In ancient Egypt there were several occupations open to women, like priesthood, midwifery, mourning, textile working, dancing and music. Among this, the priesthood was the most prestigious one, and for a long period open only to women of noble families. It was not until the New Kingdom that women from all social levels could enter into temple service.

The Old Kingdom:

Many women of noble birth held the title hmt-ntjr, i.e Servant of God. This is the female variant of the male title hm-ntjr, which denotes that type of priest in the temple hierarchy, who performed had access to the cult statue at the Temple, performed rituals and prepared offerings etc. Though most women served Het-Hert and more seldom Nit, there were in the 4th Dynasty already, and probably even earlier, some queens who served Djehuty, or held positions in the mortuary cults of their deceased fathers and husbands.

We don´t know what their exact duties were though. Shafer states that there were no male servants of Het-Hert, so probably women held the same positions as men in this specific instance. But even in the cult of Het-Hert, women were under the authority of a man, which makes you wonder if the duties really were the same, or if males held a more administrative post.

The main function of women seem to have been to perform the music before the deity. There existed a musical troupe, the hnr, where both dancing, singing and music making was performed. The head of the musical troupe held the title of wrt-hnr, this woman was ranked high in the temple hierarchy, as being in charge of the quality and training of the wrt-hnr. Shafer does not exclude that she also had authority over male musicians.

These women seem also to have had the title of dw3t-ntr, meaning Worshiper of God, which reoccurs later in the Second Intermediate and the New Kingdom.

In these days no women held the title of wa'eb, however in a few instances they performed the wa'ebt service for Het-Hert and were paid the same as the male did.

The Middle Kingdom:

It seems that not very much is known from this period, more than that women were still essential for the musical troupe, the wrt-hnr. Some of these held the title of Chantress, smt. There are also three stelae recognizing the difference between female and male musicians and singers.

The New Kingdom:

Female Servants of God is generally not known during this time period - but two exceptions are known. These were the positions of Second Servant of God. One of them served Mut, the other one, Queen Ahmose Nefertari, was in the service of Amun. This lady later held the title of God´s Wife of Amun, and is the first one with that position. See God´s Wife of Amun for more on this subject.

This position is known from the 10th and 12th Dynasties, when non-royal women served Min and Amun as well as Ptah. After Queen Ahmose Nefertari, the title was exclusively used in connection with Amun however. The next one to hold the title was Hatshepsut, who, when she became king, transferred it to her daughter Nefrure.

There was also the title of dw3t-ntr, meaning Worshiper of God. In reliefs these women were shown performing priestly duties together with male priests; purification in the sacred lake, standing in front of the god worshipping him, presenting Ma'at and offerings etc. There are also scenes where the gods purify her, crown her, offer her life etc, such things which normally are associated with kingship.

The title of wa´ebt priestess is not known from the New Kingdom but we do know that most wifes of wa´eb priests. served as temple singers and musicians, playing the sistrum. They too were divided up into phyles to work for a month at a time, just as male servants were.

Third Intermediate and Late Period:

Here we know of the royal lady Henut-tawy, who held two titles; that of hmt-ntr, Servant of God for Mut and Onuris-Shu, and that of dw3t-hthrt, Worshiper of Het-Hert.

Queens and princesses in dynasty 22 were called God´s Mother of Khonsu, and in dynasty 25, the title of hmt-ntr-hthrt, Servant of Het-Hert was taken up again.

Ptolemaic Period

During the Ptolemaic Period, female priests gained some status. At Waset, the God´s Wife of Amun was restored after having been neglected for some time. For several other deities there were women holding positions as the god´s consort or protectress, or mother. In Men-Nefer, the wifes of the high priests were acting as important priestesses. Female musicians were still important and there also the titles wa´ebt or wa´ebt hmt