Hatshepsut Research Paper

We all have read about great Egyptian rulers such as Ramses II and King Tutankhamun, but many don’t know that there was a woman ruler in ancient Egypt from 1479 – 1457 B.C. and her name was Hatshepsut. A woman that was destined for greatness and rose to the occasion by becoming a pharaoh. I chose the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut because I have always been intrigued with Egyptian History, especially the women who came to rule. When I was in the fifth grade I took a class trip to Brigham Young University to see the Ramses Exhibit and ever since then I have been hooked on the culture and history from ancient Egyptian times. I find women rulers extremely captivating, because just like to today, it is not common place to see a woman rise to great

Hatshepsut was an elite who took ruling to new heights. The Mortuary Temple is a reflection of how grandiose her persona was at the time. Just like her ruling, the temple stood as a monument with a larger than life appeal to it and even today people flock to see the sanctuary so they can engulf themselves in the rich and vibrant history of Egypt. The 97 foot tall structure is a colossal burial tomb located in the Egyptian desert at Deir el – Bahri. The edifice is set against a massive desert cliff backdrop, while the cut stone made from masonry adds to its sheer stunning exterior and the second level being cut out of the cliff, which gives the structure its grandiose appearance and extending it inside the backdrop. (http://greatbuildings.com/buildings/-hatshepsuts_temple.html). The temple has three levels with two wide and long ramps in the center of the structure. There is a one hundred and twenty foot causeway that leads to the entrance. Although now barren, the causeway once held sphinx’s and trees lined the path to two impressive obelisk’s and a pylon, which no longer are in existence. During Hatshepsut’s reign, the pharaoh commissioned a garden on the lowest level courtyard with exotic trees and shrubs planted to pay homage to her father Amun. “Behind the courtyard there was a colonnade with