Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut – Research Essay Q1) Describe how Hatshepsut became king' Hatshepsut broke unwritten rules, tradition and general conventions of her time to establish herself as a woman Pharaoh. Hatshepsut was an 18th dynasty Pharaoh, daughter to Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose. Due to the death of Hatshepsut’s father Thutmose I, her half brother Thutmose II ascended to the throne. As it was expected in royal families, the oldest daughter of the pharaoh would marry a brother to keep the royal blood lines intact. As a result of this, Hatshepsut then did follow the ancient custom and married her half brother Thutmose II, to assist in securing her families great status and power through remaining in royalty. Thutmose II’s reign as the ruler of Egypt was cut short as died at an early age. It may have been that Thutmose II died of an illness and thus held the throne only for only an estimated 14 years. When King Thutmose II died, the rule of Pharaoh was passed down to his son Thutmose III. However due to the young age of the newly appointed Pharaoh, he required a regent. A regent is where a person is elected to take control and leadership of the head of state as the ruler is a too young to do so. Hatshepsut became his regent and assumed the basic roles and duties of the king. It is believed that Thutmose III was only 10 years old when appointed to Pharaoh. Hatshepsut and Thutmose II ruled together for a number of years until she took the bold step and proclaimed herself as Pharaoh. It is suggested she did this as Thutmose III was reaching manhood. This move was something almost unheard of, despite the higher status of women in Egypt compared to women in other cultures at the time. Before Hatshepsut, there were queens who had ruled Egypt, but never a female Pharaoh. To assist her in becoming Pharaoh, Hatshepsut had claimed that the God Amun-Ra spoke to her, saying "welcome my sweet daughter, my favourite, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Maatkare, Hatshepsut. Thou art the King, taking possession of the Two Lands." (http://www.eyelid.co.uk/Hatshepsut.htm). Another drastic step Hatshepsut took in order to assist her claim and justification as Pharaoh was that she dressed as a king, wearing both a fake beard and male clothes. This was however accepted by the Egyptian society. Q2) Analyse the foreign policy of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut chose not to pursue a fierce military policy which focused on power and war, but rather focusing on the internal affairs of Egypt and trading expeditions. Despite one minor raid at Nubia, there is next to no evidence of military campaigns during Hatshepsut’s reign. This has been suggested by John Wilson in 1951 “she records no military campaigns or conquests”. This trade focus and policy set up by Hatshepsut held many befits for her land and people at time as Egypt’s economy needed a boost at the time to help cover for the building projects which were being undertaken, and especially the financing of the new and restored temples. The only military campaign known to be undertaken under Hatshepsut’s reign was the minor campaign at Nubia. In 1961 Sir Allan Gardner claimed her reign “has been barren of any military enterprise except an unimportant raid into Nubia”. This military raid has been depicted through graffito of Ty from the island of Sehal, Aswan. “..I saw when he overthew the Nubian bowmen, their chiefs being brought to him as prisoners. I saw hi destroying the land of Nubia, while I was in the following of his majesty..”(Antiquity 2 – Interpreting the Past, 2008, Hurley) Hatshepsut’s most important trade expedition would be her expedition to Punt. This trading mission led by Chancellor Nehesi, ran for 9 years. The expedition to Punt held great significance for the growth of and prosperity of Egypt. It had huge benefits economically and politically for the country. Not only did the exotic land of Punt capture the Egyptian imagination, but the Punt trade also provided goods that were essential to Egypt's internal economic development and to its other international markets. Hatshepsut responded to the demand for valuable exotic goods such as ebony, ivory, gold cinnamon, aromatic woods, animal skins and eye cosmetics. These goods held purposes and benefits for the Egyptian people in uses for temples, tombs, furniture stimulating the economy. Politically, the punt expedition assisted in promoting Hatshepsut as a traditional and successful Pharaoh who provides for her people. It also helped highlight the prosperity and good shape of Egypt during her reign. What also helped Hatshepsut was that the priests of Amon also shared Hatshepsut’s ideas making it easier for her to stay in power. With the support of the priesthood it was possible for Hatshepsut to have a peaceful and prosperous reign. The expedition also held great ties religiously. It is believed an oracle of Amun is credited with initiating the expedition as the God wanted to gain incense and myrrh trees for the garden of Amun. Amun had 'indicated' that he would like to walk among them. Hatshepsut was therefore doing this just to please her god. The expedition to Punt was celebrated and recorded on the decorative program of Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahri mortuary temple. “They occupy and entire wall of the second terrace colonnade and would have been impossible to miss by visitors” (Antiquity 2 – Interpreting the Past, 2008, Hurley) Despite acknowledging her military activities, many still support the view by Wilson that “her pride was in the internal development of Egypt and in commercial enterprise”. Wilson is suggesting that Hatshepsut’s purpose and goal of her reign as Pharaoh was more to do with prospering and expanding Egypt financially through commerce and trade rather than through military and power. Q3) Assess the achievements of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut is not only one of the most successful woman leaders of Ancient Egypt of her time but however one of the most successful Pharaohs throughout the entirety of Ancient Egyptian times. She is generally regarded by historians as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an Egyptian dynasty. Hatshepsut’s success and achievements were highlighted through re-establishing trade links, leading several significant expeditions such as Punt, building several buildings and temples and also playing a major role in improving Egypt’s economy and wealth. Being a female pharaoh of the time in a male dominated world is a huge achievement in its self. The entire world was, and arguably still is largely male dominated and run by men. Ancient Egypt at the time was also dominated by men. However the role of women within Egypt was much higher opposed to other societies of its time; the women, could own property, sign contracts, appear in court, initiate divorce and also borrow money. Women could even be Pharaohs however only in very special circumstances, which makes Hatshepsut’s reign such an achievement. Not only was Hatshepsut only one of seven female pharaohs in Ancient Egypt history, she actually was highly successful and regarded as one of the greatest Pharaohs of the time. Hatshepsut’s building program is one of the achievements which made her such a success and remembered Pharaoh. Hatshepsut was one of the most prolific builders of ancient Egypt and is the reason for many important buildings and temples. Hatshepsut erected the mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, contributed additions to the Karnak temple, creation of her own personal tomb at the Valley of the Kings and also the building and refurbishment of temples to Amun Re and other Gods throughout Egypt. “In reign filled with both traditional and revolutionary ideas, Hatshepsut’s building program was an important way of communicating these ideas to the people, both of her time and of the future.” (Antiquity 2 – Interpreting the Past, 2008, Hurley) Hatshepsut’s most famous building is the mortuary temple which she had constructed for herself and her father at present day Deir al-Bahari. The construction of the famous temple of Deir el-Bahri was most probably started by Thutmose II and later finished by Queen Hatshepsut.“The Ancient Egyptians called it "Djeser-djeseru" which means "sacred of sacreds. The temple has three terraces which are linked by ramps and divided by columns. The temple walls are decorated with scenes of Hatshepsut's accomplishments as pharaoh.” ( a1 hotels, 2008, http://www.a-1hotels.com/eg/history/html/queen_hatshepsut.html)  The temple holds great importance as it is filled with scenes and inscriptions which point out her achievements throughout her reign. For example, the information detailing her divine birth and also the expedition to Punt. The information and inscriptions found on the walls are very valuable pieces and hold great significance as they are used by historians and Egyptologists to figure out other information about the time. Hatshepsut introduced a completely different type of rock cut for this temple. Breaking away from tradition, yet again; Hatshepsut’s temple was carved from the living rock. Another important archeticual innovation was the hypostyle hall. A further innovation found at the Deir el-Bahri was the rock platform created directly above the third terrace, which was designed to protect the temple from rock falling from the surrounding cliffs. Hatshepsut’s achievements go deeper than just creating new buildings and temples, but however as shown through her innovative designs assisted in architectural break throughs not only at the time but forever. Szafranski was agrees that new innovations and decorative design of the Deir el-Bahri was a huge achievement and masterpiece in itself. “It should be made clear at the start that the building is absolutely unique. It is a creative transformation of the achievements of previous epochs in temple construction, at the same time propounding new solutions, architectural as well as decorative, which constitute an important stage in development of New Kingdom Temples” (Szafranski, Queen Hatshepsut and her Temple 3500 Year Later. Viewed in Antiquity 2) Another achievement of Hatshepsut’s reign as Pharaoh was the trade routes she had set up through the expedition to Punt. The expedition to Punt was highly successful, where exotic goods and recourses were gained, which has huge benefits for the country and its economy. The main benefit of this expedition is that it helped set up trade routes, promoted its international profile in terms of trade, boosted its economy and brought back extremely useful goods to the country such as cinnamon, gold, ivory, ebony and myrrh. The expedition to Punt held great significance for the growth of and prosperity of Egypt. The essential goods received and traded at Punt not only assisted in terms of being productive and helpful but also in the internal development and stimulating the economy. Hatshepsut is one of the most significant and well remembered Pharaohs in the entirety of ancient Egypt. Not only was becoming Pharaoh as a women an achievement in its own right, but however branded herself as of the most successful Pharaohs through her achievements in the architecture of her buildings and temples and the trade markets she opened up for the Egyptian economy to rise.