Pharaoh · 1507 BC – 1458 BC
Hatshepsut
Key Takeaways
- Hatshepsut was one of very few women to rule Egypt as pharaoh in her own right.
- Her reign was peaceful and prosperous, focused on trade and building.
- She sponsored a famous trading expedition to the land of Punt.
- Her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari is a masterpiece of Egyptian architecture.
Hatshepsut broke one of the ancient world’s firmest conventions: she ruled Egypt as pharaoh in her own right, not merely as a queen beside a king. Her reign in the fifteenth century BC became one of the most prosperous of the New Kingdom.
A reign of peace and prosperity
Rather than war, Hatshepsut pursued trade and construction. Her celebrated expedition to the distant land of Punt returned with gold, ivory, exotic animals and incense trees, and she sponsored hundreds of building projects across Egypt.
Monuments and erasure
Her greatest monument, the terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, remains a masterpiece of ancient architecture. To legitimize her rule she was often portrayed with the pharaoh’s ceremonial false beard. After her death, later rulers tried to chisel her name from history — an effort that nearly succeeded until modern archaeology restored her. Like the later Cleopatra, she stands as proof that a woman could command the throne of Egypt.
Influence
Hatshepsut demonstrated that a woman could hold the supreme office of pharaoh and govern Egypt successfully, leaving a legacy of prosperity and some of the finest monuments of the New Kingdom.
Legacy
Long obscured by the deliberate destruction of her monuments, Hatshepsut has been restored by modern archaeology to her place among Egypt's most successful rulers.
Controversies
- After her death, later rulers attempted to erase her name and images from monuments.
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Hatshepsut?
Hatshepsut (c. 1507–1458 BC) was one of the few women to rule ancient Egypt as pharaoh, presiding over a prosperous era of trade and monumental building.
What is Hatshepsut famous for?
She is famous as a successful female pharaoh, for the trading expedition to Punt, and for her stunning mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari.
Citations & Sources
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