Hatshepsut
by A. Banerjee
Hatshepsut is considered the first major female ruler in history. She ruled Egypt for over 20 years during the fifteenth century BCE, becoming the longest reigning female pharaoh. Today, she is still considered one of the most successful Egyptian leaders.
Hatshepsut was born into a royal family. She was the daughter of the pharaoh Thutmose I and wife to another pharaoh, Thutmose II. When her husband died, his son was too young to rule, so Hatshepsut was appointed regent, or someone who makes decisions for future rulers until they are old enough. After about seven years, however, Hatshepsut proclaimed herself pharaoh.
In the past, historians believed that her declaration of power came from an ambition for power and control. More recently, evidence suggests that her decision may have been made in the midst of political crisis and meant to protect the throne for her stepson.
Either way, Egypt thrived under Hatshepsut's reign. As pharaoh, her main interest was economic prosperity. This set her apart from rulers before and after her, whose priority was gaining control over new territory. She began a huge program to renovate temples and monuments and build new ones, including a magnificent funerary temple for herself. Her building projects also allowed her to create monuments in which she depicted herself with a false beard, a detail only allowed on the portraits of a pharaoh. Probably as a way to assert her power, Hatshepsut also showed herself with a male body in the king's traditional clothing and crown.
When Thutmose III was old enough to rule, he quickly assumed control of the army. Perhaps because she feared an uprising, Hatshepsut dispatched the army on an expedition to the land of Punt, which is believed to have been somewhere on the northeast coast of Africa. Previous pharaohs had also sent expeditions to Punt. Hatshepsut's expedition succeeded in bringing back rare myrrh trees, gold, and ivory, among other treasures. This expansion of Egyptian trade is thought of as one of the greatest achievements of her reign.
Hatshepsut died around 1458 BCE and Thutmose III became pharaoh. Later in his rule, he had all the images of his stepmother removed from the buildings and temples she had built. Perhaps he wanted to stomp out her example of such a powerful and effective ruler from the people's memory and from Egypt's history. If this is true, his plan succeeded until 1822, when a group of scholars came across Hatshepsut's story in the ancient writing on a temple's walls. Fortunately, Hatshepsut and her prosperous reign have now been firmly carved back into Egypt's history.
Passage 2
adapted from The Woman Who Would Be King
by Caroline Kim-Brown
The story of Hatshepsut is a remarkable one. She led armies and trade expeditions, built one of the greatest monuments in Egypt, and switched her appearance from female to male in order to rule as pharaoh. In a male-dominated society, she ruled for nearly twenty years.
After her death, someone tried to erase the memory of Hatshepsut as king. She was left off lists of rulers; her statues were demolished; her image was erased; and her name on monuments and reliefs was covered over by the names of other kings. For nearly two thousand years, she was forgotten, and she may have remained that way except for the discovery of her mortuary temple.
In 1828, Jean Francois Champollion, famous for deciphering the Rosetta Stone, made his one and only trip to Egypt. Among the places he visited was Deir al-Bahri, where a nearby temple had been buried under centuries of desert sand and piles of rocks fallen. There he noticed a curious inconsistency. He discovered the partially erased name of a king, Amenenthe, accompanied by feminine titles. Pictorially, the king was shown as male, bearded and dressed as a pharaoh, but in writing, he seemed to be a she.
Puzzled, Champollion wrote: "I found the same peculiarity everywhere. Not only was there the name Amenenthe preceded by the title of sovereign ruler of the world, with the feminine prefix, but also his own name immediately following on the title of 'Daughter of the Sun.'"
Champollion did not know that Amenenthe and Hatshepsut were one and the same, and she was pharaoh of Egypt.
Daughter of a powerful king, Tuthmosis I, Hatshepsut became queen consort when she married Tuthmosis II. When he died a few years into his reign, succession passed to Tuthmosis III, a son by a lesser queen than Hatshepsut. Because of Tuthmosis III's young age, Hatshepsut became regent of Egypt.
In year seven of Tuthmosis III's reign, Hatshepsut declared herself king, depicting herself on monuments as male, wearing a false beard and the short kilt of a pharaoh. In images where both she and Tuthmosis III are represented, she is shown in the superior position in front of her stepson. Her motives for this are unknown.
While Hatshepsut showed herself in imagery as male, she did not do so to fool her subjects. Rather, it seems that appearing as male solved several problems, the most important being that she could maintain justice by continuing established traditions. She could also replace her stepson in state and religious rituals in which a king was necessary. And only a king could lead troops into battle. "We know that Hatshepsut, at least at one point, goes and campaigns in Nubia," says Cathleen Keller, professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. "And in order to take that position, you have to be a king. You can't be a regent."
Keller believes that Hatshepsut appeared as male because she had to. "The appearances she makes in the arts in male guise are roles—her role both as a recipient of homage and as a donor of offerings. In order for her to be depicted performing these roles and these rituals, she has to be king."
Most likely, Hatshepsut's name was erased from monuments to strengthen Tuthmosis III's legacy as the rightful king of Egypt.
This article was first published in November/December 2005 issue of Humanities, which is published by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Type your response in the box.
Both passages describe Hatshepsut's reign as a pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Write an essay analyzing how Hatshepsut used her power in both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King." Use evidence from both passages to support your response.
Hatshepsut, the first major female ruler in history, utilized her power as a pharaoh in ancient Egypt in different ways, as depicted in both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King." In both passages, it is evident that Hatshepsut strived for economic prosperity for Egypt. However, the first passage focuses on her building projects and the expansion of Egyptian trade, while the second passage sheds light on her transformation into a male pharaoh and the symbolic significance behind it.
In "Hatshepsut," it is established that Hatshepsut's main interest as pharaoh was economic prosperity. She initiated an extensive program to renovate and build temples and monuments, which not only contributed to the improvement of Egypt's infrastructure but also showcased her power and authority. Furthermore, her building projects allowed her to depict herself with a false beard, symbolizing her status as a pharaoh. By defying traditional gender roles, Hatshepsut aimed to assert her power and establish herself as a strong and effective ruler.
On the other hand, "The Woman Who Would Be King" delves deeper into the reasons behind Hatshepsut's transformation into a male pharaoh. The passage suggests that Hatshepsut's appearance as male was not an attempt to deceive her subjects, but rather a strategic move to maintain justice, uphold established traditions, and take on the role of a king. By presenting herself as a male pharaoh, Hatshepsut was able to participate in state and religious rituals that required a king's presence, and lead the troops into battle. It can be inferred that she used her power to overcome societal barriers and effectively govern Egypt, regardless of her gender.
Furthermore, the second passage explains that after Hatshepsut's death, her stepson, Tuthmosis III, attempted to erase her memory as king. This suggests that Hatshepsut's reign was seen as a threat to the legitimacy of Tuthmosis III's rule. Her name was obliterated from monuments to reinforce Tuthmosis III's status as the rightful king. This indicates that Hatshepsut's use of power and authority had a profound impact on the political landscape of ancient Egypt, to the extent that her successor felt the need to erase any trace of her reign.
In conclusion, both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King" highlight Hatshepsut's role as an influential and successful pharaoh in ancient Egypt. While the first passage emphasizes her focus on economic prosperity through building projects and trade expeditions, the second passage delves into her transformation into a male pharaoh as a means to consolidate power and maintain established traditions. Hatshepsut's reign had a lasting impact on Egypt's history, and her story has since been rediscovered and celebrated as a testament to her strength and effectiveness as a ruler.
Hatshepsut, the first major female ruler in history, utilized her power effectively during her reign as pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King" provide insight into her leadership and the strategies she employed to maintain her position of authority.
In "Hatshepsut," the passage highlights Hatshepsut's rise to power, emphasizing her role as a regent for her young stepson, Thutmose III. It is suggested that Hatshepsut's proclamation as pharaoh may have been motivated by a desire to protect the throne for her stepson, rather than pure ambition for power. Evidence from the passage suggests that Hatshepsut used her position as pharaoh to bring economic prosperity to Egypt. She focused on building and renovating temples and monuments, showcasing her dedication to promoting the country's cultural heritage. Additionally, she embarked on a successful trade expedition to the land of Punt, expanding Egypt's trade network and securing valuable resources such as myrrh, gold, and ivory.
Similarly, "The Woman Who Would Be King" sheds light on Hatshepsut's reign and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated society. The passage reveals that, following her death, attempts were made to erase her memory as king. Her statues were demolished, her image was erased, and her name was covered over by the names of other kings. However, the passage also highlights the rediscovery of Hatshepsut's story by Jean Francois Champollion in 1828. It is mentioned that Hatshepsut strategically depicted herself as male in imagery, wearing a false beard and the short kilt of a pharaoh. This allowed her to maintain established traditions, lead troops into battle, and perform state and religious rituals that required a king's presence. The passage suggests that Hatshepsut's appearance as male was not an attempt to deceive her subjects but rather a means to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements of a king's role.
From both passages, it is evident that Hatshepsut used her power as pharaoh to promote economic prosperity, maintain justice, and preserve tradition in ancient Egypt. She leveraged her position to undertake monumental building projects and expand trade, contributing to the country's growth and success. Furthermore, her portrayal as a male pharaoh in imagery enabled her to fulfill her duties and obligations as a ruler. Despite attempts to erase her memory, Hatshepsut's effective reign and achievements ultimately resurfaced, reclaiming her rightful place in Egypt's history.
Overall, Hatshepsut's reign as pharaoh was marked by her ability to utilize her power strategically and effectively. Her focus on economic prosperity, preservation of tradition, and successful leadership in trade and military expeditions solidified her reputation as one of Egypt's most successful rulers. The evidence provided in both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King" underscores Hatshepsut's astute use of power during her reign and her lasting impact on ancient Egypt.
In both "Hatshepsut" and "The Woman Who Would Be King," it is clear that Hatshepsut used her power as a pharaoh in ancient Egypt in various ways. She ruled Egypt for over 20 years during the 15th century BCE and is considered the first major female ruler in history.
One significant way Hatshepsut utilized her power was through her focus on economic prosperity. The passage "Hatshepsut" explains that her main interest as a pharaoh was to ensure the economic success of Egypt. This is in contrast to other rulers before and after her, whose main priority was expanding control over new territories. Hatshepsut initiated a large-scale program to renovate existing temples, build new monuments, and construct a magnificent funerary temple for herself. These building projects not only showcased her leadership and wealth but also contributed to the economic well-being of Egypt by providing employment opportunities and boosting trade.
The passage "The Woman Who Would Be King" further emphasizes Hatshepsut's economic achievements and highlights her trade expeditions. It mentions her successful expedition to the land of Punt, located on the northeast coast of Africa. Hatshepsut's decision to send the army on this expedition is believed to have been motivated by her desire to prevent any potential uprisings during her rule. Notably, this trade venture resulted in the acquisition of rare myrrh trees, gold, ivory, and other valuable treasures, which expanded Egyptian trade and became one of the greatest achievements of her reign.
Moreover, both passages shed light on Hatshepsut's use of imagery to assert her power and legitimacy as a ruler. The passage "Hatshepsut" describes how she depicted herself with a false beard, a detail only allowed on the portraits of a pharaoh. She also presented herself in the king's traditional clothing and crown, adopting a male appearance in order to fulfill the necessary roles and rituals of a king. This allowed her to maintain justice, participate in religious and state rituals, and lead troops into battle. The passage "The Woman Who Would Be King" supports this explanation by stating that Hatshepsut's appearance as male was not to deceive her subjects but rather to ensure her position as king and fulfill the required duties associated with that role.
However, the passages also highlight the challenges Hatshepsut faced as a female ruler in a male-dominated society. Both texts mention the attempts made to erase her memory as king after her death. Her name was omitted from lists of rulers, her statues were destroyed, and her image was erased or replaced. This erasure was likely an effort to strengthen the legacy of her stepson, Tuthmosis III, as the rightful king of Egypt. It was not until the discovery of her mortuary temple in 1828 that Hatshepsut's story and prosperous reign were rediscovered.
In conclusion, Hatshepsut, as the first major female ruler in history, demonstrated her power as a pharaoh through her focus on economic prosperity, successful trade expeditions, and the strategic use of imagery to assert her authority. Despite attempts to erase her from history, Hatshepsut's legacy has been restored, highlighting her significant achievements and her impact as a powerful and effective leader in ancient Egypt.