2-739-067 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Relief of Hatshepsut or Tuthmosis III, 1479-1425 BC. At the death of King Tuthmosis II, a child was proclaimed king, Tuthmosis III. His aunt Hatshepsut was named to serve as his regent; however, she quickly proclaimed herself queen and ruled in the boy's stead for over twenty years. To further assert her power she often had herself portrayed in sculpture as a king with masculine torso and even a beard. She is shown here wearing crowns usually reserved for kings. When Tuthmosis III finally ascended to the throne, he had many of her monuments destroyed or vandalized.