Most pharaohs were men. But a few women ruled Egypt as king, and the most famous of them is Hatshepsut (say it "hat-SHEP-soot").
Key idea
Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as king for about 15 years in the New Kingdom (c. 1473–1458 BC). She built a great temple at Deir el-Bahari and sent ships to the faraway land of Punt.
Why it works
When King Thutmose II died, his son Thutmose III was a small child. Hatshepsut, the king's widow, ruled for the boy at first. After a few years she took the title of king herself, and the two ruled side by side. Statues often show her in a king's kilt and headcloth, even with the king's false beard, because that was how a king was supposed to look.
Worked example: A trip to Punt
Hatshepsut's ships came back from Punt with incense trees. How do we know about the trip?
- Hatshepsut had the voyage carved on the walls of her temple.
- The carvings show the ships, the people of Punt and the trees being loaded.
Answer: From the carvings on her temple at Deir el-Bahari.
Common mistake
Thinking only men could be pharaoh. A few women ruled; Hatshepsut is the most famous. Where exactly Punt was is still debated: probably somewhere along the Red Sea coast of Africa.