Hatshepsut
Great female Pharaoh
Great female Pharaoh
Hatshepsut was known as a great female pharaoh of Egypt. She reigned as pharaoh
during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt,
approximately from 1479 BCE to 1458 BCE. She broke gender barriers by assuming
the full powers and title of a pharaoh.
She became pharaoh under unique circumstances. Initially, she was the queen consort to her
husband, Pharaoh
Thutmose II. Upon his death, she began as regent to her stepson, Thutmose III, who was too young
to rule. Over time,
Hatshepsut assumed the full powers and title of pharaoh, co-reigning with
Thutmose III.
Hatshepsut faced opposition during her rule, primarily due to the unconventional nature of a
woman holding the
position of pharaoh. She had to navigate court which was not in favor of female
rulers.
Despite this, she managed to maintain her authority and rule effectively for about two decades.
Her rule demonstrated that women could wield power effectively and maintain stability and
prosperity in the
kingdom.
This paved the way for other female rulers, such as Cleopatra, who also became
a prominent pharaoh in her
own right.
She re-established trade routes that had been disrupted, notably the Punt expedition, which brought back wealth and exotic goods to Egypt.
Her vast mortuary temple the Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri was one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the ancient world.
Hatshepsut promoted the worship of the god Amun and commissioned numerous statues and temples in his honor.
She oversaw successful military campaigns in Nubia and Syria. These were primarily defensive in nature, to protect and consolidate Egypt’s borders.
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities page about Hatshepsut Temple.
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