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Historical Background
The
New Kingdom in Egypt (1570–1070 BCE)
began with the powerful pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty. After a long
intermediate period of chaos and dissension, these rulers led a
united country, leaving temples, fortresses, and tombs filled with
artworks
of great beauty. Queen Hatshepsut was the sixth ruler of this dynasty.
She began as the regent for the young king, Thutmoses
III, but soon she had usurped his succession and identified
herself as simply
Queen,
and then, later, as “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” Her
mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari was constructed under the supervision
of her steward, Senenmut. The completed temple was unique in Egyptian
architecture with its three broad, limestone-colonnaded terraces
that led to a sanctuary on the upper terrace cut into the
rock of the hill. Despite his humble
origins, Senenmut rose to become Hatshepsut's closest advisor and
tutor to her (or perhaps their) daughter, Neferure. There is some
speculation
that Hatshepsut died at the hand of Thutmoses
III, who then ruled after her death.
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