Women of Power in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was a mixture of military strength, religious complexity, and divine rule. Out of this blend of deified rulers and economic prosperity come two of the most influential women in history. One was to become the pharaoh in a time where women were merely domestic counterparts to active kings. The other was to become consort and partner to the unorthodox Akenhaten, during his monotheistic worship of the sun god "Amen" in the town of Armarna. Though both women were very prominent during their life time, each faded into obscurity after their deaths due to the Egyptian's natural dislike of all things unconventional. Only to be rediscovered and romanticized by Egyptologists during the late 1800's to early 1900's. Nefertiti is commonly referred to as the "beautiful one" and is always seen as a partner to her husband. On the other hand, Hatchepsut, the more influential and powerful of the two, is known as the only "Female Pharaoh" to fully act out the part including having a queen consort and spends her reign trying to justify her political position. Nefertiti, "born a member of Egypt's elite, was married as a young girl to [Ahkenaten]... By the age of 30 she had borne at least 6 children and had transformed herself into a s
She is shown as supportive and lesser in power than her stepson Tuthmosis III. Similarly to Nefertiti she was an excellent example of a supportive "King's Wife". While Nefertiti may have been given a higher status than most queens, she still pales in comparison to the powers of Hatchepsut, when she became pharaoh. She even went as far as wearing the formal Pharaoh attire including a false beard. Hatchepsut seems to be content in her role as wife to the King. "At the Deir el-Bahri temple, the story of Hatchepsut's conception starts in heaven where Amen has assembled before him a group of twelve important divinities, . She continually portrays herself as daughter of Amen and there are temple scenes showing her with her divine nurse. For her first few years as co-regent Hatchepsut acted in perfect compliance with the expectations of her new position. Consequently, many of Egypt's famous Pharaoh's' popularity pale in comparison to these two historically significant females, for it is the unorthodox behavior of these two women that makes them such a desirable subject of study. Hatchepsut justified her claim to the throne by continually stating her prestigious heritage as Queen, daughter and sister of a King. She was very dependent on her relationship with the gods and as a result she expanded and built numerous temples, and held many religious ceremonies. She gave birth to only one child, a girl, that was named Neferure.
Common topics in this essay:
Female Pharaoh,
Ancient Egypt,
Disc Nefertiti,
Kingdom Pharaoh,
Pharaoh Egypt,
Re Ahmose,
King Egyptian's,
Egyptian Pharaohs,
Tuthmosis III,
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tuthmosis ii,
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stepson tuthmosis iii,
unorthodox behavior,
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co-regent pharaoh,
sister king,
claim throne,
god amen,
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Acceptance Essays
