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Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh
Queen - or, as she would prefer to be remembered King - Hatchepsut was an astonishing woman. Brilliantly defying tradition she became the female embodiment of a male role, dressing in men's clothes and even wearing a false beard. Forgotten until Egptologists deciphered hieroglyphics in the 1820's, she has since been subject to intense speculation about her actions and motivations. Combining archaeological and historical evidence from a wide range of sources, Joyce Tyldesley's dazzling piece of detection strips away the myths and misconceptions and finally restores the female pharaoh to her rightful place.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
46 people are currently reading
2889 people want to read
About the author
Joyce A. Tyldesley
34 books167 followersJoyce Tyldesley is a British archaeologist and Egyptologist, academic, writer and broadcaster.
Tyldesley was born in Bolton, Lancashire and attended Bolton School. In 1981, she earned a first-class honours degree in archaeology from Liverpool University, and a doctorate in Prehistoric Archaeology from Oxford in 1986. She is a Teaching Fellow at Manchester University where she is tutor and course organiser of the three-year distance learning (internet based) Certificate in Egyptology programme run from the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology.
She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics, and Egyptology at Liverpool University, an ex-trustee of the Egypt Exploration Society, Chairperson of Bolton Archaeology and Egyptology Society, and a trustee of Chowbent Chapel.
In 2004 she established, with Steven Snape of Rutherford Press Limited, a publishing firm dedicated to publishing serious but accessible books on ancient Egypt while raising money for Egyptology field work. Donations from RPL have been made to Manchester Museum and the Egypt Exploration Society: currently all profits are donated to the ongoing fieldwork at Zawiyet umm el-Rakham.
She is married with two children to Egyptologist Steven Snape and lives in Lancashire.
Tyldesley was born in Bolton, Lancashire and attended Bolton School. In 1981, she earned a first-class honours degree in archaeology from Liverpool University, and a doctorate in Prehistoric Archaeology from Oxford in 1986. She is a Teaching Fellow at Manchester University where she is tutor and course organiser of the three-year distance learning (internet based) Certificate in Egyptology programme run from the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology.
She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics, and Egyptology at Liverpool University, an ex-trustee of the Egypt Exploration Society, Chairperson of Bolton Archaeology and Egyptology Society, and a trustee of Chowbent Chapel.
In 2004 she established, with Steven Snape of Rutherford Press Limited, a publishing firm dedicated to publishing serious but accessible books on ancient Egypt while raising money for Egyptology field work. Donations from RPL have been made to Manchester Museum and the Egypt Exploration Society: currently all profits are donated to the ongoing fieldwork at Zawiyet umm el-Rakham.
She is married with two children to Egyptologist Steven Snape and lives in Lancashire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 20, 2024
When I was a kid, my mom once took me to Egypt on holiday. And I actually visited some of the locations mentioned in this book as a kid, so that brought back some memories. Like the Karnak Temple Complex and the Valley of the Kings. But the site that impressed me most was the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut. It is absolutely massive and impressive if you see it in person. I picked up this book to find out more about the person who had it built.
The book starts with a very clear message: “had Hatshepsut been born a man, her lengthy rule would almost certainly be remembered for its achievements.” And as this book clearly shows, Hatshepsut was a ruler who accomplished a lot during her reign.
Hatshepsut is an incredibly fascinating historical figure. She was the second female pharaoh to rule over Egypt, the first being Sobekneferu. She ruled for over twenty years and Egypt prospered during her reign. But someone who came after her did everything they could to wipe her from the history books. Fortunately for us, they didn’t manage to erase her completely. And this book does everything it can to show us all the evidence of her existence and how to interpret it. Because it seems even early archeologists have misinterpreted her story and her character because of her gender. Here we get to see who she was as the evidence has taught us. The public figure of king Hatshepsut, rather than queen. Because she demanded the right to be ranked as an equal among the pharaohs and because she didn’t want to be remembered merely for her gender. What little we know of her private life, as she was also a daughter and a mother. And the legacy she left behind.
We do get quite a lengthy history lesson in the beginning, which does not feature the titular Hatshepsut. But the author clearly states that it’s necessary to understand what kind of world Hatshepsut was born in to truly understand her life story. What people had come to expect of a leader. The political climate. How the epic achievements of the past influenced Hatshepsut’s reign. The traditional gender roles in a patriarchal society. But also how women in ancient Egypt had more rights than in other comparable ancient civilizations. And how respect for mothers was already a long-established Egyptian custom at the time.
While a rather academical read in terms of content, the author clearly did her best to phrase and explain things so that even people who don’t have a lot of knowledge about Egyptology in general don’t feel left out. This is very much appreciated as I for one am not even remotely an expert in the field.
I did some research before I bought this book. Of all the books about Hatshepsut, this one’s generally considered one of the best. Even if it is a bit dated, as new discoveries have been made since this book was written. And I can see why. It’s very detailed and well-researched. It’s easy to comprehend if you pay attention. It’s excellently structured and every chapter feels relevant to the picture the author paints us of this fascinating historical figure. It also sticks to the facts and the popular opinions of the experts in the field, instead of wandering off into the author’s own creative interpretation of the facts. Definitely recommended if you want to learn more about Hatshepsut. But it’s also important to note that there’s only so much we do know about her, considering a deliberate attempt was made to remove her from the history books.
The book starts with a very clear message: “had Hatshepsut been born a man, her lengthy rule would almost certainly be remembered for its achievements.” And as this book clearly shows, Hatshepsut was a ruler who accomplished a lot during her reign.
Hatshepsut is an incredibly fascinating historical figure. She was the second female pharaoh to rule over Egypt, the first being Sobekneferu. She ruled for over twenty years and Egypt prospered during her reign. But someone who came after her did everything they could to wipe her from the history books. Fortunately for us, they didn’t manage to erase her completely. And this book does everything it can to show us all the evidence of her existence and how to interpret it. Because it seems even early archeologists have misinterpreted her story and her character because of her gender. Here we get to see who she was as the evidence has taught us. The public figure of king Hatshepsut, rather than queen. Because she demanded the right to be ranked as an equal among the pharaohs and because she didn’t want to be remembered merely for her gender. What little we know of her private life, as she was also a daughter and a mother. And the legacy she left behind.
We do get quite a lengthy history lesson in the beginning, which does not feature the titular Hatshepsut. But the author clearly states that it’s necessary to understand what kind of world Hatshepsut was born in to truly understand her life story. What people had come to expect of a leader. The political climate. How the epic achievements of the past influenced Hatshepsut’s reign. The traditional gender roles in a patriarchal society. But also how women in ancient Egypt had more rights than in other comparable ancient civilizations. And how respect for mothers was already a long-established Egyptian custom at the time.
While a rather academical read in terms of content, the author clearly did her best to phrase and explain things so that even people who don’t have a lot of knowledge about Egyptology in general don’t feel left out. This is very much appreciated as I for one am not even remotely an expert in the field.
I did some research before I bought this book. Of all the books about Hatshepsut, this one’s generally considered one of the best. Even if it is a bit dated, as new discoveries have been made since this book was written. And I can see why. It’s very detailed and well-researched. It’s easy to comprehend if you pay attention. It’s excellently structured and every chapter feels relevant to the picture the author paints us of this fascinating historical figure. It also sticks to the facts and the popular opinions of the experts in the field, instead of wandering off into the author’s own creative interpretation of the facts. Definitely recommended if you want to learn more about Hatshepsut. But it’s also important to note that there’s only so much we do know about her, considering a deliberate attempt was made to remove her from the history books.
March 14, 2017
The problem with Hatchepsut, compared with the subject of another of Tyldesley’s biographies, Cleopatra, is that there just isn’t enough to go on. While Tyldesley does a good job at presenting the information we have about Hatchepsut, there just isn’t enough of it. Given the way the female pharaoh’s reign was hidden deliberately and by the misunderstanding of scholars and the pillaging of Egypt’s antiquities, I’m not sure if anyone can write a satisfying biography of Hatchepsut. Even where Tyldesley tries to look for the personality of Egypt’s female pharaoh, it seems so thin and speculative that it doesn’t work very well.
The benefit of all this, of course, is that this isn’t sensationalised. There’s no absurd speculations about Hatchepsut’s gender and sexuality — an approach I could really imagine from some less source-based biographies, in this world where such things are endlessly fascinating to many. It sticks to the facts, presenting something as close to authenticity and truth as we can get from this distance.
It’s just, even if you don’t want something sensational, that can be less than satisfying. This book is enjoyable if you’re into Egypt and Egyptology, but perhaps less so if you’re looking for an inspirational story about a woman overcoming patriarchy. Personally, I enjoyed it, but I can understand those who have found it dry.
Originally posted on my blog.
The benefit of all this, of course, is that this isn’t sensationalised. There’s no absurd speculations about Hatchepsut’s gender and sexuality — an approach I could really imagine from some less source-based biographies, in this world where such things are endlessly fascinating to many. It sticks to the facts, presenting something as close to authenticity and truth as we can get from this distance.
It’s just, even if you don’t want something sensational, that can be less than satisfying. This book is enjoyable if you’re into Egypt and Egyptology, but perhaps less so if you’re looking for an inspirational story about a woman overcoming patriarchy. Personally, I enjoyed it, but I can understand those who have found it dry.
Originally posted on my blog.
June 7, 2017
Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh by Joyce A. Tyldesley is a documented research on the life of Hatchepsut, the female pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Tyldesley pieces together the available historical and archaeological evidence to detail the life and times of Hatchepsut. Unfortunately, there is much that has been lost to us as a result of tomb robbers, the pillaging of Egypt’s antiquities, and the systematic attempts to erase all evidence of Hatchepsut’s rule shortly after her demise.
Tyldesley’s scholarly approach to the subject is to be commended. She does not attempt to sensationalize the issue of a female pharaoh. She presents the known facts methodically; dispels the theory of mutual animosity existing between Hatchepsut and her step-son, Tuthmosis III; situates Hatchepsut’s rise to power within its historical context; provides alternative scholarly interpretations to events when relevant; and then suggests the path that seems the most logical. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a powerful female who assumed the position of pharaoh after the death of her half brother/husband, Tuthmosis II.
Hatchepsut went to extraordinary lengths to present herself as a viable, legitimate pharaoh. She wore male clothing, including a pharaoh’s false beard, and, among other activities, ordered a sequence of images of her own divine conception and birth be carved in a portico in her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. Since all kings of Egypt had wives, Hatchepsut selected her daughter, Neferure, to assume the role of the king’s wife, assigning her its duties.
Tyldesley highlights Hatchepsut’s military exploits, her expeditions to foreign lands, including Punt, and her instigation of an impressive construction program of monuments and mortuary temples. Egypt experienced a time of prosperity and peace under her rule. She relied heavily on her advisor, Senenmut, for a number of years. But for reasons we can only speculate, Senenmut eventually fell out of favor with her.
Shortly after her death and the ascension of Tuthmosis III as Pharaoh, systematic attempts were made to erase all evidence of Hatchepsut’s reign, including effacing her monuments and wall carvings on mortuary temples. This was tantamount to an attempt to erase her from history and to subject her spirit to a “Second Death” from which there could be no return. Although some scholars speculate that Tuthmosis III was avenging himself on his stepmother for usurping his right to throne, Tyldesley argues the evidence for this is inconclusive.
We may never know all there is to know about Hatchepsut. But Joyce Tyldesley has produced an engaging, readable, scholarly work based on the available evidence about this female pharaoh. In the process, she has given us a glimpse of a fascinating woman living in fascinating times.
Highly recommended.
Tyldesley’s scholarly approach to the subject is to be commended. She does not attempt to sensationalize the issue of a female pharaoh. She presents the known facts methodically; dispels the theory of mutual animosity existing between Hatchepsut and her step-son, Tuthmosis III; situates Hatchepsut’s rise to power within its historical context; provides alternative scholarly interpretations to events when relevant; and then suggests the path that seems the most logical. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a powerful female who assumed the position of pharaoh after the death of her half brother/husband, Tuthmosis II.
Hatchepsut went to extraordinary lengths to present herself as a viable, legitimate pharaoh. She wore male clothing, including a pharaoh’s false beard, and, among other activities, ordered a sequence of images of her own divine conception and birth be carved in a portico in her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. Since all kings of Egypt had wives, Hatchepsut selected her daughter, Neferure, to assume the role of the king’s wife, assigning her its duties.
Tyldesley highlights Hatchepsut’s military exploits, her expeditions to foreign lands, including Punt, and her instigation of an impressive construction program of monuments and mortuary temples. Egypt experienced a time of prosperity and peace under her rule. She relied heavily on her advisor, Senenmut, for a number of years. But for reasons we can only speculate, Senenmut eventually fell out of favor with her.
Shortly after her death and the ascension of Tuthmosis III as Pharaoh, systematic attempts were made to erase all evidence of Hatchepsut’s reign, including effacing her monuments and wall carvings on mortuary temples. This was tantamount to an attempt to erase her from history and to subject her spirit to a “Second Death” from which there could be no return. Although some scholars speculate that Tuthmosis III was avenging himself on his stepmother for usurping his right to throne, Tyldesley argues the evidence for this is inconclusive.
We may never know all there is to know about Hatchepsut. But Joyce Tyldesley has produced an engaging, readable, scholarly work based on the available evidence about this female pharaoh. In the process, she has given us a glimpse of a fascinating woman living in fascinating times.
Highly recommended.
June 8, 2025
The author brings to life a possible version of an Egyptian Queen and Pharaoh from about 3,600 years ago. I suppose inevitably there is an element of imposing fairly modern morals and ideas on to a woman who lived in a society which, if we could travel there, may have seemed almost alien to ours. The author's theory that Hatchepsut was left in the position of regent over her stepson and nephew Tuthmosis III on the death of her husband and half-brother Tuthmosis II, and then expanded her role to become a female Pharaoh is very tempting, though the evidence seems more conjecture than anything else.
It is easy to see from the previous sentence just how complex Egyptian Pharaonic families were. It goes further when we learn that Neferure, the daughter of Tuthmosis II and Hatchepsut may have married her half-brother Tuthmosis III though there is no direct evidence of it. The next Pharaoh was Amenhotep II whose mother is known to have been Meritre-Hatchepsut, who may have been another daughter of Tuthmosis II and Hatchepsut; however, again there is no evidence. The book is a delight to read when going through all the meanderings of the Egyptian royal line and then the author brings in the religious side and Hatchepsut's possible relationship with her chief civil servant, Senenmut.
It is with Senenmut, who seems to have been a very competent and ambitious bureaucrat, that the biography drifts a little into modern comparisons. Senenmut progressed through the ranks to become Hatchepsut's closest advisor. It is the closeness that is the point. There is a poorly scribbled graffito on the wall of a tomb that may depict Hatchepsut having sex with a non-royal man, in some respects perhaps an early political satirical cartoon. Whether it is Senenmut having his lustful way with the female Pharaoh or something completely unrelated no one can be certain, but the author builds on it suggesting that Hatchepsut may have been in a similar position to Queen Elizabeth I of England: wanting love while knowing to accept an open relationship would be impolitic. The religious side probably comes into play as much as anything. Senenmut falls into disgrace. He keeps his life and his wealth but, if he ever had any yearning for the throne, he is reminded that he is a commoner and will remain such. After all falling in love with a god-queen is only ever likely to end in mortal tears.
By the end I felt the biography was stumbling towards a romantic family saga. However, for a piece of what is usually dry as dust Egyptology, it is nevertheless hugely entertaining.
It is easy to see from the previous sentence just how complex Egyptian Pharaonic families were. It goes further when we learn that Neferure, the daughter of Tuthmosis II and Hatchepsut may have married her half-brother Tuthmosis III though there is no direct evidence of it. The next Pharaoh was Amenhotep II whose mother is known to have been Meritre-Hatchepsut, who may have been another daughter of Tuthmosis II and Hatchepsut; however, again there is no evidence. The book is a delight to read when going through all the meanderings of the Egyptian royal line and then the author brings in the religious side and Hatchepsut's possible relationship with her chief civil servant, Senenmut.
It is with Senenmut, who seems to have been a very competent and ambitious bureaucrat, that the biography drifts a little into modern comparisons. Senenmut progressed through the ranks to become Hatchepsut's closest advisor. It is the closeness that is the point. There is a poorly scribbled graffito on the wall of a tomb that may depict Hatchepsut having sex with a non-royal man, in some respects perhaps an early political satirical cartoon. Whether it is Senenmut having his lustful way with the female Pharaoh or something completely unrelated no one can be certain, but the author builds on it suggesting that Hatchepsut may have been in a similar position to Queen Elizabeth I of England: wanting love while knowing to accept an open relationship would be impolitic. The religious side probably comes into play as much as anything. Senenmut falls into disgrace. He keeps his life and his wealth but, if he ever had any yearning for the throne, he is reminded that he is a commoner and will remain such. After all falling in love with a god-queen is only ever likely to end in mortal tears.
By the end I felt the biography was stumbling towards a romantic family saga. However, for a piece of what is usually dry as dust Egyptology, it is nevertheless hugely entertaining.
September 29, 2018
Excellent. A fascinating look at a successful female pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, whose name some attempted (thankfully unsuccessfully) to obliterate from history.
February 24, 2011
This is a non-fictional historical work detailing the life of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Initial chapters describe the Hyksos invasion of the Second Intermediate Period, their defeat, and the establishment of the New Kingdom and 18th Dynasty under Pharaoh Ahmose I, and finally how the Tuthmosides came to the throne. After this, Tyldesley finally describes Hatshepsut's life as princess, queen and pharaoh - her monuments, military exploits, the famous expedition to Punt and her relationship with her trusted advisor Senenmut. Through use of archaeological and historical evidence, Tyldesley builds up a picture of Hatshepsut's motives and personality.
The first "setting-the-scene" chapters were a good introduction for the average reader coming to this book, but totally unnecessary for academics already familiar with the period, which I assume the book was aimed at. It felt like too much time was spent on this setting-the-scene than on Hatshepsut! Tyldesley's use of historical and archaeological material to build up a plausible picture of Hatshepsut's motives and personality is to be commended, and one of my favourite parts of the book, along with the section on the expedition to the fabulous land of Punt. However, the chapter on Hatshepsut's monuments dragged on a bit and was a bit dry.
All in all, a well constructed picture from the evidence, but rather dry in places.
The first "setting-the-scene" chapters were a good introduction for the average reader coming to this book, but totally unnecessary for academics already familiar with the period, which I assume the book was aimed at. It felt like too much time was spent on this setting-the-scene than on Hatshepsut! Tyldesley's use of historical and archaeological material to build up a plausible picture of Hatshepsut's motives and personality is to be commended, and one of my favourite parts of the book, along with the section on the expedition to the fabulous land of Punt. However, the chapter on Hatshepsut's monuments dragged on a bit and was a bit dry.
All in all, a well constructed picture from the evidence, but rather dry in places.
February 26, 2022
This is a very interesting and compelling theory. There is a large part of the book dedicated to explaining the Egyptian Royal family, which can be very uncomfortable as some of the historical documents are explicit. This is considered in scholarly context but it is still the topic of incest. TBH, you could skip about three chapters in the middle to avoid this topic and not really miss anything. The theory set up against the common 'evil step-mother of Egypt' is a theory worth reading about if you enjoy Egyptian history.
November 10, 2012
Since I love ancient history I usually hunt through bookstore shelves for little known titles. Sometimes the dusty, cluttered and unorganized used bookshop can produce the most fascinating bits of wisdom. I can’t say precisely where I found this particular gem, however the pricing on the dust jacket tells me that is was most likely on one of those adventurous afternoons in a cavernous used bookshop.
Hatshepsut was born the eldest daughter of Thutmose I. According to royal Egyptian custom, she was married to her half brother Thutmose II and became the guardian of her stepson-nephew Thutmose III. As a ruler she went against then-accepted tradition and set herself up as King and Pharaoh. The archeology that we can now piece together indicates that during her reign Egypt was internally at peace, was active in foreign exploration, actively pursued monumental projects and prospered for a number of years. Sadly, her stepson took issue with her approach and methods and, once he took the throne, led the effort to literally wipe any knowledge of her from history. In Egyptian religious practice that was tantamount to eternal death.
This book authored by Joyce Tyldesley brings together a number of sources that help us piece together the life and times of this rather innovative monarch. The book has photos, drawings, maps and an extensive bibliography. A quote from the introduction will set the tone:
“While it is very difficult for any biographer to remain entirely impartial about his or her subject, I am attempting to provide the non-specialist reader with an objective and unbiased account of the life and times of King Hatchepsut, gathered from the researches of those Egyptologists who have spent years studying, sometimes in minute detail, the individual threads of evidence which, when woven together, form the tapestry of her reign. It is up to the reader to decide on the rights or wrongs of her actions.”
This is the type of book that introduces a reader to historical research without bogging down a “non-specialist” in academic jargon. I found it a delightful read.
Hatshepsut was born the eldest daughter of Thutmose I. According to royal Egyptian custom, she was married to her half brother Thutmose II and became the guardian of her stepson-nephew Thutmose III. As a ruler she went against then-accepted tradition and set herself up as King and Pharaoh. The archeology that we can now piece together indicates that during her reign Egypt was internally at peace, was active in foreign exploration, actively pursued monumental projects and prospered for a number of years. Sadly, her stepson took issue with her approach and methods and, once he took the throne, led the effort to literally wipe any knowledge of her from history. In Egyptian religious practice that was tantamount to eternal death.
This book authored by Joyce Tyldesley brings together a number of sources that help us piece together the life and times of this rather innovative monarch. The book has photos, drawings, maps and an extensive bibliography. A quote from the introduction will set the tone:
“While it is very difficult for any biographer to remain entirely impartial about his or her subject, I am attempting to provide the non-specialist reader with an objective and unbiased account of the life and times of King Hatchepsut, gathered from the researches of those Egyptologists who have spent years studying, sometimes in minute detail, the individual threads of evidence which, when woven together, form the tapestry of her reign. It is up to the reader to decide on the rights or wrongs of her actions.”
This is the type of book that introduces a reader to historical research without bogging down a “non-specialist” in academic jargon. I found it a delightful read.
Want to read
March 6, 2014Description: Egypt's Queen or, as she would prefer to be remembered, King Hatchepsut ruled over an age of peace, prosperity, and remarkable architectural achievement (c. 1490 b.c.). Had she been born a man, her reign would almost certainly have been remembered for its stable government, successful trade missions, and the construction of one of the most beautiful structures in the world, the Deir el-Bahri temple at Luxor.
After her death, however, her name and image were viciously attacked, her monuments destroyed or usurped, her place in history systematically obliterated. At last, in this dazzling work of archaeological and historical sleuthing, Joyce Tyldesley rescues this intriguing figure from more than two thousand years of oblivion and finally restores the female pharaoh to her rightful prominence as the first woman in recorded history to rule a nation.
After her death, however, her name and image were viciously attacked, her monuments destroyed or usurped, her place in history systematically obliterated. At last, in this dazzling work of archaeological and historical sleuthing, Joyce Tyldesley rescues this intriguing figure from more than two thousand years of oblivion and finally restores the female pharaoh to her rightful prominence as the first woman in recorded history to rule a nation.
May 18, 2025
Egyptens enda kvinnliga kung, även om tidigare och senare lösa förebilder funnits.
Tyldesley delar in boken i effektiva avsnitt som utreder Egypten under den 18:e dynastin, familjen kungen härstammar från, hennes roll som drottning och senare som kung. Från och med avsnitt 4 beskrivs Hatshepsuts politiska åtaganden, hur hon behöll sin makt och rättfärdigade sin plats genom propaganda och gudomliga berättelser. Tyldesley nämner alltid relevanta sammahang för att ge läsaren en förståelse för varför kungen gjorde som hon gjorde och hur det överhuvudtaget var möjligt. I boken beskrivs den kända expeditionen till det fjärran landet Punt och hur skatterna till Egypten påverkade folkets syn på sin kvinnliga kung. Tyldesley svänger alltså mellan en personlig analys och en samhällelig sådan, vilket ger läsaren den komplexa förståelse som krävs för att begripa detta antika rike.
Det är inte ofta man stöter på egyptologi och Sigmund Freud i samma veva, men i avsnitt 6 förklarar Tyldesley den ignorans som präglat arkeologin sedan 1800-talet som gett upphov till idéer om att kvinnor inte kan delta i krig eller våldsamma strider. Jag uppskattade detta avsnitt särskilt mycket eftersom bilden av den evigt barmhärtiga och passiva kvinnliga ledaren suddades ut och istället förklarades med hjälp av de samhällsstrukturer som påverkar den mänskliga uppfattningen om kvinnligt ledarskap. För övrigt fann jag nästa avsnitt om Senenmut (Hatshepsuts inofficiella "right-hand man") mycket intressant. Även om Tyldesley här spekulerar en del om deras personliga relation fick jag en bild av hur de lyckosamma i antika Egypten lyckades arbeta sin väg uppåt och gradvis få mer makt, om än okunglig.
Boken rundas av med en diskussion om när Hatshepsuts kända begravningstempel Djeser-Djeseru upptäcktes och hur de tidiga arkeologerna tampades med att utreda de manliga avbildningarna plus de feminina pronomen. Jag tyckte om de sista kapitlen allra mest och ger därför boken en 4:a, även om de första kapitlen är nödvändiga för att få en fullständig bild av denna kung.
Tyldesley delar in boken i effektiva avsnitt som utreder Egypten under den 18:e dynastin, familjen kungen härstammar från, hennes roll som drottning och senare som kung. Från och med avsnitt 4 beskrivs Hatshepsuts politiska åtaganden, hur hon behöll sin makt och rättfärdigade sin plats genom propaganda och gudomliga berättelser. Tyldesley nämner alltid relevanta sammahang för att ge läsaren en förståelse för varför kungen gjorde som hon gjorde och hur det överhuvudtaget var möjligt. I boken beskrivs den kända expeditionen till det fjärran landet Punt och hur skatterna till Egypten påverkade folkets syn på sin kvinnliga kung. Tyldesley svänger alltså mellan en personlig analys och en samhällelig sådan, vilket ger läsaren den komplexa förståelse som krävs för att begripa detta antika rike.
Det är inte ofta man stöter på egyptologi och Sigmund Freud i samma veva, men i avsnitt 6 förklarar Tyldesley den ignorans som präglat arkeologin sedan 1800-talet som gett upphov till idéer om att kvinnor inte kan delta i krig eller våldsamma strider. Jag uppskattade detta avsnitt särskilt mycket eftersom bilden av den evigt barmhärtiga och passiva kvinnliga ledaren suddades ut och istället förklarades med hjälp av de samhällsstrukturer som påverkar den mänskliga uppfattningen om kvinnligt ledarskap. För övrigt fann jag nästa avsnitt om Senenmut (Hatshepsuts inofficiella "right-hand man") mycket intressant. Även om Tyldesley här spekulerar en del om deras personliga relation fick jag en bild av hur de lyckosamma i antika Egypten lyckades arbeta sin väg uppåt och gradvis få mer makt, om än okunglig.
Boken rundas av med en diskussion om när Hatshepsuts kända begravningstempel Djeser-Djeseru upptäcktes och hur de tidiga arkeologerna tampades med att utreda de manliga avbildningarna plus de feminina pronomen. Jag tyckte om de sista kapitlen allra mest och ger därför boken en 4:a, även om de första kapitlen är nödvändiga för att få en fullständig bild av denna kung.
November 17, 2020
Obviously it’s really hard to create an account on a woman who came to power but then was erased by the Pharaos after her. Even then women struggled with their reputation but her regime aparantly brought a lot of peace and lifted the economy.
The book was very research driven, so it was hard to read at times.
September 24, 2019
It was a little too long/seemed like there was filler in it. Writing was pretty engaging though. The meat of it is fascinating. Worth a read!
September 7, 2014
Hatchepsut has fascinated the popular imagination by cross-dressing as a man, donning a man's kilt, wearing a false beard, and claiming herself as a king rather than a queen. While Hatchepsut was definitely not the first nor the last female pharaoh, she is the most successful of the female kings. Her powers and success eclipsed the later more famous queen, Cleopatra VII. Tyldesley's unbiased biography highlights Hatchepsut's accomplishments to show that Egyptian women were capable of ruling as the male pharaohs.
Hatchepsut was the Egyptian princess of Pharaoh Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose. She married her half-brother Thutmosis II, at tweleve years old and had a daughter named Neferure. After her husband's death, Hatchepsut became queen regent to the child Tuthmosis III. A few years later, she decided to rule as Pharaoh of Egypt instead. The author portrays Hatchepsut as a young woman between the age of fifteen and thirty years old, when her husband died. She also portrays Hatchepsut as a woman who at first did not want to be pharaoh but was comfortable in her role to be a conventional queen regent. One of the explanations that she gives for Hatchepsut's decision to be pharaoh is because the young child king Tuthmosis III may die before he reached adulthood. Because of Hatchepsut's young age, we find that we can relate to her prudent decision to become Pharaoh of Egypt.
Unlike the common myth of Tuthmosis III hating his step-mother for usurping his throne, Tyldesley states that there was no evidence for his hatred. Tuthmosis did not make any attempt to oppose Hatchepsut during her reign, but instead allowed her to be the dominant pharaoh. Tyldesley explains that this may be because he was most likely waiting for her to die off.
The author gives a great introduction into the history of the 18th dynasty. We learn that women had far more freedom than that of the other contemporary kingdoms. Tyldesley also gives a comprehensive account about the everyday life of ancient Egypt. The biography also discusses the history of the archeological findings regarding Hatchepsut.
Overall, this book is more of a history of archeological work of how Hatchepsut has been interpreted since her discovery than of Hatchepsut herself. The work is dry, poorly structured, and redundant. However, the author highlights Hatchepsut's accomplishments as pharaoh, and we are able to glimpse how striking a woman she truly was. While it was fascinating at times to see how Hatchepsut has been viewed since the discovery of her in the nineteenth century (for thousands of years her name has been erased from history because she was a successful female king), the archeology is not near as fascinating as the living, breathing Queen/King of Egypt. This novel is a great introduction for readers who would like to learn about Hatchepsut and the ancient Egyptian empire.
Hatchepsut was the Egyptian princess of Pharaoh Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose. She married her half-brother Thutmosis II, at tweleve years old and had a daughter named Neferure. After her husband's death, Hatchepsut became queen regent to the child Tuthmosis III. A few years later, she decided to rule as Pharaoh of Egypt instead. The author portrays Hatchepsut as a young woman between the age of fifteen and thirty years old, when her husband died. She also portrays Hatchepsut as a woman who at first did not want to be pharaoh but was comfortable in her role to be a conventional queen regent. One of the explanations that she gives for Hatchepsut's decision to be pharaoh is because the young child king Tuthmosis III may die before he reached adulthood. Because of Hatchepsut's young age, we find that we can relate to her prudent decision to become Pharaoh of Egypt.
Unlike the common myth of Tuthmosis III hating his step-mother for usurping his throne, Tyldesley states that there was no evidence for his hatred. Tuthmosis did not make any attempt to oppose Hatchepsut during her reign, but instead allowed her to be the dominant pharaoh. Tyldesley explains that this may be because he was most likely waiting for her to die off.
The author gives a great introduction into the history of the 18th dynasty. We learn that women had far more freedom than that of the other contemporary kingdoms. Tyldesley also gives a comprehensive account about the everyday life of ancient Egypt. The biography also discusses the history of the archeological findings regarding Hatchepsut.
Overall, this book is more of a history of archeological work of how Hatchepsut has been interpreted since her discovery than of Hatchepsut herself. The work is dry, poorly structured, and redundant. However, the author highlights Hatchepsut's accomplishments as pharaoh, and we are able to glimpse how striking a woman she truly was. While it was fascinating at times to see how Hatchepsut has been viewed since the discovery of her in the nineteenth century (for thousands of years her name has been erased from history because she was a successful female king), the archeology is not near as fascinating as the living, breathing Queen/King of Egypt. This novel is a great introduction for readers who would like to learn about Hatchepsut and the ancient Egyptian empire.
January 23, 2015
This is a very good biography of Hatshepsut. Joyce Tyldesley starts off with detailed background information and gradually eases into Hatshepsut's reign. Her life and death are discussed in detail, along with different interpretations of the archaeological evidence that have been found.
It is comparatively difficult to find and understand information about a ruler who has been effaced from history by her successors, and there can never be a complete certainty about many things. So I appreciate that the author has given the route taken by various Egyptologists to arrive at their present conclusions.
The book is divided into eight parts, each one dealing with a different facet of Hatshepsut's reign. There are some interesting black and white photos at the end of the book. The writing was good and the narrative flowed freely and I really enjoyed this book.
It is comparatively difficult to find and understand information about a ruler who has been effaced from history by her successors, and there can never be a complete certainty about many things. So I appreciate that the author has given the route taken by various Egyptologists to arrive at their present conclusions.
The book is divided into eight parts, each one dealing with a different facet of Hatshepsut's reign. There are some interesting black and white photos at the end of the book. The writing was good and the narrative flowed freely and I really enjoyed this book.
February 24, 2009
A fascinating story of a female pharoah who ruled for twenty years during Egypt's 18th Dynasty and even wore a beard on ceremonial occasions to look masculine. So it was not just Hillary Clinton who had to act like a man to run for President - this expectation goes way back in history. Ironically, Hachepsut's relics were all defaced or destroyed when her reign ended. Particularly fascinating for me was the fact that a three different clairvoyants have told me on three separate occasions that I was a citizen of Egypt at the time of Hachepsut
August 16, 2010
Scholarly, of course, well-written. I have no complaints. It felt dry, but what could be expected? It's a bio of someone who lived so long ago, all there is is conjecture based on archeological remains. This was interesting in itself, but as I said, dry. I'm afraid I skimmed a few times. I suppose if I wanted juicy I'd turn to historical fiction. I prefer the facts, I enjoyed the "this is all we know" approach and the explanation of different analyses and discoveries.
Read
July 9, 2015good source for an ancient history task
May 31, 2017
A very interesting book and Joyce Tyldesley gives an unbiased view on Hatshepsut and to those who have not much knowledge of Ancient Egyptian history it could be seen as a lot of if's and but's. I did see one thing that stood out was the chap mention as Winlock who worked at her mortuary temple in Del el Bahari seemed to have some form of hatred for Hatchepsut, even to the point of sexism, the book is a bit out of date as new evidence has come to light and I think that Joyce could revisit this book and update it.
I admire Hatshepsut for what she did in a time when Ma'at and mythology dictated that only a man could rule Egypt or Kemet as it was known to the Ancient Egyptians, to compare her to Queens Tiye and Nefertiti I think would be and is wrong. First and foremost she was of full royal blood which if her half-brother and husband Tuthmosis II were the son of a minor wife of non-royal blood then he without a doubt needed Hatshepsut in order to rule. On the other hand, if Tuthmosis II was the nephew of Hatshepsut's mother Queen Ahmose then order to preserve the bloodline then as the closest living full-blooded royal then it would understandable them marrying.
In concern to her step-son and nephew Tuthmosis III, I believe that there was no animosity between the two rulers and they seemed to have co-ruled well together and he does seem to have been playing a minor role. He did not seem to suffer from it though as he appeared to be well educated and went on to be the most successful military career, Hatshepsut, in fact, made sure Tuthmosis was well prepared to rule as an adult and it is this most likely allowed the later King Amenhotep III to rule without going to war.
Another legacy she handed to Tuthmosis and those that followed him was her building program especially with the temple of Karnak the home of the god Amun, this would I believe was the start of the end of both the 18th and following dynasties that allowed the priests to set themselves up as kings and invasion. As Joyce says by the time her successor Cleopatra VII had come to the throne Hatshepsut was all but forgotten.
Tuthmosis III could not be totally to blame for the removal of Hatshepsut's name from history there is a chance that the new religion of Akhenaten continued it, and with the later Semitic religion sweeping the East and later West would have had some involvement too.
On the whole, I would recommend this book to fans of Ancient Egypt and should be read with an open mind, as I put Joyce's book Nefertiti aside to read this all I can say is I am glad that I did.
I admire Hatshepsut for what she did in a time when Ma'at and mythology dictated that only a man could rule Egypt or Kemet as it was known to the Ancient Egyptians, to compare her to Queens Tiye and Nefertiti I think would be and is wrong. First and foremost she was of full royal blood which if her half-brother and husband Tuthmosis II were the son of a minor wife of non-royal blood then he without a doubt needed Hatshepsut in order to rule. On the other hand, if Tuthmosis II was the nephew of Hatshepsut's mother Queen Ahmose then order to preserve the bloodline then as the closest living full-blooded royal then it would understandable them marrying.
In concern to her step-son and nephew Tuthmosis III, I believe that there was no animosity between the two rulers and they seemed to have co-ruled well together and he does seem to have been playing a minor role. He did not seem to suffer from it though as he appeared to be well educated and went on to be the most successful military career, Hatshepsut, in fact, made sure Tuthmosis was well prepared to rule as an adult and it is this most likely allowed the later King Amenhotep III to rule without going to war.
Another legacy she handed to Tuthmosis and those that followed him was her building program especially with the temple of Karnak the home of the god Amun, this would I believe was the start of the end of both the 18th and following dynasties that allowed the priests to set themselves up as kings and invasion. As Joyce says by the time her successor Cleopatra VII had come to the throne Hatshepsut was all but forgotten.
Tuthmosis III could not be totally to blame for the removal of Hatshepsut's name from history there is a chance that the new religion of Akhenaten continued it, and with the later Semitic religion sweeping the East and later West would have had some involvement too.
On the whole, I would recommend this book to fans of Ancient Egypt and should be read with an open mind, as I put Joyce's book Nefertiti aside to read this all I can say is I am glad that I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
Joyce Tyldesley provides us with a thorough examination of the evidence surrounding the pharaoh Hatchepsut. She discusses issues such as the disputed order of succession, the conspicuous over-use of propaganda by Hatchepsut to legitimize her power and the question of exactly who attempted to erase the name of Hatchepsut from the monuments and why. Her arguments in each case are based on a judicious weighing of the evidence and the reader is always provided with alternative interpretations from other scholars. Tyldesley systematically dismantles the prevalent opinion that many of the actions of both Hatchepsut herself and her stepson Tuthmosis were motivated by a deadly enmity. On this issue she suggests that Tuthmosis was relatively accepting of the co-regency his stepmother imposed on him, but fails to suggest a convincing motivation for this. The one real disappointment in the book is that Tyldesley does not provide us with any real suggestion as to how Hatchepsut was able to succeed in establishing herself as pharaoh. She emphasizes that Hatchepsut would have needed both an acceptable reason and widespread support among the powerful men of the kingdom to be able to go against maat (the Egyptian concept of tradition and balance) and establish herself as king, but does not provide us with a plausible suggestion as to what such a reason may have been or whose support may have been responsible for her success. Admittedly, there are unlikely to be definitive answers, but these questions are barely raised. All in all, the book is an intriguing and insightful portrait of the world's first truly powerful woman.
December 5, 2017
The book was well executed and informative. I don't feel like it was an exhaustive book by any stretch, but it was well detailed and flowed well. I was glad to see that the issue of Hatchepsut's gender didn't appear to be an ideological focus of the book but rather an objective one. Egypt (especially the beginning of the 18th dynasty) held women in high esteem. Sobeknefru and Nefertiti are other female rulers of the prior dynasty and later in the 18th dynasty respectively. The goddess Isis boasts a powerful role in the Egyptian pantheon and is the only being who ever outsmarted Ra.
Women were held in high esteem in the upper classes and religions of Egypt at this time and any noteworthiness for being a woman ruler is a fault of our society rather than theirs (at that time). The author, very adeptly, acknowledges these nuances.
The topics I found most interesting were Hatchepsut's ancestry and attempts to revitalize the power of a pre-Hyksos Egypt as well as her unprecedented building projects. Interestingly, I saw a lot of parallels between her and Catherine the Great of Russia; both married to sickly princes, both had a trusted adviser that became a lover, and both were extremely ambitious when it came to leaving a legacy of monuments. It was a great read and I recommend it for anyone interested in 18th Dynasty Egyptian history or the history of royalty in general.
Women were held in high esteem in the upper classes and religions of Egypt at this time and any noteworthiness for being a woman ruler is a fault of our society rather than theirs (at that time). The author, very adeptly, acknowledges these nuances.
The topics I found most interesting were Hatchepsut's ancestry and attempts to revitalize the power of a pre-Hyksos Egypt as well as her unprecedented building projects. Interestingly, I saw a lot of parallels between her and Catherine the Great of Russia; both married to sickly princes, both had a trusted adviser that became a lover, and both were extremely ambitious when it came to leaving a legacy of monuments. It was a great read and I recommend it for anyone interested in 18th Dynasty Egyptian history or the history of royalty in general.
December 26, 2017
I enjoyed this book, even though the author's style is a little dry. Hatchepsut is a fascinating topic, and I firmly believe there should be more books about women, written by women. Unfortunately, I don't have much background in Egyptian history and the story feels unfixed in time. Throughout, the author refers to dynasties instead of years and you either have to keep looking them up, or just forget what time period she’s talking about. It’s remarkably frustrating and leaves you with no clear idea of when these events are taking place. This lack of firm dates is simply due to the inaccuracies of the existing historical record, but I would have found it helpful to have a date range every chapter, just so I could keep my bearings.
March 14, 2022
Hatchepsut was a book selected by a member of our bookclub, and I'm so glad it was. I'll start by saying this is not an easy read. It is a non-fiction, historical text and is heavily peppered with jargon, dates and Ancient Egyptian history. If you are interested in Egyptology, you will likely find this very interesting. Hatchepsut was a female Pharoah. She was, by all accounts an incredible leader, and for reasons that are still undecided (several theories occur), all traces of her were erased from history. This book largely details her life, how she came to power and who took over her reign. It really got me thinking, how many other women had to disguise as men in order to lead - how many do we not know about?
August 21, 2021
Hatchepsut is one of my favorite rulers and yes I say rulers because she doesn't get the recognition she deserves and she doesn't get the power of her name like Cleopatra and Nefertiti which is unfair because she became a queen in her own right without having to marry anyone to do it and was able to keep her power and make Egypt a more powerful nation, but sure let us talk about Cleopatra a Greek technically by birth or Nefertiti someone who feels more like an enigma right now than a real person. Hatchepsut is my queen and she deserves more recognition and respect.
January 26, 2018
I have read both of Tyldesley's female pharaoh books. (Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt) Both of them are enjoyable reads, and I think Tyldesley approaches Hatchepsut and Cleopatra objectively as possible. But if I had to choose a favorite book it would be Hatchepsut. Tyldesley tries to recreate the past without overwhelming the reader with preconceived ideas of who this lost pharaoh was. She offers the possibilities from archaeologists and historians, while including her own objective ideas.
November 8, 2017
A brilliant look into the life and after-life of an incredible woman who did what few others ever did; reigned as Pharaoh. Brings together information from many different sources to try and explore how and why she became Pharaoh, the mysteries surrounding her death and the possible reasons an attempt was made to erase her from history.
May 25, 2019
So glad that Tyldesley resisted subtitling this text "The Forgotten Queen." Hatchepsut was a fascinating woman, so much so that her successors tried to erase any trace of her and her rule. Perhaps too much of the book was spent on that element, but that is the most documented and understandable.
July 4, 2019
It is quite a good book for the scholars and egyptologists. However, I found it difficult to keep up with it due to the unfamiliar terms and egyptologists. If you lack deep knowledge of events and historical timeline of ancient Egypt, I would suggest you start with another book. If not, you would love this.
March 21, 2020
Very readable account of all that can reasonably be deduced about the life of Hatchepsut, a female Pharoah of Egypt. The author does a good job of laying out the known facts and attempting to debunk some false assumptions. I learnt a lot about Egypt and Egyptology though inevitable Hatchepsut herself never came fully into focus.
September 13, 2020
Hatshepshut was a High Priestess, God's Wife of Amun, who later became the "King" of Upper and Lower Egypt. Her story is extremely fascinating. This book, on the other hand, is a snoozefest. The Introduction section is long and has nothing to do with Hatshepshut. It talks about random soldiers who received two female slaves after war. Well, good for him, but that's not why I picked up this book. It is not completely the author's fault though because there's so little information available about Hatshepshut, but it could have been written in an engaging manner.
March 14, 2021
This was interesting and Hatshepsut is an endlessly fascinating figure. The mystery is mostly what plagues this book (other than some repetition and tangents)- there’s not a lot of historical information available about her, especially due to the campaign to discredit her reign.
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