The New Kingdom

      Egyptian civilization reached its apex during the New Kingdom. It was during these five centuries that Egypt experienced its Golden Age, building an empire and producing fine works of art. The New Kingdom was also a period dominated by several larger-than-life characters.

Hatshepsut

From the reign of Menes to the arrival of Alexander the Great over 2700 years later, only four women ever ruled Egypt. Three of these women ruled only for a brief period while a dynastic crisis was being solved. The reign of Hatshepsut, who ruled in her own right for a significant period of time, is unique in the history of ancient Egypt. Given the very masculine nature of Egyptian kings, the small number of women rulers is not surprising. The king was believed to be the son of the god Re, and was associated with male symbols such as the bull. The queen was seen as the daughter of Re and was associated with the vulture-goddess. Consequently, the offices of the king and queen were complementary yet fundamentally different. They were not interchangeable, so the reign of any woman in Pharaonic Egypt was a significant departure from tradition. 

      Historians have called Hatshepsut the first powerful female leader. When her husband Tuthmosis II died, Hatsheput became regent for her young stepson. Tuthmosis III. Rather than govern in his name until he was old enough to assume the throne, Hatshpsut declared herself the female king of Egypt. Statues and paintings often show Hatshepsut wearing a beard to symbolize her power. The reign of Egypt's most famous woman has been described as a period of peace, stability, and prosperity. During her reign, Hatshepsut expanded trade, sending a trading mission to the country of Punt on the Red Sea (likely today's Somalia) from which Egypt received ebony, ivory, and incense. Hatshepsut also embarked on an ambitious building program that included her own massive tomb at Deir al-Bahari, and two huge obelisks at the Great Temple of Karnack, near Luxor. After ruling for nearly fifteen years, Hatshepsut was succeeded by the stepson whom she had earlier deposed. It is unclear whether Tuthnosis III waited until stepmother's death to reclaim the throne, or deposed her. What is clear is that some time near the end of his reign, Tuthmosis III ordered the removal of all references to and images of Hatshepsut from many monument,s and the smashing of statues that depicted her as king. Interestingly, her earlier images as queen in female dress and adornments went untouched. Was this an act of revenge, or was it simply an attempt to erase the uncomfortable fact of a woman assuming the role of a male king?

Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary Temple.

This enormous temple complex was built during her reign ca. 1470 BCE.

Tuthmosis III

As a young boy, Tuthmosis III inherited the throne of Egypt from his father, but the real power lay in the hands of his stepmother, Hatshepsut. By the time he assumed control of the throne, Tuthmosis III was his mid to late twenties. It would appear that he made wise use of his early years, training in the military -- he has even been referred to as the "Napoleon of Egypt," because of his many military campaigns. Much of the wealth of the New Kingdom came from tribute paid by the people subjugated during Tuthmosis III's conquests. Evidence of the tremendous wealth generated by Tuthmosis's successful conquests can be seen in the burst of building activity, both public and private, that  occurred during this period.

Continuity in Egyptian Religious Traditions

      In attempting to understand Egyptian culture and society, no factor is more significant than religion. The Egyptians were a deeply religious people for whom the sacred and the secular were inseparable. Religion was an integral part of all aspects of Egyptian life. 

      A society whose existence is closely linked to nature often shows a special reverence for it. The religion of early Egypt had its roots in the worship of nature deities, and the first gods to arise were frequently represented in animal form. In time, ideas, resulting in an interesting mix of human bodies and animal attributes. 

Myths and Legends in Ancient Egypt

      Like the Mesopotamians before them, the Egyptians considered those responsible for creation the most important gods. This is the case with most creation stories. According to Egyptian mythology, the earth was created when a primeval hill, the first solid matter, emerged from the waters of chaos. This was a natural assumption for ancient Egyptians, as they often aw islands of mud appearing in the Nile, or existing areas becoming islands during the annual inundation (floods). Atum, the creator-god, simply emerged standing on the first hill that rose from the water. He was "the perfect one: and self-begotten. He then ejected from his being Shu, the air, and Tefenet, the moisture. Next, he separated the sky from the earth and Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky, came into being. Geb and Nut then joined and had children: the gods Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephtys. This group of deities formed the first unit in the divine hierarchy of gods. 

      National gods began to emerge during the Middle Kingdom. The most significant of these was Amon, the local god of Thebes and favoured god of the Theban kings. The other deities common to the Egyptians were the gods of the dead, including Osiris, Anubis, Horus, and Thoth.

Writing: ECHOES from the past, published by McGraw-Hill Ryderson Ltd.