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Hatshepsut

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Hatshepsut was an interesting Egyptian pharaoh, and was the first female ruler of Egypt. Instead of war she encouraged trade with other land while exploring. She was the daughter of pharaoh Thutmose l, and the queen Ahmose, from 1508 B.C. to around 1458 B.C. The name Hatshepsut means foremost of noble ladies. In this essay I will explain who Hatshepsut was, how she became pharaoh, and who her family was. Born in Egypt in 1508 B.C., with a sister named Akhbetneferu, who Hatshepsut probably didn’t know too well, because Akhbetneferu died in infancy. Hatshepsut was also supposed to have had four half-brothers due to her father’s second marriage to Mutnofret, two of them also died at a young age. But one of the remaining two was Thutmose ll who would who later marry Hatshepsut. It is claimed that as a child, out of her siblings, Hatshepsut was the one her father liked the most. Supposedly the temple of Karak also favored her. This resulted in her being named by her father as next in line for the throne as queen. At age of twelve Hatshepsut and Thutmose ll were married. They were already married when Hatshepsut’s father died, which lead to Thutmose taking the throne and Hatshepsut being promoted to queen ruler alongside him. But being stuck at queen was to be short lived, sadly for Hatshepsut Thutmose died, leaving her a widow. Before Thutmose passed away he had a son named Thutmose lll who was going to be the next pharaoh, and was Hatshepsut’s nephew. She thought he was too young to rule (which he was), so she decided to become pharaoh till her nephew could rule the land. So she had some major changes made to the kingdom, such as citizens treating her, and portraying her as a male ruler. Hatshepsut was claimed to have died around 1458 B.C. in her mid-40s. She was buried in the valley of kings, she also had her father’s sarcophagus buried in her tomb so they could “lie together in death”. Supposedly she was obese and had diabetes, this is what scientists think may have caused her death at an early age. She had statues, and monuments of herself made to be remembered. But after she died Thutmose lll had all of her things destroyed. She set a great example for women everywhere, saying women can do just as much as a boy can. Encyclopedia of World Biography. ©2005, http://www.history.com © 1996-2012

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