Tuaa was an Egyptian woman who lived in Soknopaiou Nesos during the reign of Ptolemy XIII.
Biography[]
Tuaa was originally from the city of Krokodilopolis in the Faiyum Oasis, working as a weaver sewing carpets for her father. However, Tuaa was not willing to sew carpets for the rest of her life and when she met an Egyptian man, whom she fell in love with, they eloped. Together, they settled down in Soknopaiou Nesos and would occasionally climb up a cliff outside the village to watch herons nest and take care of their young.[1]
Their marriage was short-lived, though, as Tuaa's husband was killed by a scorpion in 48 BCE. Deeply affected by her beloved's death, Tuaa attempted to commit suicide at the very cliff she and her late husband had visited. However, she was stopped by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa, who caught sight of her when he left the village.[1]
Bayek gave Tuaa a heron feather, meant for her late husband. He explained to the widow that feathers were often used in Siwan rituals as a way to help the deceased move on to the afterlife, convincing Tuaa to give up the thoughts of suicide. Tuaa agreed, and Bayek escorted her down the hills and to the village docks. Tuaa thanked Bayek for his help, and informed him of her intentions to head down south, maybe even return to Krokodilopolis.[1]
Tuaa eventually did end up in Krokodilopolis, where she began narrating poetry as a way of comforting herself. Sometime later, while performing in the market, she was visited by Bayek, who was surprised to see her. Tuaa explained to Bayek that she had yet to speak to her father and that poetry reading helped her to move on from her past.[2]
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