Students were required to write a creative "autobiography" in which they assumed the role of an ancient Egyptian and discussed the role of art in ancient Egyptian society.

Egypt: A Gift from the Nile and the Women Who Ruled

Student 16

 

 

Here I stand in front of a Heaven sent creation, the Nile River.  This river makes my people and I who we are; our land is truly a gift made from its wonders.  My name is Hatshepsut and this is my land.  For over fifteen years now, I have reigned over this land and brought new glory to it.  However, my coming to power was not a simple endeavor; it took hard work and perseverance on my part.

  Egypt gives me my pride and I have unconditional devotion to this land and the Nile.  Our land gives my people and I everything we need.  The rich, black Nile mud is perfect for cultivating our staple food crops.  Our life revolves fully around this great river.  Our religion is even reflected in the patterns of the Nile when it replenishes our land and us.  This land has allowed my people to flourish for centuries and will continue to prosper for centuries to come. 

I, along with two brothers, was born to one of the greatest pharaohs to ever rule over Egypt, Tuthmoses I.  I was the gleam in my father’s eye and it was a dark and sad day on his passing.  Due to his passing, the throne was left empty.  However, I did not gain the throne yet because a women pharaoh was unheard of at the times.  Therefore, Tuthmoses II, a child by my father whose mother was a commoner, gained the throne.  Still, he was incapable of running our land so I ruled in the shadows as his wife.  Moreover, Tuthmoses was in terrible health with a hindering skin condition and eventually died prematurely.  His son, by another women, Tuthmoses III, was in technical succession for the throne, but he was only a mere child at his father’s demise.  Therefore, I stepped in as leader uncompromising to the set precedent of only male rulers.  

I knew that many people would not like, appreciate, or accept me as the new pharaoh.  However, I have a keen political sense and thought of several tactics that would win the affection of my people.  I had this on my side as well as an adoring father, even into his after-life.  His legacy remained allowing me to step in his footsteps.  Also, I am a very stunning woman in my character and physique.  Those that surround me are impressed with my vast knowledge of the lands and our Egyptian was.  However, I realized to achieve true and absolute leadership, I must take on the role of a king.  So, that is exactly what I did.  I dressed, acted, behaved and as a proper male pharaoh.  Furthermore, as many pharaohs, I made my divine lineage well known, claiming my father as Amon as well.  Doing these things allowed me to have complete control over my lands despite my being a woman.

Because of my success at being a true Egyptian leader, I adorned the lands with monuments dedicated to me.  There were many statues showing my face and proclaiming my authority.  One in particular truly recognizing myself as a legitimate queen of the lands was the Deir-el-Bahri.  I placed this in the Valley of the Kings.  The after-life is of utmost importance to authentic Egyptian.  One lives their whole life in preparation and guidance toward getting into Heaven.  Those that are of a high position, such as my nobles, will be given their body, organs and valuables to take on the after-life.  For the after-life, there is a process called the “opening of the mouth”.  This prepared him for life in the after-life by allowing the sense such as speaking and eating allowing him to survive.  We, the Egyptians, are very concerned with the idea of death and the after-life.  For this reason, elaborate tombs were created as homes for the dead.  They were built in the shape of the triangle, headed towards the heavens.  Furthermore, these great tombs were covered mixture and polished to such a shine that it looked like a light from the heavens.  The grand tombs were meant to commemorate our dead and wish them well in the after-life.  It is our final way of glorifying our great pharaohs sent from the heavens.

I truly had a great rule as first queen of the Egyptians.  Although my statues did not remain due to my predecessors, my legacy lives on.  My legacy lives on much as our great tombs allow all of our great pharaohs.  We are a great society made up of artists and notables.