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History Erased


History Erased
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerd VDC (GerdVDC) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 181 W: 1 N: 193] (749)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01
Categories: Ruins
Camera: Medion, 512Mb SD Card
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-06 10:07
Viewed: 680
Points: 3
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is, or at least "was", an image of Hatshepsut, the famous female ruler of Egypt in the 18th Dynasty, Hatshepsut.

Hatshepsut was married to Thutmoses II, who died soon after becoming King. Thutmoses II left a son, though, who had the right for the throne. The name of this boy was Thutmoses III. Because of his very young age, he ascended the throne in a co-regency with Hatshepsut. However, after a short period of time she crowned herself King, pushing Thutmoses III to the background.

Hatshepsut was the first woman to ascend the Egyptian throne. As part of her legacy, she left us with the enormous obelisk at Karnak, and her fabulous mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, on the other side of the hills that form the Valley of the Kings. Here we also find beautiful reliefs of an expedition she ordered to the land of Punt, which location is still a mystery today.

When Hatshepsut died, Thutmoses III would finally ascend the throne himself. In the following years, he would erase all images and names of Hatshepsut on numerous places: it has long been thought that this was an act of revenge, but more probable is that her reign was just seen as a break-up in the "male" line of kings, and thus going against the accepted tradition.

Hatshepsut always had herself portrayed as a male King, complete with the ceremonial beard. In the photo you see a purification ritual, where Toth and Horus pour Ankh-signs over Hatshepsut. The scene was left completely intact, except for Hatshepsut's image. You can still see the shape of the figure, though.

Hatshepsut's throne name was Ma'at-Ka-Re, meaning "Truth is the Soul of Re".
Her body has never been found.
stelli has marked this note useful
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To afshinazizi: higher viewGerdVDC 1 11-06 10:35
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello

Beautiful architecture shot.

I liked it more if you were on a higher place.Regards

Great shot, lucky to have been there! Thank you for sharing! Rgds Stella

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