ABSTRACT
This chapter intends to present the cases, in order to illustrate the symbolic meaning and purpose of this cross-dressing. It provides two episodes from the so-called "Cycle of Petubastis", a group of demotic texts greatly influenced by Greek literary tradition, where the cross-dressing does not occur in the religious sphere and has a completely different significance from that previously analysed. There are a few representations of female pharaohs wearing clothes commonly associated with men, as well as others related to the Egyptian pantheon showing goddesses in male attire. Kingship passed from father to son, therefore pharaohs were traditionally men. Nevertheless, in rare cases, a woman could become king. Some images of female pharaohs represent them wearing traditional king's crowns and attire, while others display them as male rulers. According to the Egyptian religion, particular qualities and powers were associated with specific genders. Some male gods could have typical female powers and vice versa.
