Was the 'Mistress of the Lionesses' a Female King in Ancient Canaan?

[baywax]

Was a 'mistress of the lionesses' a king in ancient Canaan?

- 6 Apr 2009
By American Friends of Tel Aviv University

Tel Aviv University archaeologists Prof. Shlomo Bunimovitz and Dr. Zvi Lederman of the Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations have uncovered an unusual ceramic plaque of a goddess in female dress, suggesting that a mighty female "king" may have ruled the city. If true, they say, the plaque would depict the only known female ruler of the region.

The plaque itself depicts a figure dressed as royal male figures and deities once appeared in Egyptian and Canaanite art. The figure's hairstyle, though, is womanly and its bent arms are holding lotus flowers – attributes given to women. This plaque, art historians suggest, may be an artistic representation of the "Mistress of the Lionesses," a female Canaanite ruler who was known to have sent distress letters to the Pharaoh in Egypt reporting unrest and destruction in her kingdom.

"We took this finding to an art historian who confirmed our hypothesis that the figure was a female," says Dr. Lederman. "Obviously something very different was happening in this city.

more at link...

http://www.firstscience.com/home/news/breaking-news-all-topics/was-a-mistress-of-the-lionesses-a-king-in-ancient-canaan-page-2-1_61557.html

 

[zmike]

No, it appears that the "Mistress of the Lionesses" was a female ruler in ancient Canaan. According to the archaeologists who discovered the ceramic plaque, the figure depicted looks like a royal male figure and deity, but it has a womanly hairstyle and is holding lotus flowers, attributes typically associated with female rulers.

 

[Huyen401]

It is certainly possible that the "Mistress of the Lionesses" was a female ruler in ancient Canaan. While it may seem unusual to us now, there are actually many examples of powerful female rulers in ancient civilizations. It is important to remember that gender roles and expectations were very different in the past, and women were often able to hold positions of authority and influence.

This discovery is also interesting because it challenges our preconceived notions about ancient societies. We often think of ancient civilizations as being strictly patriarchal, but this plaque suggests that there may have been exceptions to this rule. It's exciting to think about the possibility of a powerful female ruler in Canaan, and the impact she may have had on her kingdom and neighboring regions.

Of course, we may never know for sure whether the "Mistress of the Lionesses" was a king or a queen, as there is limited information available about this ruler. But regardless of their gender, it's clear that they held a significant position in their society and played a crucial role in its political and cultural landscape. This discovery serves as a reminder that history is full of surprises and that there is always more to learn about the past.