Hatshepsut Anachronism

Hatshepsut’s controversial accession as a female pharaoh in the early period of New Kingdom Egypt led to an influential reign of self-promotion. However, her motives continue to be a subject of question as to whether Hatshepsut was motivated by her predecessor’s traditions, or were the essentialities of self-promotion too lucrative. Hatshepsut improved the economic state of Egypt and made bold moves through building projects and trade expeditions all of which secured Egypt’s prosperity and Hatshepsut’s position in power. Her sovereignty can be considered an anachronism as her accession as pharaoh was contentious due to the fact she was a woman. Her acceptance may also have been amplified by self-promotion. Hatshepsut was interpreted and portrayed
Hatshepsut not only claims to be her father’s heir to the throne she also claims to be the daughter of Amun and from this it can be speculated that Thutmose III did not share this same opinion and thus implemented the eradication of her memory in history. Female rulers had long been attested in history of dynastic Egypt. Men deemed female pharaohs as “unnatural and meant decline and retribution”. (Ray, 1994) Hatshepsut attested these beliefs when she took the unprecedented step from being regent for Thutmose III to being the crowned pharaoh; it is difficult to determine why this step was undertaken when it seemed she already possessed un-rivaled power. “Egyptian society gave remarkable freedoms and legal rights to women- far more than in the rest of the Near East or in the classical world- but limits were limits, even by the Nile.” (Ray, 1994) Hatshepsut was able to legitimize her assumed power by depicting she was “chosen” by the gods, however this can be attested with the likelihood of trickery to swathe her insecurities as a woman in a civilization governed by men. Such scenes from these claims have been carved at her temple Deir el Bahri, particularly in the Middle Colonnade. Amun: “Khnemer-Amun-Hatshepsut shall be the name of this my daughter, whom I have placed in your
(Clayton, 2006) This lack of military expeditions may have been her attempt to adopt a pacifist and feminine advance in Ancient Egyptian politics or it is probable that Hatshepsut could simply not trust the army. “If she led a campaign herself, even if this were politically acceptable, what would happen if she lost? A female commander would be a natural thing to blame for defeat.” (Ray, 1994) The voyage to Punt may have been used to conceal this apparent lack of military activity, as it was certainly an exercise for an underemployed army, but no matter how immense or diminutive Hatshepsut’s extent was she made a point of showcasing her prosperous and illustrious reign as pharaoh. These publications of her achievements meant further showcasing of her personal relationships with the gods. Hatshepsut was known to