Hatshepsut Legitimation Summary

845 Words2 Pages

Kelly Hanning
History and Criticism of Art
Sarah Andyshak
April 14, 2015
On “Hatshepsut’s Use of Tuthmosis III in Her Program of Legitimation”
Vanessa Davies’ “Hatshepsut’s Use of Tuthmosis III in Her Program of Legitimation,” discusses the relationship between Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III as co-regents. She explains how the study of subtle stylistic trends in the art of an era can give light to the political situation of that time. According to Davies, observance of these trends show that Hatshepsut respected Tuthmosis III as a co-regent, and showed this through the artworks she had commissioned. These include the Small Temple of Mediate Habu, the Chapelle Rouge at Karnak, Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahiri, the Temple of Buhen, …show more content…

Both rulers are depicted in a wide variety of headdresses that have many different meanings. Tuthmosis is most commonly depicted in the nemes headdress, while Hatshepsut is most often depicted in the red crown (this is Tuthmosis III’s second most common crown. The double crown, which is a symbol of dominion over the entire land, is worn by Hatshepsut four times, while Tuthmosis III only wears it once. The reason for this is not quite clear, but in one depiction, it is possible that it is a mistake of the carver’s since Tuthmosis III is depicted in a nearby scene in the red crown, and so is Hatshepsut. Also, the depiction of one ruler in a double crown when carving co-regents is not something that was done in Egypt. The very nature of the crown seems to defeat the purpose of having two rulers in the first place. Davies finds that the rulers are most accurately depicted when one was wearing the red crown of the north, and the other, the red crown of the south; this way they unite two kingdoms with two …show more content…

Tuthmosis III is described as “beloved” or “beloved of a [certain deity]” over 50 times, and was referred to as “the good god “56 times, as well as “King of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt” 46 times, and “Lord of the Two Lands” 29 times. Positioning can also be considered as a meter of equality between co-regents. Tuthmosis III is depicted behind Hatshepsut 62% of the time, and in the other 38% the rulers face together. While it is possible that this ordering was to make Hatshepsut appear more important, it is likely that this was meant to say they were standing side by

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