TORONTO – A new study suggests that Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most successful rulers, was not targeted after her death simply because she was a woman. University of Toronto scholar Jun Wong argues that previous theories overstated the role of gender in explaining why her legacy was erased. Instead, he believes her successor, Thutmose III, may have acted out of ritual tradition, not personal revenge or gender bias.
Hatshepsut ruled Egypt around 3,500 years ago and brought economic prosperity through trade and grand architecture. She first served as regent to her stepson, Thutmose III, but later assumed full power as pharaoh. Her reign left behind magnificent structures, including a mortuary complex in the Valley of the Kings.
However, after her death, many statues and records of her achievements were defaced or removed. While earlier scholars believed this was an act of hostility from Thutmose III, Wong’s analysis of excavation materials from 1922–1928 suggests otherwise.
According to the study published in Antiquity, Thutmose III’s actions might have been more about religious or political necessity than anger. Wong even found evidence that some statues were broken for practical reasons, such as repurposing materials for construction.
This new perspective invites a rethinking of Hatshepsut’s erasure, showing it may not have been a gender-driven attack but part of a broader cultural practice. Wong’s findings encourage a more nuanced understanding of Egypt’s complex royal history.