Egypt, important discoveries concerning Queen Hatshepsut

Egyptian Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, head of an archaeological mission, in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, announced, after three years of excavation, important discoveries dating from the 15th Dynasty (1650-1550 BC). . BC) to the 18th dynasty (1550-1292 BC) in the region of Deir el-Bahari, on the west bank of the Nile, facing the city of Luxor.

An intact part of the foundations of the burial valley temple of Queen Hatshepsut (fifth ruler of the 18th dynasty, Tutankhamun being the eleventh ruler of the dynasty) was unearthed, along with reliefs and inscriptions in bright colors. “This is the first time that we have a final set of the decoration of a temple dating from the 18th dynasty”declared Zahi Hawass during a press conference. 1,500 decorated blocks depicting Queen Hatshepsut and her successor Thutmose III performing sacred rituals, as well as ceremonial tools were discovered.

These discoveries provide information about one of the first pharaohs in history, who had to face the consequences of her reign. Thutmose III damaged statues and defaced their representations a few years after the death of the queen, in order to destroy her legacy. According to one theory, he could not have tolerated the succession of pharaohs being interrupted by a woman. It was not until 1923 that fragments of statues of the queen were unearthed by archaeologists, thus restoring a part of the deliberately thwarted history.

The excavations also uncovered rock-cut tombs dating from the Middle Kingdom era, as well as that of the overseer of Queen Tetisheri’s palace, belonging to the 17th dynasty. Queen Tetisheri was the grandmother of King Ahmose, who in 1530 BC expelled the Hyksos, invaders from West Asia, from Egypt. Burial shafts containing wooden coffins, tombs with children’s toys made of clay and cardboard were also discovered, as well as sections of the Ptolemaic necropolis of Assasif near the temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

Egypt and former minister Zahi Hawass regularly announce archaeological discoveries in order to give a positive image of Egypt and try to attract tourists. Last year, the country welcomed 15.7 million tourists, compared to 11 million in 2012. The country also hopes to welcome 18 million tourists in 2025.

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