حاتشبسوت من ملكة إلى فرعون

by Catharine H. Roehrig (Editor), Renee Dreyfus ( Editor), Cathleen A. Keller (Editor)

"نعرف مدينة طيبة القديمة منذ زمن طويل، فقد قمنا على مدار سنين عدة بالسفر إلى الأقصر بشكل دائم، وقمنا بعمليات الفحص والدراسة المتأنية لمعابدها ومقابرها، الأمر الذي جعل منا اثنين من الباحثين الذين كرسوا الكثير من وقتهم وجهدهم للتعرف- على أرض الواقع - على الشخصيات التي كانت تقوم بدور البطولة في تاريخ مصر، في عاصمتها الواقعة جنوب البلاد في عصر الأسرة الثامنة عشرة من الدولة الحديثة، ومن بين الملوك التي أخذنا نراها على جدران معابد طيبة لفت انتباهنا - بشكل خاص - صورة امرأة حازمة ذات مظهر رقيق، إنها الملكة حاتشبسوت"

Genres: History, Egypt, Nonfiction, Art, Biography, Africa, Art History

496 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2005

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book may make you think you are getting an in depth look at the history of one of Egypt's most enigmatic pharaohs, Hatshepsut. The book does give some history and background of Hatshepsut, her family, her contemporaries and her history. However, the subtitle of this book - The Metropolitan Museum of Art gives one a better idea of this book. It was intended as a companion book to a special exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Art Museum, and it is primarily a nicely done Art coffee table book. The exhibit was made possible by contributions and loans from several art museum collections, and this Exhibit focused on Queen/Pharaoh Hatshepsut and her contemporaries. It is divided into five main chapters and focuses primarily on the exhibits that were displayed at the Exhibit.

Part I is Setting the Secne which gives some background on Egypt in the 18th Dynasty and includes some basic history a chronography and detailed descriptions and photographs of part of the exhibit

Part II is Hatshepsut and her Court and it shows the journey of Hatshepsut from Princess, to Queen to Co- Ruler (with her brother and husband Thutmoses III). Inlcluded in this chapter is the royal steward, Senenmut Although in other books and lectures on the subject, Senenmut was considered as a romantic interest of Hatshepsut, it isn't mentioned here. Many relics depicting Senenmut are shown in photographs, each with elaborate descriptions. I know that most of the statues of Hatshepsut were destroyed by her successors, but nonetheless, I was surprised that more relics of the female Pharaoh were not in this chapter.

Part III does show Hatshepsut's legacy in Hatshepsut's Building Projects. Her temple at Deir El-Bahri is described and shown in photographs, diagrams and layouts. Finally several statues of Hatshepsut, both seated and in Sphinx form were shown, some truly magnificent.

A temple to Mut build during her reign as well as her two tombs are in this chapter. Objects and reliefs from the various temples are also inlcuded.

Part IV Decorative Arts shows many pieces of pottery, jewelry and various objects of art.

Part V The Proscription describes Egypt immediately after Hatshepsut and the deliberate destruction and attempted removal of her existence from Egyptian history by Thutmose III or later successors.

The book offers an interesting collection of Relics, Art and history from Hatshepsuts reign and a fascinating look at part of Egyptian history. I would have loved to have seen the Exhibit when it toured. Although this does have some basic history of the female Pharaoh, it isn't an in depth look at her reign, this is an Art Exhibit book first and foremost. That said, for anyone interested in Egypt, archeology, art and Hatshepsut, it is a good book to have in one's library. For more history about the queen herself, I may order Kara Cooney's new book on Hatshepsut, the Woman who would be King.

[Sandra]

This is not actually a book about Hatshepsut but it was visually interesting

[Jayme Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book meanders away from Hatshepsut quite a bit. However, everything included helps give the reader a full picture of the world Hatshepsut lived in and the ideologies that shaped it. This book also offers some great insights and revelations into her rule and the attempted destruction of her legacy by Thutmose III. A must-read for those interested in Hatshepset and the line of pharaohs.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful history paired with photos from the museum collection.

[Ann-Cathrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful if you're looking for a visualized journey through Hatshepsut's reign.

[Alonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book (at the always fabulous Strand books) for a short comic story that I'm doing. I'm very interested right now in Hatshepsut, the female Pharoah. This book is exceptionally informative, with amazing illustrations, great reference pictures, and some really solid essay material.

My one reservation is that the essays can be a little up and down, written as they are by a variety of people. They tend to be a bit dry in places as well.

Still well worth it.

[B. G. Brainard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed reading about Hatshepsut, the Egyptian queen that reigned as pharaoh, and looking at all the items in this exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was informative. I have been interested in her ever since seeing her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The exhibit at the Kimbell was very interesting, especially since one of the contractors where I work is a Egyptologist and was totally overwhelmed by the exhibit.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short work.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it is not a compendium of everything known about Hatshepsut, this book was very useful when I was writing a paper on Hatshepsut for my Egyptology course. I found the sections on her building projects and the evolution of her image/depictions throughout her time as queen and co-ruler particularly helpful. There is a good amount of nicely-organized content to read, but much of the pages comprise pictures and brief descriptions of artifacts from the museum's collection. I'd say highlighting the collection is the primary focus of the book. The textual content puts the artifacts into perspective.