Entry #2 Queen Hatsheput

    Recently, for my history class, I decided to research an Egyptian Pharaoh that went undiscovered for centuries until she was found in the Valley of the Kings despite being a female figure. Hatshepsut, also spelled Hatchesupt, was believed to have been born c.1507 BC in Ancient Egypt. It was rare for a Pharaoh to be a female and be in charge for years, but the female king of Egypt's reign lasted twenty-one years and nine months ( c. 1479–1458 BCE). She was only fifty years old when she passed away from a bone tumor that pharmacologist Helmut Wiedenfeld believed was brought on by benzopyrene carcinogenic skin lotion she used to heal her skin inflammations. Throughout her time here on earth, she led a peaceful reign that introduced ways of new art and religious practice, but what she wasn't aware of, was tension brewing under her own roof.

Background Information

Games, Mohawk. Queen Hatsheput. 2020.

Hatshepsut, the eldest daughter of King Thutmose Ⅰ and his lover Ahmose, was born with royal blood in her system. Her father, the Pharaoh, was the third king to rule over the 18th dynasty in the New Kingdom of Egypt (1493-c 1482-c BCE), and her mother may have been a close relative to the second Pharaoh from the same dynasty, Amenhotep Ⅰ. Only fourteen years old, Hatshepsut married her step-brother Thutmose Ⅱ to satisfy her father's demands and to convince her brother to grab the title. Since it was controversial for a

Vermeulen, Marian. Queen Hatsheput Sculpture. 2021.

woman to be king, "-only sons could succeed their fathers" (Rizzo), the fourteen and fifteen-year-olds had no choice but to take each other's hands in marriage. The throne wasn't physically hers, though, until a skin disease that could not be traced from the embalming fluid found in his tomb took the life of her husband, King Thutmose. Still, historians believe Heshepsut influenced King Thutmose's Ⅱpolitacal stance. Recent evidence points to similar leadership and political stances between both siblings. According to customs, after king's death, the throne was regent for her stepson, Thutmose Ⅲ, and until the child came of age, Hatshepsut was in charge of the empire. For unknown reasons, when Thutmose Ⅲ turned eight, she officially declared herself Pharaoh on her terms. From then on, Thutmose Ⅲ becomes resentful of his Stepmother's rapidly growing dynasty.

Art 

    Queen Hatshepsut ruled during the age of peace and art, initiating a grand-scale building program to inspire her followers to build temples, tombs, granite chapels, and statues built in the image of the king herself. Like many Pharaohs before her, she viewed herself as a God, specifically "God's wife of Amun"; many statues were built in her image. Her most well-known temple is her memorial temple, the Temple of Deir El Bahri, a complex of tombs and temples built to honor the outstanding achievements of Queen Hatshepsut. The large limestone structure is described as having "wide, stepped terraces and long walkways marked with magnificent columns… similar to the Greek designs that came centuries later" (Dell 24). It was built to show appreciation for the queen but was also used as a sanctuary for the God Osiris, formally known as the sun God Amon Ra.  

curry, andrew. Carved art on the pharaohs temple. 2021.

She followed Egyptian religion faithfully, believing it to be quite sacred, and gifted with the name "God's wife of Amun ." Whoever held this title was said to be married to the sun god, therefore being blessed and "required to perform important rituals during ceremonies and festivals at Karnak temple" ("Hatshepsut: The woman who dared to become pharaoh"). For example, inscriptions on temples and wall carvings of the queen kneeling to worship Amun Ra are placed throughout her temple, Deir El Bahri. After the king's death, her son tried to destroy this temple out of spite. 

The Queens Erasure

Sometime leading up to Hatshepsut's death, Thutmose Ⅲ, now twenty years old, started to loathe his Stepmother truly. It's possible that seeing his mother remove King Thutmose Ⅱname from every structure he built and having her overbearing presence constantly controlling his actions could have fueled his fury. Immediately after his mother died in c. 1458 BCE, he followed in her footsteps and removed every image, statue, and carving, replacing her presence with his father, King Thutmose Ⅱ. Some historians feel that this was a "political move" ("Hatshepsut's Relationship With Thutmose III | ipl.org"). Still, there isn't much evidence pointing to either theory that he hated his stepmom or coexisted peacefully with her. We know his cover-up was so proficient that he was one of the reasons her name went unheard of for one thousand years. It doesn't help that another female queen, the well-known Queen Cleopatra, would quickly surpass and overshadow Hatshepsut's accomplishments. Queen Hatshepsut's tomb was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1902, while excavating at the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. 

Team, ETP. Queen Hatsheput Temple. 2021.

Brier, Bob. Queen Hatsheput and Her Mortuary Temple. 2020.

Conclusion 

Since then, new discoveries have not been made about the lost queen. Scientists are still at a loss regarding her politics since most records pertaining to her were destroyed by her son, Thutmose, but that doesn't take away from what we already know about her and her incredible attention to detail. She was a strict leader who believed in peace and keeping the practice of sculpting alive and may have led the way for future queens, such as herself, to take the throne. 

Until next time, Curious Adolescent signing off.