How Did Hatshepsut Successful

Although there wasn’t any law against women to become ruler. Many believe she was out place when she became ruler. After she died, there was an operation to destroy all images of Hatshepsut from history. However, due to the statues are made out of granite, destroying the statues is extremely difficult. In the artistic convention, there wasn’t a method for a female pharaoh. Hatshepsut accepted to conform to the traditional convention by changing herself to a man. By looking at the Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut, it depicts her understanding and respect towards the role of a pharaoh in Ancient Egyptian

Hatshepsut’s appearance and portrayal changed as her usually feminine features were replaced by kingly accessories such as the royal kilt, Nemes headdress with uraeus, Atef crown and symbols of Egypt’s enemies under her feet when represented in statues. The seated limestone statue from Deir El-Bahri is the best example of this portrayal of Hatshepsut as a female but with kingly accessories. This transition from a female representation to a more manly and masculine appearance reflects Hatshepsut to have a more kingly identity and because traditional most Pharaohs were male. Egyptologist Peter Dorman also explains this transition as the “strictures of functioning solely as a queen were inconsistent with that role. Hatshepsut’s royal image changed over time as her feminine appearance gradually changed as she began to be depicted in royal masculine

Therefore, Hatshepsut was summoned to rule on behalf of her stepson. Thutmose was crowned king but until the day Hatshepsut was deceased, the king had to compete with his stepmother-aunt. At first she acted as an advisor to the king, but being Hatshepsut was close to the throne all of her life, felt that “she had the most royal power as well as the purest royal blood in her veins.” After a few years passed, Hatshepsut presumed the Double crown and made herself king. Hatshepsut had a strong and vibrant personality and intended to overshadow her half brother as well as her husband. Thutmose III was still known as co ruler, but he remained in the background. There were many difficulties regarding her gender when she first came into rule, but it did not hinder her greatness. The inscription cutters often made mistakes as all the royal titles were in male form. She had to legitimize herself as female ruler, as she often did through art and statues.

A woman becoming Pharaoh had been almost unheard of in ancient Egypt until Hatshepsut was born. Hatshepsut was the second daughter of the pharaoh, Thothmes I. After her sister, Neferu-khebit, died, Hatshepsut was the next heir to the throne unless a male married her and became Pharaoh. After Thothmes passed away, Hatshepsut fearfully, yet confidently, claimed the throne and commenced one of the most successful She-Pharaoh reigns ever recorded. Pauline Gedge’s Child of the Morning explained the social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of ancient Egypt’s society during Hatshepsut’s reign as Queen and Pharaoh.

Hatshepsut was born around 15th century B.C., she is the daughter of Tuthmose the first and his wife, Aahmes. When king Tuthmose I died, queen Aahmes married her half-brother, King Tuthmose II. King Tuthmose II died after a short rule and the throne was supposed to be passed down to his son Tuthmose III but he was considered far too young to rule so Hatshepsut ruled in his stead as a regent. Information about Hatshepsut varied a bit, some articles speculated Hatshepsut was the 4th female pharaoh while others say she was the 6th. But without a doubt she was considered one of the greatest pharaohs of all time, even amongst the male counterparts. As a pharaoh, Hatshepsut did things like reestablishing trade routes that has been long lost due to past invaders. By doing this, Hatshepsut was able to turn the economy around and lead Egypt into a period of wealth and prosperous trade. Her allowing an expedition to the land of Punt also wielded excellent results. In total she sent 5 ships accommodating 210 sailors and 30 rowers most likely slaves. They bought back 31 live myrrh tree roots and were the first recorded attempt to plant foreign

Other interpretations deduce Hatshepsut as a highly successful pharaoh whose reign significantly contributed the prosperity and stability of Egypt at the time. Ineni, for example, was an official under Hatshepsut who talked highly of her; ‘she settled the affairs of the Two Lands…whose plans are excellent, she who satisfies the two regions when she speaks’. This quote demonstrates that officials from her context believed that she was an effective and efficient ruler who had the support of the official and peasant class. Modern day historians such as Callender, Tyldestry and Redford also present a balanced, more positive view of Hatshepsut as a competent and effective pharaoh who brought peace and prosperity to Egypt. J. Tyldesley, for example, names Hatshepsut as the woman who led a stable government, had a successful trading mission, and maintained impressive architectural advances in her building programs. She emphasises how rather than

Queen Nefertiti, the most powerful woman in Egypt since the Pharaoh Hatshepsut 100 years earlier. She was as influential as she was beautiful, being a partner in power with her king and husband, Akhenaten. Together, the couple co-reigned over Egypt attempting to completely transform Egyptian religion.

During her reign, Hatshepsut had started trading expeditions from Punt (present-day Eritrea) that brought ivory, ebony, gold, leopard skins and incense into Egypt. When Hatshepsut was trading with Punt, she utilized trade as a technique to give herself a chance to expand the economy of her country. In order for trading to be accomplished, Hatshepsut had established vital trade routes to aid in implementing exchange with other countries. As a result, Hatshepsut became the first monarch in the New Kingdom to trade with Punt. Through her action of expanding trades with trade routes, she demonstrated that she is an influential leader because she was not afraid to try new ways of making her country better and more prosperous. Along with trading with Punt, Hatshepsut had also traded with countries in west Asia which are in east of Egypt through her vital trade routes. Thus allowing boats filled with goods to be imported back to Egypt. In addition to expanding trade to help her country prosper, Hatshepsut had also built many great monuments such as the Palace of Ma’at, Gebel el Silsila, Chapelle Rouge, and the Deir el Bahri that exhibits the immense growth of her country. These tremendous monuments displayed that Egypt under Hatshepsut’s rule had prospered because it proves that the economy of that time was great since Hatshepsut was able to afford

Egyptian women were fortunate in that they were equal to men as far as the law was concerned. They could own property, borrow money, initiate divorce, and many other things unheard of in the Greek civilization. The Egyptian royal line was matriarchal, meaning that royalty was passed down from mother to son. The Greeks, in comparison, were patriarchal, meaning control was passed from father to son. It was also necessary for a man to marry a woman of royalty in order to become a Pharaoh. Because of this, it was common for brothers to marry sisters. Sometimes, women were even known to become a Pharaoh. There are at least four documented female Pharaohs with the most notable being Hatshepsut (1479-1458 B.C.) (McKay 2009). Hatshepsut, though a very powerful ruler, was often times depicted in men’s clothing and with a false beard (McKay 2009). This shows that even though women were much more important in Egyptian society, there was still a stigma around women leaders.

Major Achievements: Responsible for the building of The Great Pyramid of Giza and establishing the position of pharaoh as the central authority.

Hatshepsut’s building programs played a major role in her reign as is shown through the praise they still receive from the future generations. Hatshepsut main focus seemed to be her building programs as she constantly refers to them. Once she acquired the role of pharaoh she started repairing buildings that were neglected during the Hyksos occupation such as the temple of Hathor at Cusae, a temple for Min and the temple of Thoth at Hermopolis. Her building programs consisted of completing Thutmose II due to his short reign and constructing new buildings. Her new building programs consisted of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri; the Red Chapel, obelisks and pylon at Karnak; the barque sanctuary at Luxor and the cliff temple dedicated to the lion goddess, Pakhet at Beni Hassan. Her building programs were important to further enhance her relationship with the Amun- Re cult. Through her buildings she reinforced her relationship with Amun, using it as propaganda to prove that she has the right to claim the throne.

During the time of Ancient Egypt, having strong Pharaohs was essential to the maintenance and growth of the civilization, as the Pharaohs were believed to be living Gods. Although leadership of Ancient Egypt was often male dominated, there were admirable female Pharaohs who successfully gained power and left behind a positive legacy; one woman to achieve this was Hatshepsut, meaning ‘foremost of female nobles’. Her innovation and determination allowed her to maintain her position of Pharaoh for about twenty years (1479-1458 BCE). Hatshepsut was considered to be a very successful leader because of her confidence and ambition, magnificent building projects, and establishment of a strong trading network.

Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt from 1473 B.C.E. to 1458 B.C.E. She is known for her search of myrrh, and when she died, her name was removed from all the recorded in opposition to a woman ruler.

One of the central values of ancient Egyptian civilization, revolves around the concept of harmony and balance in all aspects of one's life. This ideal equality was the most important responsibility observed by the pharaoh who, as a mediator between the gods and the people, was supposed to be a role model and set by an example for how one achieving a balanced life, as all people sharing a common relationship with pharaoh. Through this relationship all men and women acquired equality to one another. Therefore, not to the world's surprise, women in ancient Egypt, compared to other civilizations, were ahead of their time. Women in ancient Egypt did not only rule the country and become pharaohs, but also shared equal basic human rights as men. Women such as Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra were able to take the stand and break the stigma of the typical minority that are deprived of many rights, and most importantly legal, and educational rights.

She achieved those things by expanding Ancient Egypt trading routes, organizing building projects to repair Ancient Egypt, and ruling a reign with no issues. So next time you hear Hatshepsut’s name, think of all the great accomplishments she has done for Egypt’s