Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple Portrait

’Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple Portrait”, 1470 B.C.E.; stone

Hatshepsut was a Pharaoh in the 15th century. Hatshepsut was an 18th dynasty Pharaoh who was one of a very few female rulers in Ancient Egypt whose reign was the longest of all the female Pharaohs. Hatshepsut ruled for nearly 20 years, despite the many obstacles she faced. After the death of her father, her half brother came to the throne. Tuthmose II was only in power for several years and he died. He had a son that would have been in line for the throne, but due to his age he could not, so Hatshepsut came to power. She was the favorite child of three children of her father Tuthmose I. The other two siblings of which were her two brothers both died very young. No doubt Hatshepsut was a smart and strong woman to stay in power for 20 years. She could have stood back and waited for her nephew to get old enough to come to the throne, but she did not. Hatshepsut was a favorite daughter of a popular Pharaoh and a beautiful charismatic lady in her own right. She used these traits to her advantage.

Hatshepsut dressed in the traditional garb of a male ruler as she used propaganda and keen political skills to quite the fears of her people. Being an elegant spokes woman, she used two devices to ensure the legitimacy of her position. She emphasized her kinship of Tuthmose I and his favor of her. She also claimed to be handpicked by him to be his successor. There was not a time of war during her reign, but she proved her sovereignty by ordering expeditions to the land of Punt, which is present day Somalia. In the land of Punt her expeditions were in search of ivory, animals, spices, gold and aromatic trees that the Egyptians coveted. It is worth noting that the Egyptians on their return voyage from the land of Punt brought back 31 Frankincense trees, keeping the roots in baskets for the duration of the voyage. This was the first recorded attempt to transplant foreign trees.

In all, Hatshepsut accomplished more than any other woman Pharaoh before her. She ruled the most powerful and advanced civilization in the world successfully and even if there are those who resented her success, it stands for all to see. Hatshepsut left behind more monuments and works of art than any queen before or after her. Hatshepsut