with traditional iconography related to their function. This paper aims at understanding the symbolism of the decorative motifs of the votive beds. It discusses their erotic and sexual symbolism as well as their function and importance for the owners of the votive beds. It also sheds the light on the original places in which they were used for determining their function and popularity in the Theban society. It employs a descriptive and analytic methodology for the votive beds and their scenes. It displays samples found in different places with a focus on those of Medinet Habu. It concludes that each decorative motif has an erotic connotation and sexual symbolism. Thus, the votive beds were tools for sexual stimulation and fertility through their decorations beside other functions.

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