Hatshepsut: Pharaoh and builder of a great temple
In the vast sands of old Egypt, where pharaohs and queens ruled over with divine right, stands one woman whose reign is not only remembered by her leadership but for the impressive temple she built, the very temple that still enchants the world today. Hatshepsut was one of the greatest pharaohs in the history of Egypt; breaking through age-old gender boundaries, she emerged as a true ruler, builder, and visionary. Her testament is that of the strength of determination to defy the odds and build upon a much-lasting legacy situated in the heart of Egypt.
The Rise of Hatshepsut: A Queen in a Man's World
Born probably around 1507 BCE, Hatshepsut was the daughter of the Pharaoh Thutmose I and his principal wife, Ahmose. From an incredibly early point in life, everything appeared almost as if destined to make her an influential figure, but this was going to be in an age where no woman had even been given the power to rule Egypt.
Upon the death of her father, Thutmose I, the throne came to his son, Thutmose II, the half-brother of Hatshepsut. But Thutmose II died young, leaving a young son, Thutmose III, who was too young to rule. In an event that was without precedent in history, Hatshepsut, daughter of the previous pharaoh, became regent for the young Thutmose III, which soon evolved into something much more profound.
This differed from most females in her time, who would have probably been content with being a queen's consort, as she declared herself Pharaoh—an unusual act. Not only did she take on the role of Pharaoh but also assumed all its symbolism; she even went the distance of having herself represented in male attire and, more curiously, in male regalia, including the pharaoh's traditional beard. This was, therefore, not just a political game; it showed off her power and the will not to be looked down on as lesser by her male counterparts.
Vision of Hatshepsut as Pharaoh
Hatshepsut as a pharaoh was not just a nomenclature for being a ruler; she portrayed instead her leadership capability through lavishing building projects, military conquests, and even religious acts. However, what set Hatshepsut apart from her other contemporaries was her style. She came to understand that power in Egypt did not lie with military conquest or additional wealth but in the belief Egyptians had about the divine right their rulers exercised. For this purpose, she focused all her energy on monumental building, religious reform, and trade excursions to solidify her authority.
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of her reign was the magnificent construction of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari: an architectural masterpiece testifying to her power and vision and remaining a long-lived symbol of her legacy.
Hatshepsut's Great Temple at Deir el-Bahari
Perhaps the most breathtaking monument of ancient Egypt is Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, lying on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor. It was intended as a temple in which worshipers would turn over centuries to pay their respects to Hatshepsut, and from which she could also conduct her funerary rituals. Many consider it one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient world and certainly one of the most impressive testaments to Hatshepsut's ambition.
This design of the temple is pretty unique because it flows quite well with the natural landscape of the cliffs behind it and brings a harmonious connection between the human creation and nature. The temple is built on three terraces, each one a step higher than the other, so that they are perfectly connected by a series of ramps. A glorious colonnade sits at the central part of the terraces, a line of pillars that evoke emotions of wonder and magnificence as the visitor approaches. Smaller temples and chapels dedicated to individual gods are housed in the second and third terraces to ensure that Hatshepsut's reign happened according to God's will.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the temple is its great open-air court. In that court, people could gather to worship the gods and the queen. The huge temple walls featured extremely detailed reliefs with text inscriptions of the scenes during Hatshepsut's rule, such as her famous expedition to the Land of Punt. Besides these episodes making her mightily and effectively a queen, these scenes depict her as a peacemaker and a leader of trade along with her success in bringing wealth and prosperity to Egypt.
One of the most impressive scenes in the reliefs at the temple is the depiction of Hatshepsut's divine birth. The inscriptions related that she claimed the god Amun appeared in a vision before her mother, Ahmose, to announce she was going to give birth to a son who would rule Egypt. This statement strengthens Hatshepsut's divine right to rule further.
The temple of Deir el-Bahari was not just a personal monument but a declaration to the world that Hatshepsut was a powerful and capable ruler elected by the gods to rule Egypt. Even though her reign was good and peaceful, the temple at Deir el-Bahari would become Hatshepsut's greatest legacy.
The Punt Expedition: Monumental Achievement in Commerce
One of the most famous achievements of Hatshepsut's reign was her expedition to the Land of Punt, though its location is thought by scholars to be somewhere along the Red Sea coast, possibly in modern-day Somalia or Eritrea. It was one of the most successful trade missions in ancient Egypt's history and is depicted in vivid reliefs on the walls of her temple.
The journey was made with the intention of opening a trade route with goods from that country, such as incense, gold, myrrh, and ebony; they all were very sought after in Egypt. The journey was not only an economic success but also a very notable display of Hatshepsut's diplomacy skills. She formed close relations with the people of Punt so that once again, this time, luxury items were brought back, which added to Egypt's wealth and status.
The reliefs in the temple show the ships that carry goods and riches from Punt, as well as scenes depicting a well-groomed entourage greeting the ruler of Punt. These images are an excellent reminder of Hatshepsut's leadership as one who knew how to expand Egypt's influence and coffers through peaceful diplomacy rather than military conquest.
Legacy of Hatshepsut: A Forgotten Pharaoh
Although her reign was successful, and the monuments she had built were stupendous, her memory was nearly removed from history. When Hatshepsut died, the other co-regent with her, her nephew Thutmose III, became the only king of Egypt. When he succeeded his sister/preceding ruler, he attempted to remove all records of Hatshepsut's ever having existed in recorded history, possibly from a vengeful sense of resentment that she had led before him, or perhaps to strengthen his claims of sovereignty.
Many of the reliefs and inscriptions featuring Hatshepsut were vandalized or destroyed; her name was erased from most monuments. Her tomb was plundered, and for years, her mummy went missing. Not until the 19th century did archeologists dig up where Hatshepsut was buried; it was then that a clearer portrait of her reign could be built.
Despite these efforts to try to make her disappear from history, the fact is that the legacy of Hatshepsut survived. Her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari remains one of Egypt's most important and awe-inspiring sites. There were tourists visiting year after year to show respect for the splendor of her temple but also to know about the successful woman who fought against the old traditions of her time.
Hatshepsut: A Visionary Leader
Hatshepsut was the pharaoh, but in addition to that, she was a great visionary leader who realized that political power, as well as cultural one, must be achieved at all costs. She was not bent on being satisfied with managing Egypt; instead, she had envisioned a kingdom elevated to the positions of wealth and spiritual supremacy. Her reign proved that leadership could come from anyone, regardless of gender, and that a ruler's legacy would be defined by what they built and accomplished, not by their gender or birthright.
The story of Hatshepsut is a triumph of breaking barriers and a never-wilted legacy through architecture, diplomacy, and vision. However, to answer your question, the temple at Deir el-Bahari testifies to her greatness. The history of Egypt certainly contains stories about many ruling leaders who were ahead of their times, and one of them undoubtedly is Hatshepsut.
