Hatshepsut

Biography

Hatshepsut was born around 1507 BCE into the royal family of the 18th Dynasty in ancient Egypt. Her father was Pharaoh Thutmose I, one of Egypt's greatest warrior kings. She was his favourite child and was educated in the traditions of Egyptian royalty, including religion, politics, and administration.

When her father died, she married her half-brother Thutmose II and became his Great Royal Wife. When Thutmose II died around 1479 BCE, his young son by another wife became the next pharaoh as Thutmose III. Because the new king was too young to rule, Hatshepsut became regent, meaning she governed on his behalf.

But Hatshepsut did not stay a regent. Within a few years she declared herself Pharaoh of Egypt, taking all the titles and symbols of royal power. She wore the double crown. She wore the false beard traditionally worn by male pharaohs. She had herself depicted in statues and temple carvings as a male ruler. She ruled as pharaoh for roughly 21 years.

What She Built and Achieved

Hatshepsut was an exceptional ruler by any measure. She organised and led a famous trading expedition to the land of Punt, a wealthy region likely in the Horn of Africa, bringing back gold, ebony, ivory, myrrh trees, and exotic animals. The expedition was so significant that it was recorded in detailed carvings at her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri.

That temple, Djeser-Djeseru, is considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient world. It rises in terraces against the cliffs on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor and is still standing today. She also erected two massive obelisks at the Temple of Karnak. They were the tallest in Egypt at the time.

After her death around 1458 BCE, her stepson Thutmose III went on to become one of Egypt's most successful military pharaohs. Toward the end of his own reign, he had her images chiselled off temple walls and her statues destroyed or buried. Scholars believe this was done to remove her from the royal succession and to claim the achievements of her reign as his own or his father's.

It almost worked. For thousands of years, historians knew almost nothing about her. Then archaeologists began piecing her story back together, and the truth emerged.

Major Achievements

• One of ancient Egypt's longest-reigning female pharaohs, ruling for approximately 21 years
• Organised major trade expeditions to Punt, greatly increasing Egypt's wealth
• Built the mortuary temple Djeser-Djeseru at Deir el-Bahri, considered one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world
• Erected two of the largest obelisks ever built in Egypt at the Temple of Karnak
• Successfully maintained peace and prosperity across Egypt throughout her reign
• Her rediscovered mummy is now at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Her Impact Today

Hatshepsut was erased from history by someone who feared what her existence meant. She was found again by people who refused to let the erasure stand. Today she is recognised as one of the most successful rulers in ancient Egyptian history. Her temple at Deir el-Bahri draws visitors from all over the world. Her story is one of the oldest examples we have of a woman who took power that was not supposed to belong to her and used it to build something extraordinary.

Sources: Wikipedia (Hatshepsut), Metropolitan Museum of Art, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Egyptian Museum Cairo