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Margaret Benson (16 June 1865 – 13 May 1916) was an England author and Egyptologist best known for her excavation of the Precinct of Mut, a temple compound on the east bank of the Nile.
Of Margaret's five siblings, her brothers included novelist Edward Frederic Benson, poet and master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, Arthur Christopher Benson, and Catholic priest and author Robert Hugh Benson. Several of the Benson family suffered from mental illnesses, with Margaret's father Edward Benson described as being prone to long periods of depression and violent mood swings. None of the Benson siblings married, and at least three of them, Arthur, Fred, and Margaret, were likely homosexual. Margaret's mother, Mary Benson, was also involved in homosexual relationships.
The 1895 season had a crew of 23 men and boys. This season saw the excavations of the west half first court as well as the fixing of errors on existing maps. During this season, eight statues of Sekhmet and a block statue of Amenemhet, scribe of Amenhotep II, as well as other smaller objects such as coins, beads, and pots, were discovered.
The 1896 season saw an increased crew of between 35 and 50 men and boys. This season saw the excavation of the gateway between the first and second court, leading to the discovery that the walls of the gateway was built in four phases. In addition, the second season saw the excavation of the second court and the discovery of a statue of a lion's head, a statue of Ramesses II, and a large statue of Sekhmet.
Margaret was joined in the second season by Janet Gourlay, who became her travelling companion and partner. Together, Margaret and Janet led the first all-female excavation in Egypt.
The 1897 season saw the discovery of two statues of Mentuemhat on the first day before Margaret could arrive to the excavation site. This season saw three trenches dug for excavation, with discoveries including a statue of a sphinx, fifteen inscribed statues, pieces of clay pots, and coins dating to the time of Nero. One of the most well known figures recovered by Gourlay and Benson was the head of a figure, now in the British Museum, commonly referred to as the Benson Head.
She was unable to continue excavating following this season due to numerous health issues.
After meeting Janet Gourlay in 1896 during the excavations in Egypt, the two began working together. Although they are often described as 'friends', it is evident from their written communication that there was more to their relationship:
While neither woman married in the legal sense, they lived together for decades, and likely perceived themselves as married.
Margaret's poor health began at the age of 20, when she contracted scarlet fever. In the next five years, she developed the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis, which led her to seek relief in the warm climate of Egypt. Her health later led her to be unable to continue excavating after 1897. Margaret also developed pleurisy around this same time, and in 1900 she had a heart attack. She suffered a severe mental breakdown in 1907, and was treated first in an asylum at St George's Convent, Wivelsfield, Sussex, and from November 1907 to 1912, at the Priory Hospital in Roehampton. From 1907 until her death, Margaret experienced and self-harm, as well as aggression towards her mother. According to her brother E. F. Benson, Margaret became obsessed with Lucy Tait, her mother's lover, and became convinced that Lucy was conspiring to get rid of her. E. F. Benson did not provide details in his account, but his writing suggested that she had tried to kill her mother. Margaret died of heart failure in 1916 at the age of 50.
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