top of page
1/3
Hatshepsut was the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Thutmosis II and the fifth Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, ruling Egypt as the first queen regent from 1458 BC to 1479 BC. Hatshepsut was the daughter of a King, but unlike others she was also a woman who was one of the few female pharaohs that was ruling in Egyptian history. In that time period, Hatshepsut didn't inherit the throne like a son to a king would have, only sons were allowed to succeed their fathers. King Thutmose I died without sons, Hatshepsut married her half-brother, Thutmosis II to help him become Pharaoh.
When Thutmosis II died, his son, Hatshepsut stepson became pharaoh at the age of three years old. Hatshepsut ruled in his name, but when he turned eight years old, she took the throne herself and officially became co-ruler around 1473 B.C. Some historians think that she made this decision due to people wanting to steal the throne and she knew that if there were two pharaohs, it would be harder to overthrow. Hatshepsut and Thutmose III ruled together for 22 years.
Even though Hatshepsut had her challenges as being a female ruler, in-order to establish herself as Egyptian Royalty, she took traditionally male roles and was depicted as a male pharaoh, some would say. Hatshepsut brought great wealth, artistry and peace to her land. She sponsored one of Egypt's most successful trade expeditions, bringing back gold, ebony and incense from a place called Punt. Very little is known about this expedition.
She secured her legacy by building structures that still stand today. Many of these building projects were temples to build her religious base and legitimacy beyond her position as God's Wife of Amun. At these temples she performed religious rituals that lay evidence that Hatshepsut assumed traditionally male roles as pharaoh. Toward the end of Thutmose III and into his son's reign, there was an attempt to remove Hatshepsut from certain historical and pharaonic records. The destruction of her name or images to replace adding Thutmose I or II where Hatshepsut once stood. Hatshepsut's reign went against many challenges as being a step-mother and as a woman. According to Egyptologist Kara Cooney describes Hatshepsut as "arguably, the only woman to have ever taken power as king in ancient Egypt during a time of prosperity and expansion."
Cites:
"Hatshepsut".Hatsepsut. Last edited 04 September 2023.Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatshepsut
Model: Kyra Simone
Retoucher: @ruby_retucher
Photographer: Nikkia Riles
bottom of page