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Hatshepsut
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Hatshepsut was the half-sister and wife of
Thutmose II. When Thutmose II died, his young son Thutmose III became pharaoh,
but Hatshepsut took control of the country as regent. She was both the queen
and pharaoh. Enjoying the idea of trade with other lands, Hatshepsut sent ships
on trading missions to bring back exotic goods. She also conducted expeditions
which emphasized her power as well as the power of Egypt.
Hatshepsut merits consideration as a productive and industrious monarch. She is
credited with giving her artisans the scope in which they were able to achieve
their various successes.
Her reign mark was one of the most individual
and experimental periods of Egyptian art, shown in the new forms of columns,
like the Hathor-headed column, the new building designs, such as El Deir El
Bahri temple, and the innovations introduced in the fields of engineering and
decorations.
Moreover, the first pictorial account of the
legend of the divine birth, and the first example of the induction of the heir
before the court, are accredited to her. She also enjoyed the idea of trade
with other nations, so she sent ships on trading missions to bring back exotic
goods. The trade with "Punt" was again re-opened after a long period of
silence. There was a similar flurry of trading activity with Asia, too. The
expeditions emphasized her power as well as the power of Egypt.
When Hatshepsut died, her name as pharaoh and
her image were erased from every monument in the kingdom. Perhaps it was her
claim to be pharaoh and not just queen that was too disturbing to the
Egyptians’ concept of the divine pharaoh.
But Hatshepsut’s unique temple, which was
built in her honour, remains as a testament to her reign
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