Apr 30, 20205 min read

Queen Hatshepsut

Intelligent, skilled, with probably exceptional administrative skills and a strong political sense, Hatshepsut was one of the two daughters of a great king, Thutmose I. It was he who trained the daughter to exercise power. Moreover, Hatshepsut testified to him a deep affection, always keeping him as a role model. Thutmose I, who firmly kept Nubia under the Egyptian rule, led an important military expedition to Asia.

For over twenty years (1490-1468), a woman ruled Egypt: Hatshepsut. She is not the first pharaoh woman; it had already happened the first time during the Old Kingdom and a second time during the Middle Kingdom. But the two previous pharaoh women had reigned in times of crisis, which had followed splendid periods. Hatshepsut, on the other hand, is the head of a rich and powerful era in Egypt.

Hatshepsut inherited the father’s energetic character. She married the son he had from a concubine, Thutmose II, whose reign was rather short (1493-1490). During his first year in government, a riot broke out in Nubia. The pharaoh is angry when told that some raiders have stolen cattle and that certain tribes have dared to attack several fortresses. His anger is terrible. He goes up the Nile with the army and killed the rebels. Only one of them was saved: the son of a chief who, taken prisoner in Thebes (Luxor nowadays), acclaims the winning soldiers.

The young king, whose career seemed promising, dies early. His death puts Egypt in a difficult situation. Thutmose II leaves two daughters and a son, the future Thutmose III. But he is still a child, unable to carry out the difficult task for which he is destined. Then takes the regent Hatshepsut: “daughter of the king, sister of the king, bride of god, great royal bride”, she will govern the country according to the will of her nephew, as she says.

For the first few years of her stepson’s ruling, Hatshepsut was a fully conventional regent. But, by the end of his seventh ruling year, she had been crowned king and adopted a full royal titular.

Best Works of Queen Hatshepsut:

Hatshepsut Temple is one of the most important and beautiful ancient attractions in all of Egypt. It is not less comprehensive than the magnificent architecture you see during the tour to Giza Pyramids. Hatshepsut temple is also known as Djeser-Djeseru that was built for the 18th Dynasty (Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut). And considered as the greatest ancient Egyptian achievements. Located on the west bank of the Nile River, Western Thebes, the capital of ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom, The site itself chosen by Hatshepsut for her temple.

The Temple of El-Dier El-Bahari built by queen Hatshepsut consists of 3 floors:

First floor: In the garden preceding her temple exotic incense trees and shrubs that she imported during her trading campaign to the land of Punt. Today there is no remains of this garden, but one day it must have been amazingly colored with all kinds of domestic and foreign flowers and trees.

Second floor: Going through a wide ramp that runs all the way from the central section of the initiative courtyard takes the visitors to the second floor. Wher they can see two statues of crouching lions flank the entrance to the ramp. Behind the wide terrace, there is a colonnade with two rows of square columns on both sides of the ramp leading to the 3rd level.

Third floor: Another wide ramp runs from the center of the 2nd courtyard to the 3rd court. You will see a statue of Horus as a falcon stands at both sides of the entrance to the ramp. The upper level of Hatshepsut temple consists of a portico with two rows of columns facing the front behind which there is a central courtyard with small chambers off it.

You can explore a lot of Luxor day tours on our website that takes you to visit the beautiful terraced temple of Hatshepsut as well as many things to do in Cairo during a range of professionally customized Egypt tours and Egypt Travel Packages many privately guided groups of Egypt day tours if your tour includes few days to be spent here in Cairo you can have one of the full Cairo Day tours that flys to Luxor daily or if you have a long layover in Cairo on your way to another country it will be a great chance to book a trip from Cairo day tours from airport like: