Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Large Kneeling Statue, New Kingdom, Egypt

Summary

This video explores the monumental legacy of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for over two decades. Known for her exceptional power and influence, she crafted a unique mythology around her reign, blending masculine symbols of kingship with her female identity. The video highlights her mortuary temple, her architectural and artistic contributions, and the lasting impact of her kingship. Despite posthumous attempts to erase her from history, Hatshepsut’s art and architecture continue to inspire and serve as a symbol of enduring royal authority in Ancient Egypt.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, ruled for over two decades and created a powerful mythology around her kingship.
• 😀 Ancient Egypt saw many women in powerful regent roles, but Hatshepsut was unique in fully assuming the title and authority of pharaoh.
• 😀 Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, built against a vast cliff face, symbolizes the stability and permanence that her dynasty sought to reassert after a period of instability.
• 😀 The granite sculptures of Hatshepsut, including kneeling and sphinx forms, were created for her mortuary temple to convey royal authority.
• 😀 Egyptian kingship was symbolized through male imagery, including the use of a beard, head cloth, and broad, masculine features, even for female rulers like Hatshepsut.
• 😀 After Hatshepsut's death, her successor attempted to erase her legacy by systematically destroying her images, but the sculptures were difficult to destroy due to their hard material.
• 😀 Hatshepsut's destruction of sculptures after her death was a complex, intentional act, though the reasons behind it remain unclear.
• 😀 The images of Hatshepsut were placed along a processional path, where they would be seen as representations of the king making offerings to the god Amun-Re during annual rituals.
• 😀 The procession of Amun-Re from Thebes to Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple reflected the god’s passage from the land of the living to the land of the dead, with Hatshepsut’s sculptures symbolizing offerings to the god.
• 😀 Scholarship on Hatshepsut has evolved over time, with earlier perceptions of her as an usurper giving way to a more sympathetic understanding of her power and legacy as a female ruler in Ancient Egypt.
• 😀 The monumental sculptures and architectural works commissioned by Hatshepsut set important precedents for later Egyptian rulers in the New Kingdom, showcasing her lasting influence.

Q & A

What makes Hatshepsut's reign unusual compared to other pharaohs?

Hatshepsut is unusual because, unlike most other pharaohs, she was a female who assumed full authority as king of Egypt. She created a mythology around her kingship, including claims of a divine birth and an oracle's prediction that she would become king.

What role did art play in Hatshepsut's rule?

Art was a key tool in Hatshepsut's reign to convey royal authority. She commissioned numerous temples and sculptures that reinforced her kingship and presented a powerful visual identity.

What is significant about Hatshepsut's mortuary temple?

Hatshepsut's mortuary temple is an extraordinary architectural feat built directly against a vast cliff face. Its design symbolizes permanence and stability, which was important for reasserting the power of Hatshepsut and her dynasty after a period of instability.

How did the New Kingdom in Egypt relate to Hatshepsut's reign?

Hatshepsut's reign marked the beginning of the New Kingdom, a period in Egyptian history that followed a time of chaos and instability, known as the Intermediate Period. Her rule sought to restore stability to the kingdom.

What symbols of kingship are present in the representation of Hatshepsut?

Hatshepsut's representation includes symbols such as the head cloth, which was originally a cobra, and the beard, both of which are associated with kingship. Her body is also represented in a masculine manner, with broad shoulders and de-emphasized breasts.

Why were Hatshepsut's images destroyed after her death?

Around 20 years after her death, the pharaoh she had co-ruled with ordered the destruction of her images, although the exact reason for this remains unclear. The destruction was likely an effort to erase her from the historical record.

What makes the destruction of Hatshepsut's sculptures significant?

The destruction of Hatshepsut's sculptures is significant because these works were made from incredibly hard granite, making their destruction a difficult and intentional act. The process involved shattering these massive statues into fragments, which were later discovered during an excavation.

What is the connection between Hatshepsut's sculptures and the rituals of ancient Egypt?

Hatshepsut's sculptures were placed along a processional path where an annual ritual would involve the sculpture of the god Amun-Re being carried through the temple. Some of her statues, such as those in kneeling positions, were designed to make offerings to the god, symbolizing her role in the divine order.

How has the interpretation of Hatshepsut changed over time?

Initially, Hatshepsut was seen negatively, with her image destruction linked to the belief that she was an usurper. However, modern scholarship now views her reign more sympathetically, recognizing her power and influence, as well as her contributions to the architecture and art of the New Kingdom.

Why is Hatshepsut's portrayal as a king rather than a queen significant?

Hatshepsut's portrayal as a king rather than a queen is significant because there was no word for 'queen' in the ancient Egyptian language. Female rulers were referred to as the king's wife or king's mother, and Hatshepsut's adoption of male symbols and titles emphasized her authority as pharaoh, despite her gender.