Hatshepsuts Temple

In one of the hottest places in Egypt there lies beneath a large mountain a temple tiered like a wedding cake. This temple was built by a pharaoh who was a woman. She was probably the most successful female pharaoh and one who was clever, astute, powerful and ruled for over 20 years. This gave her time to build and create many structures. Sadly her stepson Tuthmosis 3 was kept from power by her and he took revenge when she died. Destroying all of her images and names on all of her structures that he could reach. But Hatshepsut was tricky. She had built into her temple Osiris statues with the face of Hatshepsut. Tuthmosis could not remove her face as he would be de-facing a God. Her face would continue to look out on him - and he was helpless to change it. I think the photo of a new Osiris statue only would complement her temple! Another interesting discovery in this temple was her sense of adventure. On one series of walls there is depicted her expedition to Somalia through the red sea. The local Somalis are depicted with their characteristic hair styles and there was a major trade interaction with multiple goods being exchanged. It was a document in picture form of a sense of her ability to make things happen. Personally she comes across as a very powerful and strong woman who is to be respected.