The Pharaoh History Tried to Erase

In the 1920s, under the scorching desert sun, archaeologists were digging near some ancient temples outside Luxor, Egypt. Suddenly, their shovels struck a heap of statues. As they cleared away the dirt, they were shocked by what they saw. The artwork had been destroyed. Heads were lopped off, eyes were scraped out, and royal headpieces were hacked from foreheads.

The figures were of Hatshepsut (hat-SHEP-soot), one of the few female pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut ruled over the mighty civilization for more than two decades about 3,500 years ago (see map, below). At that time, most Egyptian leaders were men.

In the 1920s, archaeologists were digging under the hot desert sun. They were near some ancient temples outside Luxor, Egypt. Suddenly, their shovels struck a heap of statues. They cleared away the dirt. And they were shocked by what they saw. The artwork had been destroyed. Heads were lopped off. Eyes were scraped out. Royal headpieces were hacked from foreheads.

The figures were of Hatshepsut (hat-SHEP-soot). She was one of the few female pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut ruled over the mighty civilization about 3,500 years ago (see map, below). She ruled for more than two decades. At that time, most Egyptian leaders were men.

The archaeologists soon found that the destruction wasn’t limited to Hatshepsut’s statues. In a nearby temple, the pharaoh’s image had been chiseled out of artwork on the walls and sculptures of her had been smashed.

To the experts, the destruction seemed deeply personal. They concluded that Hatshepsut must have been a ruler so villainous that someone wanted to erase her from history. And so that became Hatshepsut’s story, passed down for decades.

But modern historians paint a different picture. They tell of a thoughtful ruler who established trade with distant lands and built beautiful monuments.

Is it time to rewrite Hatshepsut’s story?

The archaeologists soon found that the destruction was not limited to Hatshepsut’s statues. In a nearby temple, the pharaoh’s image had been chiseled out of artwork on the walls. Sculptures of her had been smashed.

To the experts, the destruction seemed deeply personal. They concluded that Hatshepsut must have been a ruler so villainous that someone wanted to erase her from history. And so that became Hatshepsut’s story. It was passed down for decades.

But modern historians paint a different picture. They tell of a thoughtful ruler who established trade with distant lands and built beautiful monuments.

Is it time to rewrite Hatshepsut’s story?

Hatshepsut was born around 1504 B.C. Her father, Thutmose I, was pharaoh, ruling over the wealthy civilization along the Nile River Valley.

As his eldest daughter with his first wife, Hatshepsut held a position of honor. She received a strong education and knew some of the most powerful people in Egypt. On occasion, young Hatshepsut even represented her father in the capital, Thebes.

Still, the title of pharaoh usually passed down from father to son. Hatshepsut’s father died around 1493 B.C., when she was about 11. Thutmose II, his son by another wife, was named pharaoh. Following tradition, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II were married.

Unlike Hatshepsut, Thutmose II was new to leadership. Some experts say that Hatshepsut taught him how to be pharaoh. But he was in poor health and died in 1479 B.C.

Thutmose II and Hatshepsut had no sons, so Thutmose III, his son by another wife, became pharaoh. But the boy was only about 2 years old. With her experience, Hatshepsut was the obvious choice to become her stepson’s regent. That meant she would lead in the child’s place until he was ready to take over.

Hatshepsut was born around 1504 B.C. Her father was Thutmose I. He was pharaoh. He ruled over the wealthy civilization along the Nile River Valley.

Hatshepsut was his eldest daughter with his first wife. So she held a position of honor. She received a strong education. She knew some of the most powerful people in Egypt. On occasion, young Hatshepsut even represented her father in the capital, Thebes.

Still, the title of pharaoh usually passed down from father to son. Hatshepsut’s father died around 1493 B.C. She was about 11. Thutmose II was his son by another wife. He was named pharaoh. Following tradition, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II were married.

Unlike Hatshepsut, Thutmose II was new to leadership. Some experts say that Hatshepsut taught him how to be pharaoh. But he was in poor health. He died in 1479 B.C.

Thutmose II and Hatshepsut had no sons. So Thutmose III, his son by another wife, became pharaoh. But the boy was only about 2 years old. Hatshepsut was experienced. She was the obvious choice to become her stepson’s regent. That meant she would lead in the child’s place until he was ready to take over.

For a few years, Hatshepsut ruled as regent. Then, in 1473 B.C., she named herself co-pharaoh. She convinced Egyptians, who were deeply religious, that one of their most powerful gods had chosen her for the job.

Was Hatshepsut trying to steal the throne from Thutmose III? Or preserve it for him?

The archaeologists who found her smashed statues assumed that Thutmose III had grown to resent sharing his title as he got older. They described him as a bitter young king who took revenge by destroying Hatshepsut’s statues immediately after she died.

But some historians argue that Hatshepsut may actually have been protecting Thutmose III. They say his age made him a target of Egyptian nobles who might have wanted to overthrow him. With Hatshepsut as co-ruler, the boy was stronger.

Supporting this theory, research shows that Hatshepsut likely treated Thutmose III well. He received the best education and military training. And as he got older, he was given important positions in the army.

“Thutmose III was always recognized as a co-king,” says Joyce Tyldesley, an Egyptologist who wrote a book about Hatshepsut.

For a few years, Hatshepsut ruled as regent. Then she named herself co-pharaoh. It was 1473 B.C. Egyptians were deeply religious. She convinced them that one of their most powerful gods had chosen her for the job.

Was Hatshepsut trying to steal the throne from Thutmose III? Or preserve it for him?

The archaeologists who found her smashed statues assumed that Thutmose III had started to resent sharing his title as he got older. They described him as a bitter young king. They said he took revenge by destroying Hatshepsut’s statues right after she died.

But some historians argue that Hatshepsut may actually have been protecting Thutmose III. They say his age made him a target of Egyptian nobles who might have wanted to overthrow him. With Hatshepsut as co-ruler, the boy was stronger.

Research supports this theory. It shows that Hatshepsut likely treated Thutmose III well. He received the best education and military training. And as he got older, he was given important positions in the army.

“Thutmose III was always recognized as a co-king,” says Joyce Tyldesley. She is an Egyptologist. She wrote a book about Hatshepsut.

Still, Hatshepsut led successfully for many years on her own. As pharaoh, she organized one of her empire’s most significant trade expeditions. Egyptian ships set off down the Red Sea to exchange goods with Punt, a kingdom to the south. They returned with treasures such as gold, ivory, and myrrh trees, which were used for religious ceremonies.

Hatshepsut also undertook extensive building projects. She ordered the construction of roadways to improve transportation for Egyptians traveling by foot or by donkey. She also oversaw efforts to build two 100-foot-tall obelisks, high towers used to honor gods, people, and events.

Her greatest achievement, though, may be a temple she had built along the Nile. Part of a larger complex called Deir el-Bahri, the temple is nearly 900 feet long—about the length of two-and-a-half football fields. It housed hundreds of statues and sculptures that portrayed her kingly accomplishments.

Despite Hatshepsut’s successes, ancient Egyptians were used to male rulers. So she directed craftspeople to give her a manly look in her artwork, such as by adding larger muscles and a beard. “She felt it important to be shown the same way as all other kings,” Tyldesley explains.

Still, Hatshepsut led successfully for many years on her own. As pharaoh, she organized one of her empire’s most significant trade expeditions. Egyptian ships set off down the Red Sea to exchange goods with Punt. That was a kingdom to the south. They returned with treasures such as gold, ivory, and myrrh trees. Those were used for religious ceremonies.

Hatshepsut also undertook extensive building projects. She ordered the construction of roadways to improve transportation for Egyptians traveling by foot or by donkey. She also oversaw efforts to build two 100-foot-tall obelisks. Those were high towers used to honor gods, people, and events.

But her greatest achievement may be a temple she had built along the Nile. It is part of a larger complex called Deir el-Bahri. The temple is nearly 900 feet long. That is about the length of two-and-a-half football fields. It housed hundreds of statues and sculptures that portrayed her kingly accomplishments.

Despite Hatshepsut’s successes, ancient Egyptians were used to male rulers. So she directed craftspeople to give her a manly look in her artwork. For example, they added larger muscles and a beard. “She felt it important to be shown the same way as all other kings,” Tyldesley explains.

Hatshepsut died in 1458 B.C., around the age of 46. By then, Thutmose III was in his early 20s.

Was his first act to destroy Hatshepsut’s statues? Evidence points to no. In the 1960s, experts determined that much of the damage took place about 25 years after Hatshepsut’s death. Some historians say this disproved the theory that Thutmose III immediately sought revenge against his stepmother.

However, he may still have been to blame. Many experts suspect Thutmose III ordered the destruction decades later. They say he may have been trying to remove Hatshepsut from history, perhaps to discourage other women from seeking power. Many of her achievements started to be credited to male pharaohs around that same time.

The person to blame also could have been someone close to the pharaoh, such as his son Amenhotep II, suggests Aidan Dodson, an Egyptologist who has written a book about Hatshepsut. “What we know is that somebody made the decision, say 20 years after Hatshepsut’s death, that her kingship was a mistake,” he says.

Yet another study, first reported in 2025, suggests that later generations of Egyptians destroyed the statues. The research concluded that at least part of the damage to Hatshepsut’s statues occurred long after Thutmose III’s death. The findings showed that some sections of the statues were reused to build other structures in the complex.

Hatshepsut died in 1458 B.C. She was around the age of 46. By then, Thutmose III was in his early 20s.

Was his first act to destroy Hatshepsut’s statues? Evidence points to no. In the 1960s, experts determined that much of the damage took place about 25 years after Hatshepsut’s death. Some historians say this disproved the theory that Thutmose III immediately sought revenge against his stepmother.

However, he may still have been to blame. Many experts suspect Thutmose III ordered the destruction decades later. They say he may have been trying to remove Hatshepsut from history. Perhaps he wanted to discourage other women from seeking power. Many of her achievements started to be credited to male pharaohs around that same time.

The person to blame also could have been someone close to the pharaoh, like his son Amenhotep II, suggests Aidan Dodson. He is an Egyptologist. He has written a book about Hatshepsut. “What we know is that somebody made the decision, say 20 years after Hatshepsut’s death, that her kingship was a mistake,” he says.

Another study was first reported in 2025. It suggests that later generations of Egyptians destroyed the statues. The research concluded that at least part of the damage to Hatshepsut’s statues occurred long after Thutmose III’s death. The findings showed that some sections of the statues were reused to build other structures in the complex.

Regardless of who damaged the artwork portraying Hatshepsut, the efforts did not succeed in erasing her from history. She ruled longer than any other woman in ancient Egypt. And many historians say she left the civilization better than she found it. Egyptologists continue to study the pharaoh, hoping to uncover new chapters of her life.

Even Hatshepsut herself seemed to wonder how her story would be told. Before her death, she oversaw the construction of a second pair of obelisks near Luxor. One contains the following inscription:

“Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”

We might not know who damaged the artwork portraying Hatshepsut. But those efforts did not succeed in erasing her from history. She ruled longer than any other woman in ancient Egypt. And many historians say she left the civilization better than she found it. Egyptologists continue to study the pharaoh. They hope to uncover new chapters of her life.

Even Hatshepsut herself seemed to wonder how her story would be told. Before her death, she oversaw the construction of a second pair of obelisks near Luxor. One contains this inscription:

“Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”