Woman of the week- Hatshepsut

As is a typical Sunday night in our household my mum and I were sitting at the table discussing politics, which then soon led into religion.  The particular subject however took an interesting turn tonight.  Tonight we talked about women in power.  Everyone from Mary Magdalene (who, contrary to popular belief was not a prostitute, rather a savvy business woman and mother to many) to Greek Goddesses and all the way back to Egyptian pharos.

This gave me an idea. Why, as these women have proven over and over, to be strong willed members of society, are they always looked over so easily? This is 2012 it's time to start looking at women as the strong people they (we) are!  So, once a week I am going to feature a strong woman from history. A woman who, against the norm, stood up for themselves, their families, their country and their beliefs.

Tonight, we go back to 1508 B.C. Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty.

Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmose I and Aahmes, both of royal lineage, was the favorite of their three children. When her two brothers died, she was in the unique position to gain the throne upon the death of her father. To have a female pharaoh was unprecedented, and probably most definitely unheard of as well.

As a favorite daughter of a popular pharaoh, and as a charismatic and beautiful lady in her own right, she was able to command enough of a following to actually take control as pharaoh. She ruled until her death in 1458 BC, and left behind more monuments and works of art than any Egyptian queen to come.

As a female, had many obstacles to overcome. There was always a threat of revolt, Using propaganda and keen political skills, she jumped each hurdle she faced. To calm the fears of her people, she became a "king" by dressing in mens garbs. Although there were no wars during her reign, she proved her sovereignty by ordering expeditions to the land of Punt, in present-day Somalia, in search of the ivory, animals, spices, gold and aromatic trees that Egyptians coveted. She spread the word and the wealth of her empire.

Hatshepsut was a master politician, and an elegant stateswoman with enough charisma to keep control of an entire country for twenty years. The propaganda she used to keep her power worked well to cement Hatshepsut's position. 

 In all, Hatshepsut accomplished what no woman had before her. She ruled the most powerful, advanced civilization in the world, successfully, for twenty years. Even if there were some who resented her success, her success stands for all eternity.

Any further accomplishments of Queen Hatshepsut were cut short when the female pharaoh disappeared under mysterious circumstances about twnety years after taking the throne. Her nephew, Thutmose III, immediately regained control of the throne. It has been speculated that he had her assassinated when he became old enough to rule on his own.

While, these accomplishments to todays standards don't seem magnificent, this woman was able to rule a country before any technology, before any official form of writing even! She held the dedication of a nation in the palm of her hand! She took her power from her nephew in the first place (it's even a longer story but an AMAZING read...do it!) an act which was "defiant" and unruly alone. However, because he was not of age and then became ill, Hatshepsut didn't want to sit idly by and watch her country stay still...she did what was needed. 
SO...Pharo Hatshepust, you are week one, WOMAN OF THE WEEK!