• The Masculinities of the Neo-Assyrian "Queens of the Arabs"

    Author(s):
    Ellie Bennett (see profile)
    Date:
    2022
    Group(s):
    Ancient Near East, Assyriologists, Gender Studies, Masculinities in Literature, Women in Antiquity
    Subject(s):
    Queens, Sex role, Masculinity, Assyrians, Arabs, History, Ancient, Mesopotamia
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Queens of the Arabs, masculinities, Arabian history, Pre-Islamic Arabia, gender history
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/kn1y-yb69
    Abstract:
    The “Queens of the Arabs” are a unique group of women whose actions are only recorded in the sources of the Neo-Assyrian empire. They ruled in many of the same ways as other foreign male kings did: they led military campaigns, and were in control of their people’s assets. In a very real sense these women acted in a masculine manner. In this contribution, I will explain how hegemonic masculinities theory can provide nuance to a gendered reading of these women. I will then demonstrate how the “Queens of the Arabs” conformed to Assyrian ideals for foreign masculinities. Finally, I will discuss how the scribes and artists tasked with recording the actions of these women used motifs in their repertoires for both men and women to depict these masculine women in reliefs and texts.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    10.1353/hbr.2022.0004
    Publisher:
    Project MUSE
    Pub. Date:
    2022-12-11
    Journal:
    Hebrew Studies
    Volume:
    63
    Issue:
    1
    Page Range:
    79 - 98
    ISSN:
    2158-1681
    Status:
    Pending Review
    Last Updated:
    2 months ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

    This item will be available for download beginning 03/23/2024


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