Is history's first recorded gay couple in this ancient Egyptian tomb?
Did you know that what appears to be the first depicted gay couple in history can be found in an Ancient Egyptian tomb? The depiction shows Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum as “royal confidants”, according to the descriptions on the hieroglyphics.Located in the Saqqara necropolis, one of the largest and most elaborately decorated burial sites of ancient Egypt, this tomb dates back to around 2400 BC.
On its entrance, the inscription “Joined in life and joined in death” can be found, as an impassioned phrase that reflects the enduring bond between the two pictured men.
Inside the tomb, the two figures embrace with noses touching, a pose of marital intimacy within the connotations of Egyptian art.Despite the fact that they are believed to have had their respective wives, the representation of these two men is the central message of the panel, with their families, wives, and children almost as extra figures.However, it should be noted that some scholars speculate the couple could’ve been twins, as it was very common in Egyptian culture to have sibling relationships within the same lineages.
This debate whether they were lovers or brothers continues decades after. People are free to have their own interpretations as no professor or expert holds the absolute truth to reach a definite conclusion.Thus, if they were indeed lovers, it is a positive suggestion that the Pharaoh openly accepted their relationship, as the tomb is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in the necropolis.This is another example of not just how homosexuality was normalised and accepted in Ancient Egypt, but also how same-sex relationships have been undisguisedly occuring throughout history.
