While few Egyptians could read the hieroglyphics, I feel as though because the pharaoh, Hatshepsut was so egocentric the iconography in the artifacts portrayed her exactly as what she would have wanted her kingdom to see her as. I believe she wanted to be seen as a great pharaoh, and nothing short of such due to her sex or because she was acting regent of her step-son, Thutmose III. Assuming that Hatshepsut was only meant to be regent while her step-son was too young to assume the role of pharaoh, I believe it is a fair argument to assume Thutmose III was insulted by his step-mother by being shown as her lesser rather than her equal. For example, in the Stele of Hatshepsut and Thutmose, Hatshepsut is shown front and center in closest connection to the god Amun. Additionally in the stele, Hatshepsut stands in front of …show more content…
One aspect being that a woman of royal blood may assume the highest honored role despite her sex found specifically in the steles. However I think it’s important to note that if a male had been ready to assume the role of pharaoh she would have been shadowed to his rightful claim. The second aspect of gender roles I see is in the statues of Hatshepsut where she is made to resemble her male ancestors. I interpret the artifacts as showing women generally inferior to man, but with exception to the norms capable of the same superiority.
Based off of Hatshepsut’s exception to the common rule of gender roles for her time era and her assertion of superiority over Thutmose I feel like her image was defaced because she was not rightful in her rule. Because she was not rightful in her rule I feel like this was a politically motivated act to ensure her life ended where it did with no successors laying claim to the throne. I don’t believe after her unrightfully rule Thutmose would have wanted to risk her daughter, Neferure having legitimate claim over his son