Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep Is First Recorded Gay Couple in History?

Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were ancient Egyptian noblemen who lived during the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, around 2500 BC. They were both hairdressers and manicurists in the royal palace and were buried together in the same tomb in the necropolis of Saqqara.

Their tomb, which was discovered in 1964, is known for its well-preserved wall paintings and inscriptions. The paintings depict the two men in a variety of daily activities, such as gardening and fishing, as well as in more formal settings, such as in the presence of the king. The inscriptions provide valuable information about their titles, duties, and relationships with each other.

Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep are depicted as a couple

One of the most interesting features of the tomb is that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep are depicted as a couple. This is significant because homosexuality was not uncommon in ancient Egypt, but it was not often depicted in art. The fact that these two men were buried together, and that their relationship was explicitly depicted in their tomb, suggests that they were a Gay sex couple.

Their tomb has also been a source of controversy. In 2014, a team of researchers from the University of York conducted a study of the wall paintings and inscriptions and concluded that the two men were not a couple, but were actually brothers. This interpretation has been challenged by other scholars, who argue that the evidence supports the idea that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were gay sex couples.

 

Despite the debate over their relationship, Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep remain important examples of the diversity of human relationships in ancient Egypt. They were successful members of the royal court, and their tomb stands as a testament to their accomplishments and their enduring love for each other.

 

 

 

 

Source- https://www.york.ac.uk/ 
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26379072
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/archaeology-classics-and-egyptology/blog/2021/sexuality-in-the-past/

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