In summary, the significance of Hatshepsut created many controversial interpretations of her 21-year reign and her personality. Through the source analysis of many viewpoints of historians, demonstrated many possible connation’s. The interpretation of Hatshepsut by her own self-image created an image of perfection and succession but it is open for discussion whether it is merely self-promotion or propaganda. These interpretations continued through the negative aspects and views of modern historians that viewed Hatshepsut as a “power-hungry” and evil force that stole the throne. But this is also debatable as these views come from male perspectives and can possibly be biased and misogynistic. Also, the interpretation of Hatshepsut leaving a legacy
of success and leading Egypt into a new era of prosperity, doesn’t show any negative connation’s to her at all. Therefore, these views are on opposite sides of the spectrum and depending on the historians depends on the opinions. So, it is most believable that Hatshepsut did wrongfully possess the throne but it was also in her right to do so. This could have upset the balance of ma ‘at which lead Hatshepsut to appear in men’s garments and a goatee to appease this sense of balance. But it is also important to add that Hatshepsut did revolutionise Egypt and without her rising to pharaoh, Thutmose the 3rd would not have risen to a revered war pharaoh. So, overall interpretations of Hatshepsut varied through many historians and historical sources, that eventual create the image of Hatshepsut as a strong, revered leader ahead of her time.
Hatshepsut, declared herself king during the reign of her stepson and nephew, Thutmose III. She adopted the full titulary of a pharaoh, and since this was traditionally a man’s role, she wore the nemes-headcloth, the shendyt-kilt and a fake beard as part of the ceremonial attire of the Egyptian king. This is portrayed in her life-size statue “White Hatshepsut” at the MET.
Hatshepsut’s reign especially leaves much to the scholar’s speculation and interpretation since little evidence is left. The reader must acknowledge how an author’s views may be construed by sexism and other concepts prevalent in their time. What these five authors imply about Hatshepsut’s personality and attitude concerning her political ascent, her usage of propaganda, and her achievements during that time all differ from each other, some more drastically than others. This certainly shows that when one reads of history, their research should span as far as possible in order to most accurately inform themselves of what truly happened; it is from there that they can formulate the best
Prepubescence is an essential period in a child’s development. A person’s environment can alter their personality and affect them in ways that will remain throughout their lives. With Ivan and Charles, it is evident that the conditions they aged in factored into their frame of mind. Ivan, specifically, experienced multiple challenging incidents in his childhood. For example, when Ivan was three years old his father, Vasilly III, fell ill and passed away on February 4, 1533. His father recognized the futility of having an infant king rule a country, so he left a small council of nobles to rule. Similar to Ivan, Charles also had the inconvenience of inheriting the throne too early. Charles was only twelve years old when he was appointed king in September 1380, but he was not allowed to rule at first. In the early years of his reign his father arranged for his four uncles to rule until he was of age. To be entrusted with so much power at such a young age can be very stressful and the lose of a father figure proved to be traumatic in their later years. After Charles’ coronation, documents ceased to mention him until he finally took the throne around age 20. Ivan, on the other hand, devoted his life to education in his early years allowing him to document his experiences. Five years after his father passed away, Ivan’s mother was poisoned and killed. This left him, and his brother Iuri, in the care of the
Stacy Schiff author of Cleopatra strives through her book to denounce all historical myths surrounding Cleopatra. With the rigor of a true historian she is able to distinguish historical veracity from historical myth surrounding the queen from antiquity. The author highlights Cleopatra’s role as a powerful woman and in particular how she attempts to manage the various political or economic predicaments she faced. Stacy Schiff gives us a story that is masterfully reconstructed, allowing the reader insight into the historical context of the time- shedding new light on a woman whose greatest fault was not being a man.
Hatshepsut’s posture of sitting down on the throne gives off great reverence. Her pose gives the idea of royalty and respect as she is sitting rather calmly but also straight up. Hatshepsut’s hands are laid flat on the top of her knees. Her position is very static and still. There is no urgency in her posture, seemingly peaceful and serene. However,...
An essential characteristic for being a great leader, consistent within many, is confidence. A person may have ideas, but for them to be carried out takes confidence in themselves to bring those ideas to reality. Hatshepsut portrayed herself as a very confident woman by taking the initiative to do things that only Pharaoh’s would commonly do, such as performing certain religious rituals, making offerings directly to the gods, and commissioning various building projects. These actions made it evident that she saw herself as important and powerful, and others soon believed this as well; she was considered as God’s wife of Amen and became a priestess in temple rituals. Hatshepsut also depicted herself as a male—she dressed in a kilt, crown, and wore an artificial beard. This clearly shows that she had great ambition to be King, as she took on the daring task of creating a false persona just so that she could reach her goal. Despite the typical male dominating society, Hatshepsut displayed confidence in herself that she could become ...
While visiting the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, I came across The Indian Triumph of Dionysus. Originating in Rome, it was created by a wealthy follower of Dionysus’s mystery cult in the late second century A.D. This worshiper evidently wanted to construct a sarcophagus in tribute of Dionysus’s accomplishments. Furthermore, Dionysus is surrounded by characters that are within the mystery cult because the creator wants the viewers to know with whom he is associated. With these two things combined, the patron hoped to shed light on a piece of history that they believed to be prominent during his life.
This paper will offer a commentary on Herodotus’ Histories 2.129-135. Book Two of Histories concerns itself with Egypt; specifically chapters 99-182 detail rulers of Egypt both legendary and actual. Book Two is distinct from the other books in Histories as it is in this book that we predominantly experience Herodotus as an investigator. More precisely it is in Book Two that Herodotus treats first person experience not as direct evidence but as a method of assessing the accounts of others. Chapters 129-135 provide us with the tale of King Mycerinus as recounted by whom Herodotus refers to in 2.127 as simply ‘ÆGYPTIOI’. These Egyptians are referred to at various points in Book Two and at times appear to refer to what might be termed ‘Egyptians in general’ . However, we can make a reasonable assumption in this instance, given what has been stated before at 2.99 and what is stated later at 2.142, that the Egyptians that provide Herodotus with the tale of King Mycerinus are probably priests. It should not be assumed that priests are any more reliable than the lay Egyptian in Histories however; the Egyptian priesthood did not necessarily concern itself with historical accuracy. Indeed the inclusion of priests may simply be a Herodotean literary device designed to reinforce his reader’s credulity.
Among the thirty-two biographies summarized here are the four royal women who ruled, or tried to rule in her own right: these queens regnant are Empress Matilda, Lady Jane Gray, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. They each received the same level of attention in the author’s previous work, Lives of England’s Monarchs (2005), as was given to their male counterparts. The major events in the lives of these reigning queens are readily available from the previous companion work, and in many other sources; thus, the lives of reigning queens are only briefly reviewed in the present study.
Theodora Jankowski’s article argues that despite the Duchess’ failure to create a “successful means by which she can rule as a woman sovereign”, she defies “Jacobean society’s views” (Jankowski 222) concerning the depiction of the female body and sexuality. The contradictions in the notion of a female ruler are explored in the ways the Duchess is presented using her “body natural and body politic” (222). Jankowski points out that instead of using her body’s potential for power, the Duchess attempts to divorce her natural body from her political body, and in turn separates her public and private lives. By keeping her second marriage and children private, she creates a triple position as wife, mother, and ruler, and therefore becomes a threatening figure, especially to her brother Ferdinand who sees her private life as unacceptable and over sexual. Jankowski explores the Duchess’ journey from ruler, to wife and mother, to eventually a suffering martyr. She concludes that even though the Duchess refuses to unite her body natural and her body politic, the nature of her marriage is revolutionary and challenges social custom and foregrounds her character in its subversive ideology with great power (244).
Bibliography 1. Scott, Robert, H., “Catherine the Great” Microsoft(R) Encarta, Microsoft Corp., 1995. 2. Http://www.guide.spb.ru/culture-n-history/history/cathii/index.html. 3. Http://www.cityvision2000.com/history/catherine.htm. 4. Http://taft.k14.ojgae.edu/~garrison.naomi.html. 5. Http://www.sptimes.com/Treasure/TC.2.3.13.html. 6. Http:/www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Rulers/romanov.html.
Senenmut worked for Hatshepsut as a steward when he was younger and gradually climbed up in position as did Hatshepsut. He was a devoted comrade and she recognized that, giving him his own tomb at her mortuary temple in Thebes. Hatshepsut praised Senemut in a statue for him saying, “[Given as fav]or of the king’s-presence…wearer of the royal seal, sole companion, steward of Amon, Senmut, triumphant” (Slaughter and Bokovoy 26). Even though he was Hatshepsut’s inferior, that tomb gave Senenmut a sense of equality, he was just a servant but had received royal recognition. His devotion to his King was also a sign of loyalty.
Catherine the Great of Russia Catherine the Great, who ruled as Empress of Russia from 1762-1796, is one of those highest monarchy. With hard experience, intelligence, and adjure practicality, changed the face of a country against overwhelming odds. Her background as a German princess, as well as her argumentation in philosophy literature, led her to believe that Russia was averse (p) country; she dedicated her monarchy to rescue Russia into the modern, European Age. Catherine herself knew how fragile her perspective re totally was, and at the moment she left the sheltered initiation of a civilized court and stepped into Russia as it was: ignorant, disorganized, and often with diseases She unconquerable to concentrate on
...g the political aspect of Middle Kingdom literature assists comprehension, perceiving Middle Kingdom literature as a whole in terms of its political function is problematic in that it neglects the literary aspect of the texts and imposes values that may not have existed in the context of their composition. The manner of literary consumption in ancient Egypt is very different from that of modern society in that the former placed social restrictions upon education, which greatly limits the scope of the intended and actual audience. The low literacy rate dissolves the perceived gap between the elite and the members of society interested in belles lettres. Thus, while it could be argued that certain works encompass political elements, Middle Kingdom literary compositions could be better appreciated as dialogues of the elite and declarations of the supremacy of literacy.
The legend of Cleopatra has percolated in the world consciousness for the past 2000 years. By the time Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Antony and Cleopatra the alluring reputation of the queen had existed primarily as a biased representation of a foreign female who insinuated herself into the Roman power structure. Shakespeare’s role in perpetuating the allure of the last of the Ptolemaic rulers was the result of synthesizing the existing biases and distilling the dichotomy between the woman and the queen. Consequently, Shakespeare portrayed her not only as an alluring woman who was thought of as a wanton corrupter of Roman ideals, but as a queen who tried to do what was best for her country, and a woman who tried to do what was best for herself. Shakespeare brought all of these aspects together and molded a character that Joseph Summers describes as the “transcendent image of beauty and nobility” (135), and firmly entrenched Cleopatra into the collective consciousness.