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Assess the achievements of Hatshepsut.

The achievements of Hatshepsut, ‘the female Horus’, are considered significant in both ancient and
modern interpretations, as evidenced by her 21 year reign of economic prosperity and peace
despite her unconventional accession to the throne. Her successful building programs, contribution
to the prestige of the Amun cult and priesthood as well as her foreign policy and trade have
established her as a noteworthy New Kingdom leader despite attempts to erase her from history. As
well as maintaining the traditional role of the pharaoh, Hatshepsut introduced innovations in
architecture, religious ideologies and festivals, allowing her to become what Bradley describes as
“one of the most powerful pharaohs of the New Kingdom.”

Hatshepsut was able to take advantage of Egypt’s relatively peaceful and wealthy situation by
pursuing an active building program that both legitimised her reign by helping give and restore ma’at
and ensuring she would leave an indelible mark on the world. As identified by Kemp, building was a
politico-religious activity, as “Ideology needs architecture for its fullest expression.” Each pharaoh
was determined to outdo the last in expression of this ideology, and this can be clearly seen upon
examination of Hatshepsut’s program, which glorified Amun and other gods and acted as a physical
reminder of her military, economic and religious achievements. The large-scale employment of
tradesman and craftsmen it warranted guaranteed a flourishing economy, while the buildings
themselves “served as a constant reminder that there was a powerful pharaoh on the throne.”
(Tyldesley)

As was standard policy for each pharaoh, Hatshepsut constructed a number of new monuments,
physical mementos to her successes so “They who shall see my monument in after years…shall
speak of what I have done” (Obelisk at Karnak). This included her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri,
which was to act as a temple to her divine spirit after death and strongly enforced her alleged divine
birth and approval, legitimising her rule. The temple, designed by Senenmut, was an architectural
innovation, as stated by Szafranski: “an important stage in the development of New Kingdom
temples.” It was carved from the living rock, ramps ascending upwards instead of using the
traditional ceilings that decreased in height as one moved through the temple, colonnades serving
as a reminder of her achievements at Punt, building program and divine birth and coronation.
Although it focused particularly on Amun, Hatshepsut also emphasised a connection to Hathor,
Anubis and Osiris, ensuring support of the general populace and thereby consolidating her rule.

Because of the destruction of much of Egypt’s architecture as a result of the Hyksos rule,
Hatshepsut also made it one of her primary objectives to “[restore] that which was in ruins”, (Speos
Artemidos inscription). This was a common policy undertaken by New Kingdom pharaohs, as it
ensured support from gods and their followers across Egypt, as well as physically restoring ma’at in
the midst of isfet caused by Hyksos occupation. Hatshepsut adopted a polytheistic religious policy to
gain support from all of Egypt, evidenced by her restoration of the Speos Artemidos temple, as well
as the temples of Pakhet and Hathor. She claimed to have achieved the reestablishment of regular
worship at these cult centres, claiming on the Speos Artemidos inscription that “all the altars are
opened and every [god] is in possession of the dwelling he has loved.” In addition, like every
pharaoh, she added to Amun-Re’s Temple at Karnak, constructing four obelisks for her ‘divine
father’ Amun, a fragmentary block stating “Never was done the like since the beginning.”
Statements from Amun in her Red Chapel such as “You established laws, you repress disorder”
forged a strong connection to him as well as ensured that her accomplishments would be
remembered.

Upon examination of the primary sources and modern interpretations, it can be seen that
Hatshepsut’s religious and architectural innovation in her building programs safeguarded support
and admiration from the gods, the public and future kings, and is thus a significant achievement of
her reign.
Hatshepsut’s rule was largely characterised by an emphasis upon religious policy, notably the
strengthening of her relationship to Amun and various other gods, by which she ensured the
continuing success of her reign. She stated on one of her obelisks that “I have done this for my
father Amun”, a statement constantly repeated in accounts of her military success, her Punt
expedition and various building programs. In addition, she strengthened the importance of religion in
Egyptian everyday life by introducing processions and cult festivals at Thebes to reinforce the
dominance of the Karnak temple and its priesthood. Both the Opet and Valley festivals involved
certain gods, particularly Amun, being taken on an annual processional journey, this innovation
providing a holiday period that won support from the people. Consequently, her construction of the
8th Pylon at Karnak and six barque stations for the Opet festival ensured that “her temple would be
visited and blessed by the god each year” (Callender), serving as a reminder that these
achievements were attributed to her and further consolidating her reign. These festivals, as well as
the important funerary texts such as the Amudat and Litany of Re which took definitive form during
her rule, became standard aspects of New Kingdom religion and thus contributed to the
maintenance of her legacy.

Although Wilson stated that Hatshepsut’s pride “was in the internal development of Egypt”, it is clear
from examining primary sources that at least four military successes and a strong foreign policy
were attributed to her. Because Hatshepsut’s reign was relatively peaceful following stability created
by Thutmose I’s military campaigns, she had to ensure Egypt’s superiority over the “vile” and
“miserable” foreigners by turning to foreign policy. Her Year 9 expedition to Punt is regarded as her
most significant achievement in this area, as it opened up a regular trade route between Egypt and
inner Africa, allowing a constant supply of exotic goods such as ebony, myrrh and incense that were
“the marvel of every country” according to inscriptions. This expedition was recorded on the middle
terrace of Dier el-Bahri, the section referred to as ‘the Life Sphere’ by Roberts, as it shows how she
provided for her people and maintained the Egyptian economy. Furthermore, it reinforced Egypt’s
supremacy over foreigners, as although it was likely a mutual exchange of goods, Punt’s items were
described as tribute, “gifts of the southern countries to Amun-Re”, implying Hatshepsut’s power and
supremacy in a time in which a lack of militarism would not suffice to maintain a warrior pharaoh
image. The inscription on the colonnade states “She has no enemies…they come to her with a heart
full of fear”, reiterating the success of her foreign policy in ensuring obedience from neighbouring
regions so that there would be few challenges to her power.

By assessing both ancient and modern interpretations and primary remnants from Hatshepsut’s
reign, it can be seen that her achievements in an expanse of areas led her to have a large impact
and influence on her time, as well as in future generations. Through innovations in religion, building
and successes foreign policy, she was able to effectively maintain and extend the role of a pharaoh
in a successful co-regency as a ‘woman in a man’s world’. Despite various potential barriers to a
successful reign, she won the support of her people through achievements now credited by modern
historians as critical to the development and prosperity of New Kingdom Egypt.