Thread by @monaeltahawy

As I tour the Queens of Egypt exhibit, which includes Nefertiti, here’s my recent essay about The Beautiful One.

Essay: Perimenopausal Nefertiti and my Beautiful Belly , by @monaeltahawy feministgiant.com/p/essay-perime…

Men and women of all social classes - were wearing eyeliner as early as 6000 BC.

Several examples of kohl tubes, including this one inscribed with the names of Akhenaten’s parents, the in-laws of Nefertiti: Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

The ancient Egyptian word for “makeup palette” derives from the word meaning “to protect.” My ancestors believed Kohl eyeliner protected them against the harsh sunlight or the Evil Eye. feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b… #DeliberateBeauty

Sekhmet: I look for her everywhere. I told her that we especially need a warrior and healer now.

There are more statues built of Sekhmet than any other ancient Egyptian god or goddess because she was the most feared and revered.

My first ever tattoo - in 2012 - was of Sekhmet

Sekhmet leads me to Hatshepsut - Egypt’s woman-god-king and the pharaoh who commissioned many of those Sekhmet statues.

Hatshepsut is here in Queens of Egypt exhibit. The King Herself was the most powerful person in the ancient world more than 20yrs and alternated pronouns

Was Hatshepsut a boy or a girl? It depends on who was doing the digging. feministgiant.com/p/essay-the-ki… #TheKingHerself