Visiting Hatchepsut's Pad in Egypt

Having a wonderful break in Egypt in Luxor. Wonderfully warm and loving the history and culture.

Today we visited Valley of the Kings and Queens. I took so many pictures that it is hard to choose a picture. You are not allowed to take any pictures in the tombs so although highlights included Tutankamun's tomb which is pretty much intact with fantastic wall inscriptions, the most inspirational temple was the first and one of the most successful Woman Pharoah's Hatchepsut (pronounced Hat - cheap - suit). This picture of Hatchepsut is of the very lady and her face engraved on a 16 sided column.

OK - the history ....

Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies; 1508-1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She is generally regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty.

Today Egyptologists generally agree that Hatshepsut assumed the position of pharaoh and the length of her reign usually is given as twenty-two, she became pharaoh circa 1479 BC.