Reversal of Gender in Ancient Egyptian Mythology: Discovering the Secrets of Androgyny

Unraveling the dusty linens of Egyptian religion releases hidden themes of gender reversal and internal androgyny. These secrets lie dormant in the core of every moldering Egyptian corpse, waiting patiently to be unearthed and deciphered. However, in order to become fully enlightened by these buried concepts, one must delve further into the deceased's history than merely their death; by carefully studying the various tiers of ancient Egyptian society, a broader and more satisfactory explanation of the relationship between gender and religion can be excavated. Beneath the surface of Egyptian paganism and ritualistic worship, there sleeps the idea of the reversal of sexuality as the root of all spiritual power; the uniting of male creation and female stimulation1 holds a sacred religious bond that releases overwhelming spiritual and mythological catharsis in ancient Egyptian culture. This bond is further strengthened by the momentary reversal of creative gender roles, proceeded by the merging of phallic and uterine mythological symbols. Coinciding relationships between religion and androgyny are interwoven into the fabric of Egyptian culture, and are imbedded in Egyptian theories of mythological creation, geographical location, and transition into the afterlife. Therefore, the transfiguration of sexuality essentially acts as a vital source of spiritual balance in all realms of Egyptian existence, usherin