Gender and Conversational Tactics in the Contendings of Horus and Seth *

Abstract

This article analyses the correlation of conversational tactics and gender in The Contendings of Horus and Seth, focusing on the linguistic behaviour of the goddesses Isis and Neith, and the gods Pre-Harakhte, Seth, and Osiris. During the litigation over the kingship of Egypt, certain male deities, such as Seth and Pre-Harakhte, attempt to achieve their aims by threats and outbursts of rage, tactics seldom adopted by the goddesses in this particular text. Isis, by contrast, tends to assume a vulnerable position in relation to her interlocutors and to persuade them to cooperate with her by offering them attractive rewards. However, the issues of speech and power are subtle and complex, and a simple binary division based on gender cannot do justice to them. This text also represents goddesses acting assertively and forthrightly, such as Neith in her correspondence with the Ennead. Similarly, few male gods are shown emulating Seth's boorish behaviour, from which the whole divine assembly suffers.