SocietyNorth Africa

Hatshepsut

1,480 BCE – 1,459 BCE

A woman reigns as pharaoh and sends a fleet to Punt

In depth

Her reign was unusually prosperous and little given to war; its chief feat was a trading expedition to Punt, probably near the Horn of Africa, depicted in detail on the temple walls at Deir el-Bahari — including myrrh trees carried home in baskets, roots and all. The attempt to erase her came only twenty years after her death, and was probably political rather than personal.

For children

Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for twenty peaceful years. She was portrayed with a false beard, because a pharaoh had to look like a pharaoh. After her death her successor tried to chisel her name from every monument.

Connects to

Egypt unified3,101 BCE
Akhenaten and one god1,354 BCE – 1,337 BCE
Ramesses II1,280 BCE – 1,214 BCE

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org