...A pharaoh of ancient Egypt was a political and religious leader of the people. The rulers of Egypt were usually the sons or declared heirs of the preceding pharaoh, born of the primary wife (pharaoh’s chief consort) or sometimes a lesser-ranked wife whom the pharaoh favored. Early on, the rulers would marry female aristocrats in an effort to establish the legitimacy of their dynasty by linking it to the upper classes. To keep the bloodline pristine, many pharaohs would also marry their sisters or half-sisters to ensure the royal bloodline. There were many pharaohs that ruled in Ancient Egypt and all wanted to leave an eternal legacy. Of the many great pharaohs that ruled only a few have genuinely accomplished such a goal. Those that have achieved the status have done so through fortuity as most of the tombs have been ravaged or destroyed. These hapless circumstances have left many questions into Egyptian history, life, and culture—now individuals can only image how a pharaoh and his people must have lived together in Ancient Egypt. A pharaoh of ancient Egypt was a political and religious leader of the people. The rulers of Egypt were usually the sons or declared heirs of the preceding pharaoh, born of the primary wife (pharaoh’s chief consort) or sometimes a lesser-ranked wife whom the pharaoh favored. Early on, the rulers would marry female aristocrats in an effort to establish the legitimacy of their dynasty by linking it to the upper classes. To keep the bloodline pristine...
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...human beings who are unworthy to be in a position of power or status. However, shifts in power can be recognized at the beginning of the New Kingdom in Egypt. In the eighteenth dynasty, the wife and mother of King Ahmose showed growing signs of power as many cults proclaimed dedication towards them. Shortly afterwards, the New Kingdom produced the “rarity” of a “ruling queen” (Freeman 64). Queen Hatshepsut was a great example of how formidable and influential a woman could be when serving in a position of power. Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I and when her father died, she married her half-brother, King Thutmose II. When her husband died, his son Thutmose III (who was only a boy at the time), ruled the throne and Hatshepsut was accepted as co-regent. However, she quickly assumed absolute control over the Egyptian empire by “claiming that she was ruler by right as the heir of Thutmose I” (Freeman 64). Her rise to power defied the patriarchal views set in place by the men in power and set a new precedent for the roles women led. Hatshepsut is historically significant for a number of reasons. During the time in which she ruled, her reign was peaceful, successful, and stable because “for the first time in the New Kingdom a ruler had effective control over Middle Egypt” (Freeman 65). One of her greatest achievements was the campaign she led into the land of Punt which resulted in many exotic goods such as aromatic plants, cattle, and ebony. Hatshepsut commemorated...
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...Queen Hatshepsut was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world, and remains a great role model to girls and young women 3000 years later. Even thought her life is shrouded in mystery, due to the fact that her stepson tried to remove all evidence of her once he became pharaoh, historians have found enough to learn about her life and how she died. Like most Pharaohs not much is known about Hatshepsut's childhood. However we do know that she was the eldest of two daughters born to Thutmose I and his queen and principal wife Queen Ahmose. At the age of 12 Queen Hatshepsut married her half brother King Thutmose II. This marriage was probably celebrated by a large feast with government officials and family there instead of a ceremony....
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