She began her reign as regent to her stepson Thutmose III (r. 1458-1425 BCE) who would succeed her. She was the sister (or the sister-wife) of the last king, Amenemhet IV, the last ruler of the 12th Dynasty. No ancient sources have been found to corroborate Herodotus' account and, lacking any Egyptian records of such a queen, scholars concluded that she was a myth or the result of an ancient spelling error. Right: Bust of Amenemhat III, father of Sobekneferu (Photo: ArchaiOptix via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)Left: 1914 photograph of the bust of Queen Sobekneferu that was lost in WWII (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain). Hatshepsut was the first female queen of Egypt, and the only trans ruler. Neithhotep is usually regarded as the mother of Hor-Aha and may have ruled on her own after Narmer's death and before Hor-Aha was old enough to take the throne. Accessed May 1, 2023. The Ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years. Although not pharaoh herself, Nefertitis (c. 1370 1330 BCE) name has persisted because she held a uniquely influential role as wife and queen, which we see in surviving depictions of her. A new book by Kara Cooney, When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt, suggests that Egypt gained stability by allowing periods of rule by women. The noble women discussed here should not be regarded as a tiny minority of powerful female figures in Egypt but rather as highlighting those whose reigns cause them to stand out from the many who left no inscriptions or were passed over by later scribes. 3. Tiye had recognized this problem earlier and may have suggested Akhenaten's solution to it. It is believed Merneith was of many female rulers because of the items found within the queens tomb, suggesting she was someone with great power. Mark, Joshua J.. [laughs ironically]. The truth behind Egypt's female pharaohs and their power Its something that is very individualized. Mark, Joshua J.. "Great Female Rulers of Ancient Egypt." Great Female Rulers of Ancient Egypt. Akhenaten's wife, Nefertiti (c. 1370-1336 BCE) took over his responsibilities once he moved the capital to his own private city. Mark, Joshua J.. Mark, published on 19 October 2016. None of her projects could have been completed as they were if she were not in command of a wealth of resources. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/hatshepsut/. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. In statues and reliefs, Hatshepsut is shown wearing a false beard like that of a male pharaoh and is often shown wearing the clothing of a male pharaoh. 484 likes, 4 comments - EGYPT (@egyptianpharaoh) on Instagram: "Women in ancient Egypt were ahead of their time. Her numerous inscriptions, monuments, and temples all demonstrate how unprecedented her reign was: no woman before her had ruled the country openly as pharaoh. While Hatshepsut had been ruling the country, Thutmose III had not been sitting quietly by watching. The lower terrace was lined with columns, and a ramp led up to a second terrace which was equally impressive. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Sobeknefru either built the temple of Sobek in the city of Crocodilopolis or founded that city just south of Hawara as well as commissioning other building projects in the tradition of earlier great monarchs. She can only have one, maybe two children a year. Biography of Cleopatra, Last Pharaoh of Egypt - ThoughtCo Mark, Joshua J.. "Great Female Rulers of Ancient Egypt." Women Rulers of the Arab and Muslim World: Shajarat Al-Durr She awoke at the divine fragrance and turned towards his Majesty. The exact nature of the military campaigns is unclear but their objectives were the regions of Syria and Nubia. Known For: Pharaoh of Egypt Also Known As: Wosretkau, Maat-ka-re, Khnemetamun Hatshepsut, Hatshepsowe Born: c. 1507 B.C., Egypt Parents: Tuthmose I and Aahmes Died: c. 1458 B.C., Egypt Spouse: Thutmoses III Children: Princess Neferure Early Life Hatshepsut was the oldest daughter of Tuthmose I and Aahmes. Number two: What we think of as the greatest problem in a female, her emotionality, that ability to cry or feel someone elses pain, could be the only thing that gets us through the 21st century intact. That, right there, speaks volumes about what political power isand what it does to a woman. In all her projects, campaigns, and policies she relied on the advice and support of one of her courtiers, a man named Senenmut, whose relationship with the queen remains mysterious. Never was brought the like of this for any king who has been since the beginning. Hatshepsut (r. 1479-1458 BCE) was the first female ruler of ancient Egypt to reign as a male with the full authority of pharaoh.