Latest news with #EighteenthDynasty
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Unravelling the mystery of Egypt's forgotten FEMALE Pharaoh: Scientists reconstruct the shattered visage of Queen Hatshepsut
Of all of ancient Egypt 's pharaohs, Hatshepsut is perhaps the most unfairly overlooked. An early pioneer of 'girl power', as a young woman she made the unusual move of crowning herself king and co-ruled Egypt for about 20 years. By the time of her death in 1458 BC, Hatshepsut had presided over her kingdom's most peaceful and prosperous period in generations. According to legend, evidence of her success was soon erased or reassigned to her male forbears – with her statues shattered and destroyed. But a new study now suggests that Hatshepsut was not quite as hated among her male successors as history has made out. An expert at the University of Toronto thinks statues of Hatshepsut – who was king and queen at the same time – were only destroyed so their materials could be reused. 'Hatshepsut was a prolific builder of monuments, and her reign saw great innovations in the artistic realm,' Jun Yi Wong, an Egyptologist at the University of Toronto, told MailOnline. 'My research indicates that a large proportion of the destruction to Hatshepsut's statues was actually caused by the reuse of these statues as raw material.' Hatshepsut ruled Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty, which is considered one of the most prosperous and powerful periods in ancient Egyptian history. Her remains were found in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in 1930, although they were not formally identified until 2007. Despite her successful reign lasting two decades, history has largely forgotten Queen Hatshepsut, who was a powerful woman in a man's world. Many monuments of her were destroyed, so images of her represented as a woman are extremely rare. But during the 1920s, excavations at the archaeological site of Deir el-Bahri in Luxor, Egypt found many fragmented statues of Hatshepsut. In the century since, this damage has traditionally been seen as a violent act carried out by her nephew and successor, Thutmose III. However, according to Dr Wong, many of the statues actually survived in relatively good condition, with their faces virtually intact. This challenges the idea that the destruction was motivated by Thutmose III's animosity towards Hatshepsut. To determine the true motivation behind the destruction of those that were found in fragments, Dr Wong examined unpublished field notes, drawings, photos and correspondences from the excavations in the 1920s. Who was Hatshepsut? Hatshepsut (c. 1505–1458 BC) was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. The daughter of Thutmose I, she became queen of Egypt when she married her half-brother, Thutmose II, when they were in their early teens. After Thutmose II's death, Hatshepsut initially acted as regent for his young son, Thutmose III, before eventually declaring herself pharaoh and co-ruling Egypt with him. By the time of her death in 1458 BC, Hatshepsut had presided over her kingdom's most peaceful and prosperous period in generations. His findings, published in Antiquity, indicate that many of the statues sustained damage that was done in a specific, methodical way – not caused by Thutmose III. Rather than being smashed haphazardly as if in anger, analysis suggested they were broken across their weak points – the neck, waist and knees. Many of the strategically broken-up statues were reused in later periods as building materials and tools. The historic practice, known as 'deactivation', was intended to neutralise any perceived worship or reverence towards a pharaoh that no longer reigns or exists. As he explains, damage to the statues took place largely as a result of their 'ritual deactivation' and subsequent reuse rather than malicious destruction. 'In other words, this treatment does not necessarily denote hostility towards the depicted individual,' said Dr Wong. As a result, we can assume Hatshepsut was treated in death more like her male predecessors than previously thought However, Dr Wong does acknowledge that there was the campaign of persecution against Hatshepsut – and it's possible at least some of this destruction was intended to damage Hatshepsut's legacy. 'Unlike the other rulers, Hatshepsut did suffer a programme of persecution, and its wider political implications cannot be overstated,' he said. 'Yet, there is room for a more nuanced understanding of Thutmose III's actions, which were perhaps driven by ritual necessity rather than outright antipathy.' American egyptologist and author Kara Cooney has called Hatshepsut 'the most formidable and successful woman to ever rule in the Western ancient world'. The only daughter of Thutmose I, one of ancient Egypt's most successful warrior kings, Hatshepsut attained unprecedented power for a woman. She was born into a society in which the crown was passed from father to son and royal children were expected to marry their siblings. In an unprecedented move, Hatshepsut assumed the title of king and exercised the full powers of the throne as senior co-ruler with Thutmose. She changed her name from the female version Hatshepsut – which means Foremost of the Noble Ladies – to the male version, Hatshepsu. To cement her position as the first female ruler, she donned the traditional clothes, head-dress and even the false beard traditionally worn by male pharaohs of Egypt. She made a name for herself due to being a female pharaoh, but also expanding trade, commissioning many building projects and largely keeping peace. She is thought to have reigned with little opposition for more than two decades before dying, said to be from bone cancer, in around 1458 BC. WHAT IS EGYPT'S VALLEY OF THE KINGS? The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions and is the famous burial ground of many deceased pharaohs. It is located near the ancient city of Luxor on the banks of the river Nile in eastern Egypt - 300 miles (500km) away from the pyramids of Giza, near Cairo. The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. Almost all of the tombs were opened and looted centuries ago, but the sites still give an idea of the opulence and power of the Pharaohs. The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922. Preserved to this day, in the tomb are original decorations of sacred imagery from, among others, the Book of Gates or the Book of Caverns. These are among the most important funeral texts found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs.
Egypt Independent
16-06-2025
- Egypt Independent
King Tutankhamun's mummy won't be transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum
The director of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, Ali Abdel-Halim, confirmed that the mummy of the young King Tutankhamun will not be transferred with the rest of his belongings to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and will remain in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, as it is an essential part of the original archaeological site. He added that 26 artifacts from the collection of King Tutankhamun's belongings remain at the museum, including the golden mask and the two coffins. These pieces will soon be transferred to their new location within the GEM, without specifying a precise date for the transfer of the remaining pieces. Over the past few days, the GEM received 163 pieces from the treasures of the golden king Tutankhamun, arriving from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. This is part of a plan to transport and display the young king's entire collection for the first time in one location. Tomb of Tutankhamun The tomb of King Tutankhamun (1336-1327 BC), of the Eighteenth Dynasty, is world-renowned as the only royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings whose contents were discovered relatively intact and complete. Discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, the tomb and its treasures are considered an icon of Egypt, and its discovery remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries to date. The small size of the tomb contained approximately 5,000 artifacts that were discovered and were stacked very tightly. These pieces reflect the lifestyle in the royal palace, and include items that Tutankhamun used in his daily life, such as clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, incense, furniture, chairs, toys, utensils made from a variety of materials, vehicles, weapons, and more.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
3 ancient tombs dating back thousands of years unearthed in Egypt
LUXOR, Egypt – Archaeologists have unearthed three ancient tombs in Egypt dating back over 3,500 years to the New Kingdom. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the significant discovery on Monday, hailing it as a "major scientific and archaeological achievement." See It: Egypt Uncovers Ancient Pharaoh's Tomb For First Time In Over 100 Years The ministry notes that two of the newly found tombs date to Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty (beginning 1550 B.C.), while the third dates to the Eighth Dynasty (beginning 2181 B.C.). The tombs belonged to "senior statesmen" of their respective eras. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy underscored the discovery as a testament to Egypt's profound archaeological heritage. "This discovery, made entirely by Egyptian hands, reflects the great capabilities of Egyptian archaeological cadres in achieving unique discoveries with international resonance," Fathy said. Bronze Sword Inscribed With Legendary Egyptian Pharaoh's Name Unearthed In 3,200-Year-old Military Outpost The archaeological mission plans to continue its work, cleaning and studying the remaining inscriptions to further identify the tomb owners and prepare the findings for scientific publication. Officials anticipate this find will significantly boost the country's cultural tourism and solidify its archaeological article source: 3 ancient tombs dating back thousands of years unearthed in Egypt
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Make Historic Find in Egypt Unlike Any Since King Tut
The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 remains one of Egyptology's most significant archaeological finds. Now, more than a century later, researchers have made only the second discovery of such magnitude in the region. On Feb. 18, Egyptian officials announced the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, making it the last of the lost tombs of the kings of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty that reigned between 1550 and 1292 B.C.E. and the first royal Egyptian tomb to be discovered since that of King Tut more than a century final resting place was found in the area of the ancient city of Thebes located west of Luxor and the iconic Valley of the Kings. The tomb's entrance and main passage were discovered in 2022, but up until now, researchers haven't been able to find evidence explicitly linking the tomb to King Thutmose II. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said archaeologists previously believed it could've belonged to one of the wives of the kings given its proximity to the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and the wives of King Thutmose III, per CBS News. The team confirmed the structure belonged to Thutmose II after finding parts of alabaster vessels in the ruins inscribed with King Thutmose II's name and description as the "deceased king" as well as the name of Queen Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was Thutmose II's wife and half-sister who ascended to the pharaoh's throne in tandem with Thutmose II and then her son Thutmose mummy of King Thutmose II, however, was found a long time ago. It was first discovered in the 19th century at the nearby Deir el-Bahari archaeological site, where the body was likely moved after the tomb was looted by raiders, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. His mummy, along with those of other ancient Egyptian royals, are now on display at the museum in Cairo.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Egypt discovers first royal tomb in over 100 years
Egyptian officials announced on Tuesday that an ancient tomb has been discovered, marking the first Egyptian royal tomb uncovered in over 100 years, the country's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a press release. Minister of Tourism and Antiques H.E. Sherif Fathi 'hailed the excavation efforts in the area, emphasizing the significance of this discovery in revealing further secrets and treasures of Egypt's ancient civilization,' the press release said. Officials said an Egyptian-British archaeological mission found the tomb in the Mount of Thebes area, on the west bank of the Nile river near the city of Luxor, and determined it belonged to King Thutmose II. The tomb was the last of the lost royal tombs from ancient Egypt's famed Eighteenth Dynasty, dating back to approximately the 15th century B.C. This is the first royal Egyptian tomb to be found since King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922, the tourism ministry said in a statement. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Court of Antiquities, said in a statement that the discovery was 'one of the most significant archeological breakthroughs in recent years.' The team discovered the entrance and main passage to the tomb back in October 2022, the tourism ministry said. Originally, the tomb was thought to belong to one of the royal wives of the so-called Thutmosid kings, a succession of pharaohs named Thutmose who ruled Egypt some three-and-a-half millennia ago. Archeological evidence ultimately proved that the tomb was the resting place for Thutmose II, who died around 1479 B.C., said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. MORE: More than a dozen missing after tourist boat sinks off Egyptian coast, officials say Thutmose II had a relatively short reign, with researchers estimating he ruled for fewer than five years. He married his half-sister, Hatsheput, who was rumored to have been the real power behind her husband. Studies suggest Thutmose II died around the age of 30, after which Hatsheput had herself crowned pharaoh several years into the rule of her husband's heir, Thutmose III. Piers Litherland, the head of the British side of the excavation mission, said in a statement that the tomb's simple architectural design served as a 'prototype' for the later tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egyptian rulers. The tomb was found in 'poor condition' due to flooding shortly after the king's death, according to Mohamed Abdel-Badii, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Abdel-Badii said water had inundated the tomb, 'damaging its interior and necessitating extensive restoration work by the archaeological team to recover fallen plaster fragments.' 'Preliminary studies suggest that the tomb's original contents were relocated to another site during ancient times after the flooding,' Abdel-Badii said in a statement. Accompanying the tomb were fragments of 'alabaster jars' inscribed with the name of the king and his chief royal consort, funerary furniture belonging to the king, remnants of plaster, yellow star motifs, and portions of the Book of Amduat, a 'key religious text associated with royal tombs of ancient Egypt,' the tourism ministry said. Thutmose II's mummy was discovered in 1881 in Al-Deir El-Bahari Cache. It is believed to have been moved there by grave robbers seeking treasure. Literland said the team will 'continue its work to uncover more secrets of the area and locate the final resting place of the tomb's original contents.' -ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy contributed to this report. Egypt discovers first royal tomb in over 100 years originally appeared on
