HK+Rulers+Women+Pharaohs?

 F e m a l e P h a r a o h s   Though it was uncommon for a female pharaoh, it was not unheard of. Some great female pharaohs include Nefertiti, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. On this page we follow their life and their contributions to Egypt and Egyptians.


 * Hatshepsut **

With a name that meant 'Foremost of ladies', Hatshepsut was born c. 1508 to Pharaoh Tuthmose I and Queen Ahmose. Tuthmose I had another wife who gave birth toTuthmose II. Tuthmose II married his step-sister Hatshepsut who gave birth to Tuthmose III. When Hatshepsut's husband died, their son﻿ was to young to rule so mother and son co-ruled for approximately one year. Hatshepsut took complete control and began her twenty-two year reign under which Egypt prospered, grew and pushed beyond previous boundaries.

Hatshepsut built some amazing temples like her mortuary temple at Dier el-Bahari and her famous underground temple for the goddess Phaket. She also built two twin obelisks at the Karnak temple complex and another two obelisks to mark her sixteenth year as pharaoh. One of them broke while being constructed and is still there at its quarrying site.

Hatshepsut is also well known for her expedition to the land of Punt, a well known trading partner of the ancient egyptians. She took five ships, each 21 metres long, with many sails and 210 men. Hatshepsut returned with 31 live Myrrh trees, which were transported in buckets to keep them from dying. They were later planted in her mortuary temple and was the first recorded attempt to transplant non-native trees. She also returned with slaves, ebony, ivory, copper, gold, exotic animals and skins, perfume, incense, amulets and bracelets.