By Sara Clemson & Katherine Lee 

Interpretations of Hatshepsut’s Reign:

‘When Egypt Ruled the East’

George Steindorff and Keith C. Seele

(The University of Chicago Press, 1942)

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Biographic details - authors / George Steindorff and Keith C. Seele were inspired to write‘When Egypt Ruled The East,’ since it had been at least 35 years since James Henry Breasted published ‘History of Egypt’ and a lot of new evidence had come up during that time.
Family background / Hatshepsut was the daughter of Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose. She was their only surviving child, except for Thutmose II, who was born from a lesser wife.
Claims to the throne and succession / Hatshepsut’s claim of divine birth is her reason for becoming the king.
Changes in her royal image / Steindorff and Seele fail to mention, when referring to Hatshepsut’s royal image, they make no reference to other monuments that depict her as a woman and only use sources where she is depicted as a man.
Pg 41 / Hatshepsut’s titles / She presented herself with all the royal titles, which other previous Pharaohs would have adopted, but one title she did not accept was ‘Mighty Bull.’
“… ‘mighty bull,’ which was obviously hardly applicable to a woman, even if she were a queen.”
Pg. 46
Pg. 46 / Relationship with Thutmose III
and Hatshepsut's officials / Hatshepsut is described as being possessive over her claim to the title of Pharaoh.
“It must have been very much against his will that the energetic, young Thutmose III watched from the sidelines”
Thutmose III is represented as being the saviour who restores order by the banishment of Hatshepsut. Ignoring evidence that she died as an old woman.
“He[Thutmose III] succeeded in overthrowing Senenmut and in banishing along with him Hatshepsut’s not inconsiderable galaxy of satellites”
Pg. 43 / Relationship with Neferure / That Neferure could possibly, in the future, take the role of Pharaoh after Hatshepsut. But, they choose to high light the position of ‘king’ in a way that it emphasises that this is against tradition and that Steindorff and Seele disapprove of Neferure ever taking the thrown.
“… Ceremonial beard on her [Neferure] chin identify her as the future legitimate ‘king’.”
Pg. 41 / Relationship with Senenmut / Steindorff and Seele theorise that Hatshepsut and Senenmut’s relationship may have been more than king to official.
“…in what manner he forged the bonds…by which he won not only her trust and favour, possibly even her love is a closed page of history”
Relationship with Amun priesthood, officials and nobles / Steindorff and Seele make comments on Hatshepsut’s building and developments on the Temple of Amun, but don’t take it into further detail.
Expedition to Punt / Steindorff and Seele make no reference to Hatshepsut’s expedition to Punt.
Military Campaigns / Steindorff and Seele make no reference to Hatshepsut’s military campaigns.
Pg. 43
Pg.43 / Building program / They admit that during Hatshepsut’s reign:
“…Egypt enjoyed a period of economic prosperity during the reign of Hatshepsut.”
They acknowledge and praise Hatshepsut’s buildings as being ‘remarkable monuments’.
“Magnificent temples were erected…”

Steindorff and Seele’s views of Hatshepsut seem to change between positive and negative. They praise Hatshepsut’s reign; stating that it was a time of prosperity for Egypt and describe, at great length, her building projects (obelisks and temple building/restoration) as being monumental due to her influence and power. However they do not relate these achievements directly to Hatshepsut, instead it is mentioned that it would have taken much labour and organisation by workers, while Hatshepsut merely watched. She appears to be the dominating ruler while Thutmose III could do nothing.

Hatshepsut’s claim to divine birth and relationship with Amun are discredited by Steindorff and Seele, they state that this is the rite of a king. It is also emphasised that she was a woman and her claims to the titles of Pharaoh were not in accordance to tradition.

Nothing of her military campaigns or expeditions are mentioned, instead they speculate that Hatshepsut may have had a relationship with Senemut, who used this to gain his own influence and power and eventually was ‘banished’ along with Hatshepsut by Thutmose III.

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