Describe The Relationship Between Maat And Hatshepsut

In ancient Egypt, Maat was not only the name of a revered goddess but also an ethical tenet. It encompassed the concepts of truth, balance, order, law, morality and justice. Every Egyptian citizen was expected to follow this principle throughout his or her daily life. They were to act with honor and honesty in matters that involved family, the community, the nation, the environment and god. Maat, as a principle, was established to meet the complex needs of an Egyptian state that embraced diverse people with conflicting interests. It was designed to help maintain order and became a cornerstone of Egyptian law. Ancient people believed that if Maat was not upheld, chaos would descend upon them in the form of crop failure, famine, drought, disease, etc. Pharaohs were also expected to champion Maat and Hatshepsut was no exception.

Under her rule, Egypt prospered and the delicate cosmic balance was preserved.
Hatshepsut had many buildings constructed and renovated during her time as Pharaoh. Some of her more notable commissions being the temple Speos Artemidos, Temple of Hathor at Meir, Chapelle Rouge and giant obelisks at Karnak that were, at the time, the tallest in the world. To be able to afford such extravagant undertakings, Hatshepsut must have been running a success and wealthy country. It is easy to forget when viewing modern day Luxor, for example, how unusual it was at that time to build temples out of stone. It was a very progressive thing for a king to do. Most buildings prior to this time were of mud and brick. The extent and scale of her building works is very impressive and indicative of a successful ruler.
Another indication of a successful ruler is the ability to trade with foreign countries. Hatshepsut imported luxuries like ebony, incense, frankincense, myrrh, elephant tusks, panther skins and gold from all over. Trade in these commodities demonstrates power and influence. In her temple at Deir al Bahri, evidence of an expedition to Punt (modern day Somalia) can be seen in the form of wall paintings. The exotic land is drawn in wonderful detail- the difficulties and dangers hinted at by the military presence and boats. Riches are shown being loaded onto the boats and presented to the god Amun.
Hatshepsut did not have much to be concerned about in regards to the domestic peasantry. The flooding of the Nile was a constant concern of the ancient Egyptians. Too little and the fields would not yield a good harvest; too much and villages would be destroyed and fields rendered useless. The Nile was dependable and the peasantry had enough to eat. The jury is still out on whether it was because she upheld Maat or just got incredibly lucky. A true indicator of the success of a king is the state of his or her peasantry and Hatshepsut’s seemed content.
Hatshepsut was a very clever and intelligent woman.

She knew that in order to keep control of the crown, she had to have loyal followers and a strong relationship with her co-regent Thutmose III. To do this, many of her staff members were chosen from the lower middle classes instead of the upper class like they usually are in these situations. Making herself the cause of their wealth and happiness forged a strong allegiance between Hatshepsut and her subordinates. She often showered them with lavish gifts from faraway places like the previously mentioned Punt. When Thutmose III was seven or eight, Hatshepsut made the unusual move of crowning herself king. She shared that role with Thutmose III for the remainder of her life. Only two other women had previously served as pharaoh, and both for much briefer periods that Hatshepsut’s reign, which lasted some twenty-one years. Archaeological record has produced no evidence of strife between the co-regents and in fact, stone reliefs often portray them as twins, ruling in unison. She must have been incredibly diplomatic and an asset to the Crown to be kept on as co-king once Thutmose III came of

age.
Lastly, Hatshepsut was successful because her dynasty did not die with her. Earlier and later female kings had short reigns and signaled the end of a dynasty, but Hatshepsut. She ruled for over twenty years and the transition to Thutmose III was smooth and untroubled. Many of her best staff members continued to serve under him. Many historians attribute the continuation of the dynasty to the diligence Hatshepsut took in raising Thutmose III. He was always provided with the best educators and caretakers. As co-regents, she showed him the ropes and ultimately prepared him for sole kingship. His rule lasted for almost fifty-four years.
Beyond shadow of doubt, Hatshepsut was a magnificently successful leader of Egypt. Her dynasty continued, Maat was maintained, buildings were extensive and impressive, foreign trade was strong and her people were content and cared after.