They had only one daughter, Neferure.

After his death, she started acting as regent for her stepson, Thutmose III, but afterward took on the whole powers of a pharaoh, becoming Egypt’s co-ruler of around 1473 B.C.

when she became pharaoh, Hatshepsut increased the Egyptian trading and supervised ambitious building projects.

As the Temple of Deir el-Bahri, located in western Thebes, where she would be buried.

Depicted as she ordered as a male in a lot of contemporary sculptures and images Hatshepsut remained widely unknown to scholars until the 19th century.

Hatshepsut was one of the most famous and few Queens of Egypt.

Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power:

Hatshepsut was the elder of the sister of two daughters for Thutmose I and his queen, Ahmes.

Thutmose II died about 1479 B.C when he was young. And the throne became to his infant son, also born to another secondary wife.

According to traditions, Hatshepsut started acting as Thutmose III’s regent, handling affairs of state until her stepson reach the age to rule.

Did you know?

Hatshepsut was the third woman to become a governor in the 3,000 years of ancient Egypt history.

And also the first woman to attain the whole power of the position.

However, Cleopatra also exercised the same power, would rule about 14 centuries later.

After less than seven years, Hatshepsut took some of the new steps of taking the title and full powers of a pharaoh for herself

and becoming Egypt co-ruler with Thutmose III.

In the past Egyptologists believed that it was essentially because of the queen’s ambition that led her.

However, more recent Egyptologists have held that Hatshepsut’s coronation might have been because of a political crisis.

like a threat from other branches of the royal family, and that Hatshepsut may have been trying to save the throne for her stepson.

Hatshepsut as Pharaoh:

Knowing that her control power was very controversial, Hatshepsut fought to protect its legitimacy.

By pointing to her royal claiming and lineage that her father had appointed her his successor.

She sought for reinventing her image, and in paintings and statues of that time.

She ordered that she be portrayed as a male king, with large muscles and beard.

In other images, however, she appeared in traditional female regalia.

Hatshepsut surrounded herself with supporters in key positions in government, including Senenmut, her chief minister.

Some have suggested Senenmut might also have been Hatshepsut’s lover, but little evidence exists to support this claim.

As pharaoh, Hatshepsut undertook ambitious building projects, particularly in the area around Thebes.

Her greatest achievement was the enormous memorial temple at Deir el-Bahri, considered one of the architectural wonders of ancient Egypt.

Another great achievement of her reign was a trading expedition she authorized that brought back vast riches

including ivory, ebony, gold, leopard skins and incense to Egypt from a distant land known as Punt (possibly modern-day Eritrea).

Hatshepsut’s Death and Legacy:

Hatshepsut probably died around 1458 B.C., when she would have been in her middle 40s.

She was buried in the Valley of the Kings (also home to Tutankhhamum), located in the hills behind Deir el-Bahri.

In another effort to legitimize her reign, she had her father’s sarcophagus reburied in her tomb so they could lie together in death.

Thutmose III went on to rule for 30 more years, proving to be both an ambitious builder like his stepmother and a great warrior.

Late in his reign, Thutmose III had almost all of the evidence of Hatshepsut’s rule–including the images of her as king on the temples and monuments

she had built–eradicated, possibly to erase her example as a powerful female ruler, or to close the gap in the dynasty’s line of male succession.

As a consequence, scholars of ancient Egypt knew little of Hatshepsut’s existence until 1822.

When they were able to decode and read the hieroglyphics on the walls of Deir el-Bahri.

A life-size statue of a seated Hatshepsut that escaped her stepson’s destruction is on display at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City

Check out our tours in Luxor:

1-Over Day From El-Gona

2-Hot Air Balloon

This was the location of ancient Thebes; it’s considered the great city of the New Kingdom and Middle Kingdom pharaohs.

The ancient Egyptian Who decorated the Nile banks with their enormous building works, and began the vast tomb structures snugly hidden In the Center of the rocky valley of the West Bank.

The ambition and the hard work of the ancient Egyptian are very appreciated nowadays in the magnificent Karnak Temple complex,

However, there are so many amazing landmarks in Luxor that you will need at less a week for soaking up the grandeur and elegance.

Luxor is mainly an open-air museum, and it’s the best place in Egypt to stop for couple of days and just lose yourself in the beautiful wonders of the ancient world.

Plan your tour with our list of the top tourist attractions in and around Luxor.

So what should you see and do in Luxor?

Temples of Karnak:

 this could be the highlight of your visit to Luxor.

The huge size of the architecture of Karnak temple will definitely impress you and that alone is worth a visit.

The long rows of sphinxes will guide you to this temple entrance, a worthy introduction to a great sight.

TIP: you should go early (before 10am) or late (after 4pm) to avoid and the midday heat and the crowded of tour buses.

A lot of tourists believe that the real beauty of this masterpiece lies in its site –  it’s located in the middle of the city, sitting on the  Nile banks. Very special location.

Valley of the Kings including Tutankhamun’s tomb

This is indeed the most impressive cemetery in the world.

A valley full of 60 different decadent, Complex tombs for a host of kings from the Egyptian dynasties.

The ticket allows you to go to 3 tombs (Ramses 3, 4 and 9 tombs  are the most impressive).

In spite of the fact that all the hieroglyphics inside the tombs are behind Perspex glass but with some imagination you can imagine the hundreds of skilled people drafted in to design these things before centuries ago and your sense of wonder will be restored.

NOTE that Tutankhamun’s tomb is much understated, small and underwhelming but it’s very stunning and definitely deserve a visit.

Valley of the Queens:

Worth a peek, just don’t bank on being blown away.

Hot-air balloon ride:

A hot-air balloon ride is a special experience from all other activities of flight as there is no sensation of motion.

By Flying up to 1500 feet above the world’s biggest air museum, you will feel tranquility and peace.

The earth gradually rotates and descends below you.

Within minutes after soaring off you become at ease while you effortlessly drift over the spectacular, and treetops Luxor landscape.

It’s just like a dream to float gently over the countryside in complete harmony with your surroundings.

Colossi of Memnon:

A distinct rarity in Egypt! You’ll notice these 2 huge beautiful Colossi on your way to your hot-air balloon ride and what a greeting they give.

They are 20 meters tall, these 2 statues give you more than 2000 tonnes of a welcome, sitting regally all day watching the endless hot air balloon flights of tourists. Awesome backdrop.

Check out our trips in Luxor:

Farida : 3 Nights Cruises

Over Day From Hurghada

Medinet Habu is the Arabic name for the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III, a large complex, considered the second after Karnak temple in size and better preserved.

Medinet Habu temple is between the least visited of the major landmarks at Luxor, however, it deserves more attention than it gets.

This Temple is one considered of the biggest memorial temples in Egypt.

It measures 320 m in length (east to west) and about 200 m in width (north to south).

After Ramses III’s death, the ancient Egyptian built the Temple Of Medinet Habu to commemorate him, by orders of the current king himself.

Its design contains a huge mud-brick enclosure wall surrounds the temple.

This temple contains a huge gateway that looks like a Syrian fort and is decorated with reliefs show battle scenes depicting the king’s wars in Syria.

By the gate to the right side, there is a shrine belonging to the 18th Dynasty.

There is a vast-open court that leads to a large pylon, and has two towers decorated in battle and war scenes.

On one tower, you can see the king, wearing the shining red crown with his “Ka” or “double”, beating his enemies in front of Re-Horakhty.

On the other tower, there are scenes showing the king as he is represented with the red crown of Lower Egypt, beating his enemies in front of the god Amon Ra.

The oxen hunt is one of the most amazing reliefs engraved on the back of the southern tower.

It showcases  Ramses III, leading his chariot and hunting wild oxen.

In these reliefs, you will notice that the sculptor was talented in showing the pain of the wounded animals.

The first open courtyard measures 42m long by 33m wide.

Its walls have reliefs with the battle scenes explaining the war against the Libyans, and the Syrians.

However, The second courtyard measures 42m long and  38m wide.

It was converted into a basilica during the period of the early Christian era.

But there are still some scenes and reliefs representing religious ceremonies, especially the festival of the gods Sokker (or Sokar) and Min.

Other reliefs represent the king, with the priests, making offerings to different deities.

The 1st Hypostyle is badly damaged, probably due to an earthquake in 27 B.C.

It once contained 24 columns in 6 rows, surrounded by 16 chapels split evenly.

The 1st Hypostyle is severely damaged, maybe because of an earthquake happened in 27 B.C.

once upon the time, The Temple Of Medinet Habu contained 24 columns arranged in 6 rows, surrounded by 16 chapels split evenly.

The four most important shrines on the right side’s  were:

1- The first one, dedicated to King Ramses III,

2- The second chapel, which was dedicated to the god, Ptah.

3- The fourth chapel, which was dedicated for the boat of the god Sokker, and finally

4- Chapel number 7 which was dedicated to the sacred boat of the god Amon Ra.

Check our tours and enjoy your visit to Luxor:

1-TOUR TO DENDARA & ABYDOS TEMPLES FROM LUXOR

2- The east and west bank in Luxor