The Deification of Hatshepsut How She Became a God in Ancient Egypt

The Deification of Hatshepsut How She Became a God in Ancient Egypt - Hatshepsut was a female pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt for over two decades during the 18th dynasty. She is widely considered to be one of the most successful pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt. Despite the fact that she was a woman in a male-dominated society, Hatshepsut managed to secure her place on the throne and maintain her power for a long time. 

One of the reasons for her success was her ability to manipulate the religious beliefs of the Egyptian people. Hatshepsut was able to convince the people of Egypt that she was a god, and as a result, she was worshiped as a deity for centuries after her death.

Hatshepsut was born to King Thutmose I and his queen, Ahmose. Her father died when she was still a young girl, and her half-brother Thutmose II became the new pharaoh. Thutmose II was married to Hatshepsut, but he died without leaving an heir. As a result, Hatshepsut became the regent for her stepson, Thutmose III, who was too young to rule. However, Hatshepsut soon took the throne for herself and declared herself pharaoh.

One of the ways that Hatshepsut was able to solidify her power was by using religion to her advantage. She portrayed herself as a goddess in all of her official inscriptions and artworks. Hatshepsut claimed that the god Amun had chosen her to rule Egypt, and that she was divinely appointed to the throne. She went so far as to have inscriptions made that showed her as a goddess with the body of a woman and the head of a lioness. This was a clear reference to the goddess Sekhmet, who was believed to have the power to protect the pharaoh and bring order to the world.

Hatshepsut also commissioned several religious buildings and monuments, including the temple of Deir el-Bahri in Thebes. This temple was dedicated to Amun and was built to show her devotion to the god. Hatshepsut also had inscriptions made in the temple that told the story of how she became pharaoh and how she was chosen by Amun to rule Egypt. This helped to solidify her divine status in the eyes of the people.

Hatshepsut's deification also allowed her to gain support from the priests of Amun. The priests were powerful figures in ancient Egypt, and their support was crucial for any pharaoh to be successful. By portraying herself as a goddess, Hatshepsut was able to secure the support of the priests, who saw her as a divine figure who was chosen by their god to rule Egypt. This helped to ensure that she remained in power for over 20 years.

Hatshepsut's deification was not without its challenges, however. There were those who opposed her rule, including some of the other pharaohs who came after her. Thutmose III, who was still a young man when Hatshepsut took the throne, is believed to have been one of her greatest opponents. After her death, Thutmose III tried to erase Hatshepsut's legacy by destroying many of the inscriptions and monuments that she had commissioned. He also had her name removed from many of the official records of ancient Egypt.

Despite Thutmose III's attempts to erase Hatshepsut's legacy, she remained a popular figure in the eyes of the people. Hatshepsut was worshiped as a goddess for centuries after her death, and her temple at Deir el-Bahri continued to be a place of pilgrimage for many Egyptians. People came from all over the country to offer prayers and offerings to the goddess Hatshepsut, who was believed to have the power to bring prosperity and good health to those who worshiped her. The temple at Deir el-Bahri was also used for important religious ceremonies, including the festival of Opet, which was held every year to celebrate the unity of the pharaoh and the god Amun.

In conclusion, Hatshepsut's deification was a crucial factor in her success as pharaoh of ancient Egypt. By portraying herself as a goddess and using religion to secure the support of the priests and the people, Hatshepsut was able to remain in power for over two decades. Although her legacy was threatened by her opponents, her status as a goddess continued to be revered for centuries after her death. Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahri remains one of the most impressive religious monuments in ancient Egypt, a testament to the power and influence that she wielded as a divine ruler.