The forgotten female pharaohs of ancient Egypt

Hatshepsut is arguably the most famous female pharaoh of ancient Egypt.

She was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and ruled from 1479 to 1458 BC.

Hatshepsut was the daughter of Thutmose I and married her half-brother, Thutmose II, who was the son of Thutmose I and a minor wife.

When Thutmose II died, Hatshepsut became regent for their young son, Thutmose III.

However, instead of stepping down after Thutmose III came of age, Hatshepsut declared herself pharaoh and ruled as such for over twenty years.

She was a successful leader who oversaw many building projects, including the construction of her famous mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri.

Hatshepsut is notable for her portrayal as a male pharaoh.

She is often depicted wearing the traditional kilt and headdress of a pharaoh, with a false beard attached to her chin.

Her gender was not hidden, but she was represented as a powerful ruler who was capable of leading Egypt.

Hatshepsut was not the only female pharaoh of ancient Egypt.

Other female pharaohs include Sobekneferu, who ruled during the Twelfth Dynasty, and Nitocris, who ruled during the Sixth Dynasty.

However, very little is known about these pharaohs, and their reigns were relatively short.

Another notable female ruler was Cleopatra VII, who ruled during the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Cleopatra is famous for her relationship with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony, as well as her intelligence and political savvy.

However, she was not a native Egyptian, and her rule was ultimately brought to an end with the rise of the Roman Empire.

The reasons why female pharaohs have been largely forgotten are complex.

One reason is that the role of women in ancient Egyptian society was generally subservient to that of men.

Women were not typically allowed to hold positions of power, and so female pharaohs were rare and often not accepted by their male counterparts.

Additionally, many of the records of ancient Egypt were destroyed or lost over time.

The country went through periods of unrest and invasion, which led to the destruction of many important historical documents.

This means that we may never know the full extent of the impact that female pharaohs had on ancient Egyptian society.

The forgotten female pharaohs of ancient Egypt were powerful and influential rulers who left their mark on the country.

While Hatshepsut is the most well-known of these pharaohs, there were others who also ruled with strength and wisdom.

Their stories remind us that women have always been capable of leadership and that their contributions to history should not be overlooked or forgotten.