Hatshepsut was a female pharaoh of Egypt who ruled from 1479-1457 BC. She was not the first female pharaoh, but is famous for her long reign and building projects. Attempts were made to erase her from history, but her tomb can still be visited today. A mummy was positively identified as Hatshepsut in 2007, and evidence suggests she died from an infection caused by a tooth abscess.
Hatshepsut was a woman who ruled Egypt between 1479-1457 BC Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first woman in Egyptian history to assume the role of pharaoh, but she is among the most famous, thanks to her extremely long reign and relatively prosperous. To Egyptologists, her Hatshepsut was the cause of much confusion and mystery over a long period of time, due to attempts to literally erase her from her history by carving her likeness and her cartouches from artistic depictions of the period in which she lived and ruled .
Hatshepsut was the daughter of Thutmose I and Ahmose, and evidence suggests that she was very close to her parents and may in fact have been favored as a potential ruler of Egypt. When her father died in 1493 BC, she married her half-brother Thutmose II and became known as the Great Royal Wife. Upon her husband’s death, Thutmose III, her son by another wife, technically assumed the throne, but due to her youth, Hatshepsut became regent and over time assumed the position of pharaoh, adopting the ceremonial dress of pharaohs, including the elaborate false beard.
During her reign, Hatshepsut undertook numerous building projects, including a notable complex of tombs in the region now known as the Valley of the Kings. Hatshepsut’s tomb can still be visited today, along with many other historic sites of the time, and he is believed to have started the tradition of holding burials in this region. After her death, she was initially buried in this tomb and later moved, perhaps as a result of political machinations.
He also sent Egyptians to other regions of the world to trade, and contemporary art depicts the return of these adventurers with foreign plants, goods, and people. He also built an assortment of temples and other structures, and was apparently quite adept at managing his public image. There is some debate as to who attempted to erase this image; some people suspect that Thutmose III is responsible, while others credit Amenhotep II with the widespread defacing of his monuments, buildings and statues. The reason for this attempt to eliminate Hatshepsut from history is unknown, although it is possible that Amenhotep II felt insecure on the throne and wished to claim some of his successes for himself.
In 2007, a mummy was positively identified as Hatshepsut, using genetic material from known family members. Using an MRI machine, historians have discovered that Hatshepsut had a tooth removed shortly before her death and evidence suggests that she likely died of an infection that started with the tooth abscess. The mummy had other medical problems, including bone cancer, and may have been lucky enough to die relatively quickly from an infection, rather than from prolonged suffering from cancer.
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