Edit: Apparently Egypt was more progressive than I thought. Women did have more rights than most ancient societies.
Women were considered property of their husbands. If the husband is dead the wife can’t do anything because she is masterless.
Women were considered property of their husbands. If the husband is dead the wife can’t do anything because she is masterless.
Furthermore there was no legal or formal concept of marriage in an official sense. Two people were married when they moved in and lived together and declared it, and divorced when one of them left and they divided their property. As a result, women could unilaterally divorce their husband. The state had no role in it.
Like other ancient Greeks, Herodotus was scandalised: "They Egyptians, in their manners and customs, seem to have reversed the ordinary practices of mankind. For instance, women attend market and are employed in trade, while men stay at home and do the weaving."
On the other hand, the grave robbers in later eras may not have belonged to that culture, but might still have been superstitious about ancient Egyptian curses. I don't believe the theory, but it's difficult to disprove.
Undowned for the edit, very gracious of you.