Hatshepsut ~by Amelia

   The dew on the fully blossomed flowers was shimmering in the light. Hatshepsut strolled along the dirt path, feeling the same way she felt every day. Today was just normal. Like always, the sun god hadn't forgotten to raise the sun. The gardeners worked joyfully trimming here and there. As she passed, however, they bowed deeply with great respect. Hatshepsut was puzzled. Why did they bow? I am a girl; people only bow to pharaohs. 

 

   Hatshepsut opened her closed eyes; it was a still very dark. Just a dream, she realized.  She had been in her room the whole time. But, the dream seemed so real, she could not discount it.  She knew the dream was from the God of Pharaohs, Amen. This was his way of showing her something...but what? Hatshepsut laid her head on her pillow. She was still immensely tired so had no problem falling back to sleep. 

 

    Hatshepsut opened her eyes and sat up in her bed. The morning air was filled with the sounds of laughing children. She thought about her dream; what could it mean? I can not be thinking about my dreams! There are other more important things to be worried about, Hatshepsut thought. Today was not the day to be thinking about these type of things, for on this day Tuthmose II, her half brother and husband, would have a meeting with the generals of his army. What usually happened was they discussed which place they were going to raid. She was nervous. When they had these meetings, the next thing she knew Tuthmose would leave, attacking a country in hopes of expanding his empire. Hatshepsut wanted to know where they were going. She wanted to be included in the decisions.

      After the decisions had been made, Hatshepsut moped down the stairs to her friend Mutoket who was in the flower-filled garden. "Tuthmose is going off again," Hatshepsut said despondently.

    Mutoket muttered."Hatshepsut are you worried again?  I thought he wasn't important to you."

    "He isn't, but I am worried I won't be allowed to rule Egypt if he is killed," Hatshepsut admitted.  She thought of what would happen if she had the chance. 

    "Hatshepsut, don't waste your time on this thought. They're not going let you rule Egypt; you're a female," Mutoket reminded her.

    "You're right Mutoket; I shouldn't  even consider this thought."

     Out of nowhere Tuthmose came striding in, his horse and chariot following closely.  "I'm leaving now. I'll be back in eleven moons. My son is in charge until I get back, understand?"

    Hatshepsut nodded.  His son was by 7 months old.  How would he rule?  Who would listen?  Suddenly, Hatshepsut had an idea.  She did not knowing if she was joyful, angry, or sad. The dream was from Amun. Maybe it as an unfulfilled prophecy.   This is my chance, Hatshepsu thought.

    Then, Tuthmose turned around and galloped into the sandy desert.

 

 

    After the 20th moon, Tutmose had still not returned. Hatshepsut began to suspect what she would soon learn to be true.  She sat upon her silk sheeted bed. There was nothing to do, so there was plenty of time to question her dream. Why her?  Why was Amun giving her the dream? What could... 

    "Hatshepsut?" the woman's voice paused, "Tuthmose.... is dead."

    Hatshepsut sat stunned, still taking in the information. She jumped from her bed. She is lying. Tuthmose is not dead, Hatshepsut thought. Hatshepsut ran to the door. Prove it, she was about to say. But standing there was Mutoket, her best friend Mutoket, who never, ever lied to her.

    "Where is he?" Hatshepsut asked.

    "In the garden," Mutoket answered."You won't cry will you?"

    "No." Hatshepsut hurried down to the garden.  The torches lit the fountains turning the water into glistening drops of light. Crickets chirped. How could this night be so peaceful when things have changed so much? Hatshepsut wondered. She heard footsteps. Who could it be. Mutoket stepped onto the large path.

    "I'm sorry. I didn't startle you, did I?" she asked.

    "It's fine," Hatshepsut answered.  Where is he? Hatshepsut needed to know.  She needed to see his body before she'd believe the news. Then she heard voices from the patio.

    "How is Tuthmose III going to rule, he is but a child?" a man asked.

    "Maybe Hatsheput can rule Egypt in his place until he is old enough," the woman's voice wondered aloud.
    "A typical response from a woman, only a male can be pharaoh," the man said.
    "Well, who else could fill the slot?" asked the woman. 

    Hatshepsut walked quickly along the path towards the voices. 

    In the firelight Hatshepsut could make out the faces of her father, Pharaoh Tuthmose I, and her mother, queen Ahmose. In the shadows beside them, she saw her dead husband, Tuthmose II.

    "Hatshepsut," her father addressed her. Hatshepsut simply glanced at him; then her eyes went back to her husband.  TuthmoseI went back to arguing with Ahmose. 

    "Why not Hatshepsut?  She has been a coleader for years," her mother said.

    "I told you, women can not be Pharaohs," then his father added, "we'll just have Tuthmose III be pharaoh." Her parents keeped arguing without noticing that Hatshepsut was still there. Then Hatshepsut had the strangest idea ever. This was something she never thought of. Hatshepsut and Mutoket left Hatshepsuts parents to argue in the dim torch light. Maybe there was a way she could be pharaoh. She would try for her mother and for herself.  

 

 

    Hatshepsut was on her morning walk along the Nile River when she had an idea. Her father had said that only a man could become a pharaoh, so she would dress as a man. This would convince her father and the public that she was the next ruler. Hatshepsut went up to the room where Tuthmose II slept and went to his closet full of men's garments. She took four of his garments and headdresses. Making sure no one was there, she gathered up all the items and headed back down to her room. Once she was there, she hid them under her bed just as  her servant Aumeeza knocked on the door. Aumeeza was an eleven year old servant, who had been with Hatshepsut since she was born.

    "Aumeeza, I'm glad your here,"Hatshepsut said,"I need you to fetch Mutoket for me." Without saying a word, Aumeeza left. She was back with Mutoket quickly. 

    "Not that I'm not happy to be here," Mutoket told Hatshepsut, "why do you needed me?"

    "Well, I'm planning on .... ," Hatshepsut started to answer when she noticed Aumeeza was still there."You may go," she told her. Aumeeza disappeared into the hall,the door closed behind her.

    "What were you going to say?" Mutoket asked. Mutoket looked exhausted. There were big purple and black bags under her eyes.  Life in ancient Egypt was difficult for people, unless they were royalty.

    "When I was on my walk, I had a plan," Hatshepsut paused, "If I were to wear the cloths of a pharaoh, I might be able to convince the people including my father that I am pharaoh."

    "That's a great plan," Mutoket said sourly. Hatshepsut sensed the bitterness in her voice. "Is that all you needed?"

    "No, I need you to tell me how much I resemble a man in these clothes," Hatshepsut took the clothes from under the bed.

    "Those are from Tuthmose," Mutoket had obviously recognized the clothing. Hatshepsut said nothing. She took a garment from the pile of silk and walked over to the extra room slipping her right sleeve off as she went. The soft cashmear fabric brushed against her legs as she took off her dress. She gathered up the traditional silk outfit of a Pharaoh and slipped it onto her body. The beautiful, intricate design of the fabric held many colors: red, green, blue, and gold all woven into shapes that pleased the gods. Then she took one of her gold chest plates that stretched over her slender sholders to her back. There were many gems placed perfectly to create a picture of two lizards. Gold shimmered off of the crown she took from Tuthmose's room. The crown also had gems; it was heavy and beautiful.

    She walked out of the room and Mutoket gasped.  She bowed and said, "You are a pharaoh."

    To make her people believe she was a man, Hatshepsut knew she would  have to work hard. First, she would wear a fake beard to look like all the male pharaohs. Luckily, she had taken some when she stole the assortment of clothing items from Tuthmose. Second, she would convince her cabinet that she was the all powerful daughter of Amum. This was somewhat true, she had received the dream from him; he obviously wanted this. Third, she needed a grand speech.  She had already made a speech and was going to present it in a few hours. Her speech told how women should be treated just like men. She had already passed all of her ideas to her father. He approved her plans with a little pleading from her mother.

    Hatshepsut stood in front of all the people of the royal court. A mixture of feelings went through her bloodstream. She felt excitement, fright, and nervous all at once. Hatshepsut started her speech.

    "As you all know, only men have been pharaoh for a very long time now,"Hatshepsut started. Her words came smoothly from her lips only because of the many days of practice. She went from the women's rights to her ending which explained what she would do if she were pharaoh.  Each word sounded as beautiful as the next. The sun god was bringing down the sun for the night when she was done. This will make me pharaoh for sure, she thought.  

     

                

    "How could they not like my speech?" Hatshepsut questioned her father. There was a look of complete despair on her face.

    "Hatshepsut your speech was about women becoming pharaoh's," Tuthmose I answered." You do realize that the law states that only a man can become a pharaoh?" he added.

    "Yeah, but...," Hatshepsut was cut off by her father.

    "But what Hatshepsut? The court would change their law?"

    "Father, don't you have the power to change that law?" Hatshepsut asked.

    "I do, but I don't want to change that law; I stand by it." Her father seemed sure. There was no changing his mind. She would just have to do this herself. Wait, Hatshepsut said to herself,  I still have the temple plans.  Hatshepsut ran to her room at almost lightening speed. On the elegant wooden table that sat in a corner were the palace designs. She grabbed them and raced down to the first floor. People watched her leave the palace, and some made a face. She burst into the room where the court members usually spent their free time. It was a dingy hot room with many chairs. They had silk and lace pillows on every chair.

    "Hatshepsut," the man named Tutoo addressed her curtly.

    "Hello," Hatshepsut greeted."I'm sorry, but I will not rest until I'm Pharaoh." Hatshepsut read the disappointment in Tutoo's face."I must show you my designs."

    "Please don't waste our time,"Tutoo responded. Hatshepsut laid out her many drawings of the palace.

    "I'm planning to build the temple in Deir el-Bahri," Hatshepsut informed them. "And i'll name it Djeser-Djeseru. Then she showed them some of her other plans for Egypt. She had many ideas, old plans, new plan. The court members seemed intrigued.

     "Hatshepsut give us a month and you will either be a pharaoh or not,"Tutoo said. Hatshepsut's heart soared. Now she had a chance.    

 

    It had been five months since she had talked to the court, three months after the decision date. The court members had told her that she would be the pharaoh and that they expected many of her ideas put into action. Her ceremony happened on a very sunny day.  Many people from all over Egypt had came to see her. Streamers were dancing in the air. They were many different colors: red, green, and the all important gold. It was a day she utterly enjoyed. After all, this was her life-long dream. As soon as all the ceremonial events where done, she went to the garden. Every single thing was like her dream. The plants were glimmering, and the flowers were in full bloom. it was a beautiful rainbow of color, and as she strolled by, a gardener bowed deeply with the same amount of respect as in her dream. Now she could live the rest of her days peacefully knowing she had completed her life-long dream.

    Hatshepsut died in 1482 B.C.. She had been pharaoh for twenty-two years. After her death, her stepson Tuthmose III tried to wipe her from history, but he didn't succeed.