The Tomb of the Two Brothers | Ancient LGBTQ+ History w/ TK from For The Love of History Pod
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Episode Summary:
In this special collab episode, TK from For The Love of History comes on to teach me and you about the Tomb of the Two Brothers, the earliest recorded same sex couple in ancient history. The assumed romantic relationship between Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum is based on depictions of the two men standing nose to nose and embracing.
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📕 TABLE OF CONTENTS 📕
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Introductions
02:05 Discovery of the Tomb
03:28 Assumptions and Misinterpretations
05:16 New Perspectives and Research
07:07 Depictions and Interpretations
10:01 Intimacy and Relationships
11:09 Debunking Arguments
15:08 Evidence and Hypotheses
21:30 Family and Erasure
23:56 Queer Erasure and Historical Bias
27:45 Representation and Perspective
34:43 Conclusion and Impact
40:20 Closing Remarks
Connect With Our Guest 🌈
TK is the host and creator of For the Love of History Podcast, who’s on a mission to help people rediscover their love of history. She lives in Japan with her husband and three little history helper kitties.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveof_historypodcast/
Website: https://www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com/about
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@4theloveofhistory
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SjwlXC5e8uvPxXE8siyEZ?si=1f813135bad1471c
The Tomb of Two Brothers w/ TK from For The Love of History
Join us as we explore the fascinating story of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep, two ancient Egyptian manicurist whose relationship has sparked much debate. With TK from For The Love of History, we delve into the evidence, debunk common arguments, and examine the biases that shape our understanding of the past.
Debunked Arguments
Possible Twins?
Argument: Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were twins solely based on equal representation within their tomb and offerings
Debunked: Egyptian culture had specific titles and identifiers for familial relationships, including twins. While Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep shared titles and are depicted together, there is no explicit mention or depiction of them as twins in the inscriptions or iconography found in their tomb.
Comparing To Another Stela
Argument: Another artifact that portrays two men facing one another and it has two hieroglyphs that say “SN” that is often used for brothers, but also for other types of relationships too.
Debunked: The argument incorrectly applies evidence from a different artifact or context (possibly the Tomb of the Two Brothers) to support its claim. The hieroglyphs "SN" on another artifact cannot validate a sibling relationship for the individuals depicted if such hieroglyphs are not found in the specific context of the Tomb of the Two Brothers.
The Banquet of NIANKHKHNUM & KHNUMHOTEP
This scene on the southern wall of the rock-cut chamber is rich in detail and clues to our understanding of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. Khnumhotep sits above on the right side holding a lotus flower and facing his companion Niankhkhnum who sits on the left side. Sitting behind Niankhkhnum are faint traces of his wife but her image was removed in ancient times by the designers of the tomb. Below the two men are musicians, dancers, clappers, and singers.
The Song Within Banquet Scene
They are likely playing “This title originates from one of the earliest scriptural mentions of Horus and Seth in the Pyramid Texts, discovered in King Pepi I's pyramid. These texts suggest a deep relationship between Horus and Seth, including references to mutual penetration, potentially implying an intimate connection or a symbolic elevation of the two men to the divine realm by associating them with Horus and Seth.
Altered Depictions in the Banquet Scene
The plastering over of Khnumhotep's wife's image in the banquet scene of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep's tomb provides insight into their personal relationships within ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. This deliberate change suggests a departure from what’s considered typical for marital depictions, possibly indicating marital tension or a change in relationship status. The intimate depictions of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep in the tomb, alongside the alteration of Khnumhotep's marital representation, imply an intimate relationship between them.
Additionally, neither Niankhkhnum nor Khnumhotep are depicted in any intimate positions within the tomb’s images with their wives, only with one another.
A Case Study For Bias in Historical Narratives
Heteronormative Norms:
Many people reject the idea of a same-sex relationship between Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep by imposing their own biases rooted in norms of heterosexual, cisgender relationships onto ancient evidence. Despite clear depictions and alterations in their tomb suggesting a close bond between the two men, some scholars and observers interpret these findings through a lens that prioritizes traditional norms and assumptions about gender and relationships. This approach dismisses evidence that challenges the conventional understandings of ancient cultures and their diverse practices.
Who Tells History Matters
Who tells history matters. The perspectives and biases of historians shape how we understand the past, and the case of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep shows how long-standing biases—especially those favoring heterosexual and cisgender norms—can obscure the true nature of historical relationships.
But it's not just biases that skew our understanding; it's also who has access to the information. Academia's paywalls restrict access to scholarly research, limiting the diversity of voices in historical interpretation. When access to critical research is confined to those who can afford it, it perpetuates a narrow perspective and silences alternative or marginalized viewpoints.
We need to break down these barriers and confront these biases to achieve a more accurate and inclusive interpretation of history. Only then can we respect and explore the full range of human experiences across different times and societies.
Conclusion
The story of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep highlights the importance of challenging historical biases and expanding our understanding of the past. Sharing the stories that have been hidden from the mainstream is crucial, and that's exactly what we strive to do on this podcast.
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