Homosexuality in ancient Egypt was not unknown, but it does not appear to have been prevalent at any time. As seen in some of the earliest documents related to the myth of Seth and Horus, it is clear that homosexual tendencies were known. These tendencies were not viewed with total disdain.

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In the myth, Seth desires to lie with Horus, which Horus freely consents to in most versions. In some versions, he consults his mother, Isis, before lying with Seth. It is not the homosexual desires that the other gods reprimand, but the idea that Horus voluntarily allowed Seth to use him in what was believed to be the role of a woman. Because the gods believed Horus took the role of a woman, being dominated by Seth, they thought he was unfit to be a ruler, a position held by a male. It is only through Isis's cunning that Horus defends his honor and shows, through trickery, that it was actually he who dominated Seth.

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In the Book of the Dead, there are sections of negative confession that show dishonor in homosexual relationships. These negative confessions, however, have many different translations, depending on the translator. This inconsistency makes it difficult to say whether homosexual relationships were generally disapproved of, or if they were only taboo in certain places, times, and situations.

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A set of papyri from the Sixth Dynasty speaks about Pharaoh Pepi II and his general, Sasenet. The two are seen having nightly escapades. A commoner follows the pharaoh on one of his nocturnal outings and sees him secretly entering the house of his general, Sasenet. The tone of the papyrus is neutral in its judgment of the pharaoh and his nocturnal amorous encounters. This may be because the pharaoh was considered a deity and, therefore, was already dominant over Sasenet. This shows that homosexuality was not popularly viewed favorably, as Pepi was forced to continue his affair clandestinely.