description Pharaoh Hatshepsut Overview
Hatshepsut was a ruler of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty who governed as pharaoh during the fifteenth century BCE, first acting as regent for her stepson Thutmose III. Royal images sometimes presented her with the traditional male regalia of kingship, while inscriptions identified her through both feminine and masculine forms. Her reign included extensive building at Karnak, a monumental mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, and a documented trading expedition to Punt.
help Pharaoh Hatshepsut FAQ
How did Hatshepsut become pharaoh instead of remaining regent?
Hatshepsut initially governed as regent for the young Thutmose III, her stepson and nephew. She later adopted the full titles and visual conventions of an Egyptian king while Thutmose III remained a co-ruler.
Why is Hatshepsut sometimes shown with a false beard?
Egyptian artists depicted her with traditional royal regalia, including the ceremonial false beard worn in images of kings. Other inscriptions still used feminine language, so the imagery asserted kingship rather than concealing her identity.
What was Hatshepsut's expedition to Punt?
Reliefs at her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri depict a trading expedition to Punt. The expedition returned with valuable goods including incense materials and myrrh trees.
Did Thutmose III erase Hatshepsut from history?
Images and names of Hatshepsut were removed from some monuments later in Thutmose III's reign, but the destruction was incomplete. Her temple at Deir el-Bahri and surviving inscriptions allowed modern scholars to reconstruct much of her rule.
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