Latest news with #Hatshepsut
CairoScene
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Hanan Motawie to Star as Hatshepsut in New National Theater Play
Actress Hanan Motawie has been cast as Queen Hatshepsut in a new play titled 'Hatshepsut: Throne and Love', coming soon to the National Theater under the direction of Ayman Mostafa. Jul 14, 2025 Actress Hanan Motawie is set to portray Queen Hatshepsut in a new historical stage production at the National Theater in Cairo. Titled 'Hatshepsut: Throne and Love', the play is written by screenwriter Anwar Abdel Moghith and directed by Ayman Mostafa. The production recounts the life and reign of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's most notable female rulers, who assumed the throne after serving as regent to her stepson, Thutmose III, following the death of her husband, Thutmose II. Hatshepsut ruled for 22 years, overseeing a period marked by economic prosperity, administrative reform, and relative peace. The play explores her dynamic with Senenmut, her royal architect, who played a central role in the planning of her mortuary temple and in the execution of her political vision. Artistic and archaeological references have long fuelled speculation about the nature of their relationship, with inscriptions and reliefs interpreted by some as signs of a deeper personal connection. Motawie's involvement brings renewed attention to the project, as she prepares for the release of her upcoming film 'Happy Birthday' directed by Sara Gouhar. The film stars Nelly Karim, Sherif Salama, and others, with a screenplay co-written by Mohamed Diab, Sara Gouhar, Khaled Diab and Sherine Diab.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Study probes motive behind destruction of Queen Hatshepsut statues
After the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut died around 1458 BC, many statues of her were destroyed. Archaeologists believed that they were targeted in an act of revenge by Thutmose III, her successor. Yet the condition of the statues recovered in the vicinity of her mortuary temple varies and many survive with their faces virtually intact. Now a new study by archaeologist Jun Yi Wong re-examines the original excavations and offers an alternative explanation. Much of the damage may in fact be from the 'ritual deactivation' of the statues and their reuse as raw material. We asked him to explain. Why was Queen Hatshepsut? Hatshepsut ruled as the pharaoh of Egypt around 3,500 years ago. Her reign was an exceptionally successful one – she was a prolific builder of monuments, and her reign saw great innovations in art and architecture. As a result, some regard her as one of the greatest rulers – male or female – in ancient Egypt. She has also been described as the 'first great woman in history'. Hatshepsut was the wife and half sister of pharaoh Thutmose II. Following the premature death of her husband, she acted as regent for her stepson, the young Thutmose III. However, about seven years later, Hatshepsut ascended the throne and declared herself ruler of Egypt. Why were her statues destroyed? After her death, Hatshepsut's names and representations such as statues were systematically erased from her monuments. This event, often called the 'proscription' of Hatshepsut, is currently part of my wider research. There's little doubt that this destruction began during the time of Thutmose III, since some of Hatshepsut's erased representations were found concealed by his new constructions. The statues that formed the subject of my recently published study were discovered in the 1920s. By this time, Thutmose III's proscription of Hatshepsut was already well known, so it was immediately (and rightly) assumed it was caused during his reign. Some of the broken statues were even found underneath a causeway built by Thutmose III, so there is little doubt that their destruction took place during his reign. Because the statues were found in fragments, early archaeologists assumed that they must have been broken up violently, perhaps due to Thutmose III's animosity towards Hatshepsut. For instance, Herbert Winlock, the archaeologist who led the excavations of 1922 to 1928, remarked that Thutmose III must have 'decreed the destruction of every portrait of (Hatshepsut) in existence' and that every conceivable indignity had been heaped on the likeness of the fallen Queen. The problem with such an interpretation is that some of Hatshepsut's statues have survived in relatively good condition, with their faces virtually intact. Why was there such a great variation in the treatment of the statues? That was essentially the main question of my research. How did you find the answer? It was clear that the damage to Hatshepsut's statues was not caused solely by Thutmose III. Many of them were left exposed and not buried, and many were reused as building material. Indeed, not far from where the statues were discovered, the archaeologists found a stone house that was partially built using fragments of her statues. Of course, the question is to what extent these reuse activities added to the damage of the statues. Fortunately, the archaeologists who excavated the statues left behind field notes that are quite detailed. Based on this archival material, it is possible to reconstruct the locations in which many of these statues were found. The results were quite intriguing: statues that are scattered over large areas, or have significant missing parts, tend to have sustained significant damage to their faces. In contrast, statues found in a relatively complete condition typically have their faces fully intact. In other words, statues that were subjected to heavy reuse activities are far more likely to have sustained facial damage. Therefore, it is likely that Thutmose III was not responsible for the facial damage sustained by the statues. Instead, the destruction that he was responsible for was far more specific, namely the breaking of these statues across their neck, waist and knees. This form of treatment is not unique to Hatshepsut's statues. What does this mean? The practice of breaking royal statues across their neck, waist and knees is common in ancient Egypt. It's often referred to as the 'deactivation' of statues. For the ancient Egyptians, statues were more than just images. For example, newly made statues underwent a rite known as the opening of the mouth, where they were ritually brought to life. Since statues were regarded as living and powerful objects, their inherent power had to be neutralised before they could be discarded. Indeed, one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Egyptian archaeology is the Karnak Cachette, where hundreds of royal statues were found buried in a single deposit. The vast majority of the statues have been 'deactivated', even though most of them depict pharaohs who were never subjected to any hostilities after their death. This suggests that the destruction of Hatshepsut's statues was motivated mainly by ritualistic and pragmatic reasons, rather than revenge or animosity. This, of course, changes the way that her relationship with Thutmose III is understood. Jun Yi Wong is a PhD candidate in Egyptology, University of Toronto. This article is republished from The Conversation.
The Star
28-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Gender not main factor in attacks on Egyptian woman pharaoh: study
Visitors stand behind the bust of the ancient Egyptian queen Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BC) at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's central Tahrir Square on June 11. Photo: AFP She was one of ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, a rare female pharaoh who preceded Cleopatra by 1,500 years, but Queen Hatshepsut's legacy was systematically erased by her stepson successor after her death. The question of why her impressive reign was so methodically scrubbed has attracted significant debate, but in new research published Monday, University of Toronto scholar Jun Wong argues far too much emphasis has been placed on her gender. "It's quite a romantic question: why was this pharaoh attacked after her death?" Wong told AFP, explaining his interest in a monarch who steered ancient Egypt through a period of extraordinary prosperity. Earlier scholars believed Queen Hatshepsut's stepson Thutmose III unleashed a posthumous campaign of defilement against her out of revenge and hatred, including because he wanted to purge any notion that a woman could successfully rule. "The way in which (Hatshepsut's) reign has been understood has always been colored by her gender," Wong said, referencing beliefs that Thutmose III may have viewed her as "a kind of an evil stepmother." His research, which builds on other recent scholarship and is being published in the journal Antiquity , argues Thutmose III's motivations were far more nuanced, casting further doubt on the theory of backlash against a woman in charge. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt roughly 3,500 years ago, taking over following the death of her husband Thutmose II. She first served as regent to her stepson, the king-in-waiting, but successfully consolidated power in her own right, establishing herself as a female pharaoh. Experts say she expanded trade routes and commissioned extraordinary structures, including an unparallelled mortuary in the Valley of the Kings on the Nile's west bank. Wong reassessed a range of material from damaged statues uncovered during excavations from 1922 to 1928. He said there is no doubt Thutmose III worked to eliminate evidence of Hatshepsut's achievements, but his efforts were "perhaps driven by ritual necessity rather than outright antipathy," said Wong. Thutmose III may have been trying to neutralise the power of his predecessor in a practical and common way, not out of malice. He also found that some of the statues depicting Hatshepsut were likely damaged because later generations wanted to reuse them as building materials. "For a long time, it has been assumed that Hatshepsut's statuary sustained a vindictive attack," said Wong, arguing that a fresh look at the archives suggests "this is not the case." - AFP
Kuwait Times
26-06-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Gender not main factor in attacks on Egyptian woman pharaoh: Study
The mummified remains of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's most famous female pharaoh, lie in a glass case under the national flag moments before being unveiled at the Cairo Museum 27 June 2007. She was one of ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, a rare female pharaoh who preceded Cleopatra by 1,500 years, but Queen Hatshepsut's legacy was systematically erased by her stepson successor after her death. The question of why her impressive reign was so methodically scrubbed has attracted significant debate, but in new research published Monday, University of Toronto scholar Jun Wong argues far too much emphasis has been placed on her gender. 'It's quite a romantic question: why was this pharaoh attacked after her death?' Wong told AFP, explaining his interest in a monarch who steered ancient Egypt through a period of extraordinary prosperity. Earlier scholars believed Queen Hatshepsut's stepson Thutmose III unleashed a posthumous campaign of defilement against her out of revenge and hatred, including because he wanted to purge any notion that a woman could successfully rule. 'The way in which (Hatshepsut's) reign has been understood has always been colored by her gender,' Wong said, referencing beliefs that Thutmose III may have viewed her as 'a kind of an evil stepmother.' Visitors stand behind the bust of the ancient Egyptian queen Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BC) at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's central Tahrir Square on June 11, 2025. --AFP photos His research, which builds on other recent scholarship and is being published in the journal Antiquity, argues Thutmose III's motivations were far more nuanced, casting further doubt on the theory of backlash against a woman in charge. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt roughly 3,500 years ago, taking over following the death of her husband Thutmose II. She first served as regent to her stepson, the king-in-waiting, but successfully consolidated power in her own right, establishing herself as a female pharaoh. Experts say she expanded trade routes and commissioned extraordinary structures, including an unparallelled mortuary in the Valley of the Kings on the Nile's west bank. Wong reassessed a range of material from damaged statues uncovered during excavations from 1922 to 1928. He said there is no doubt Thutmose III worked to eliminate evidence of Hatshepsut's achievements, but his efforts were 'perhaps driven by ritual necessity rather than outright antipathy,' Wong said. Thutmose III may have been trying to neutralize the power of his predecessor in a practical and common way, not out of malice. He also found that some of the statues depicting Hatshepsut were likely damaged because later generations wanted to reuse them as building materials. 'For a long time, it has been assumed that Hatshepsut's statuary sustained a vindictive attack,' Wong said, arguing that a fresh look at the archives suggests 'this is not the case.' - AFP The mummified remains of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's most famous female pharaoh, lie in a glass case after being unveiled at the Cairo Museum 27 June 2007.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why ancient Egyptians broke Queen Hatshepsut's statues — it's not just patriarchy
Source: iStock For years, the story seemed straightforward: Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and fascinating rulers, was posthumously erased by her successor, Thutmose III. The narrative had all the drama — a woman who ruled as a king, a threatened male heir, and a vengeful campaign to wipe her from history. But now, a new study throws a surprising twist into that tale. According to research published in the journal Antiquity, many of Hatshepsut's statues were not destroyed out of hatred or misogyny. Instead, they were ritually deactivated — a normal ancient Egyptian practice. Not erased, but 'deactivated' The research, led by Jun Yi Wong, a doctoral candidate in Egyptology at the University of Toronto, dives into records from the 1920s and '30s, when archaeologists uncovered shattered statues of Hatshepsut buried in pits at her temple at Deir el-Bahri. While it was long assumed this destruction was a symbolic erasure ordered by Thutmose III, Wong found something different. Speaking to Live Science, Wong explained that the statues weren't smashed at the face or stripped of inscriptions — the usual markers of desecration. Instead, they were systematically broken at the neck, waist, and feet, which seems like a process Egyptologists now call 'ritual deactivation.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AC Installation & Repair from Certified Pros Search7 Learn More Undo Source: iStock Ancient Egyptians believed that statues, especially of pharaohs, weren't just stone — they were spiritually potent. Once a pharaoh died, statues could be ritually 'turned off' to prevent lingering powers from interfering with the world of the living. This isn't to say Hatshepsut escaped all forms of persecution. Her images and names were indeed destroyed from various monuments, most likely ordered by Thutmose III. However, there is a difference between the careful deactivation of her statues at Deir el-Bahri and the violent defacement elsewhere hints at a more complex motivation. Source: Canva According to Wong, the evidence suggests Thutmose III may not have acted out of personal resentment. Instead, political pressure from elites who disapproved of a woman taking the throne or fears about her legacy overshadowing his may have motivated his decisions. The new understanding that ancient Egyptians 'turned off' their dead rulers' statues explains how Egyptian culture had complex layers. Sites like the Karnak Cachette — where hundreds of statues from different dynasties were buried in a similar fashion — show that Hatshepsut wasn't uniquely targeted in this way.
