In 1479 B.C.E. Thutmose II passed the power of Pharaoh to co-ruler Hatshepsut-his sister/wife-because his son, Thutmose III, was too young. During her reign, she proved she was worthy by becoming one of the “most ambitious builders in Egyptian history” (Cole and Symes 34). However, after ruling for 21 years her legacy was tested. Scholars found defaced statues and portraits of Hatshepsut. Some believed Thutmose III was slighted by Hatshepsut and he defaced her image. Although, through more research they believed Thutmose III’s son, Amenhotep II, had more motivation. Hatshepsut’s image may have been defaced because of lack of knowledge in hieroglyphs, gender roles, and the hope for power.
Since few Egyptians could read hieroglyphs, including the images of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, it is easy to see why people believe Thutmose was slighted by Hatshepsut. In images B & C (Cole and Symes 37). Thutmose is standing behind Hatshepsut, meaning Hatshepsut always had the upper hand. In addition, these images show Thutmose wearing the crown of Upper Egypt while she is wearing the Royal helmet, and in the other she gets to wear the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, while he only
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Scholars believed Thutmose III or his son Amenhotep II defaced her image (Cole and Symes 34). At first Thutmose III may have not disliked Hatshepsut; however, as he grew older, he may have felt Hatshepsut should have stepped down and turned over her thrown to him -the rightful Pharaoh- once he was older and trained. Furthermore, the Egyptians may have viewed him as weak because his stepmother ruled for so long and he did nothing to obtain his rightful position until her death. However, Thutmose III’s son, Amenhotep II, was the more obvious culprit in defacing her image. By defacing her image, he may have hoped it would change the way people viewed Hatshepsut as Pharaoh and element Neferure’s (Hatshepsut’s daughter) chances at becoming the next