Cross dress like an Egyptian

8 March 2006

Women may like to think that they are making in-roads into the higher ranks of organisations, but a lecture being given at NEWI on Friday 24 March as part of Wrexham Science and Technology Week shows that this was truly the case in Egypt.

Shortly after 1500 BC, Hatshepsut became king of Egypt ruling alongside her young stepson, Tuthmosis III. Her rise to power went against all the conventions of her time. She was the first wife and Queen of Thutmose II and on his death proclaimed herself Pharaoh, denying the old king's son, her nephew, his inheritance.

She remained in power for twenty years and during this time the Egyptian economy went from strength to strength, she expanded trading and built and restored many magnificent temples. Eventually her nephew became old enough to take his rightful place as pharaoh. The circumstances of this event are unknown and what became of Hatshepsut is a mystery.

Images show her dressed in the traditional costumes of kingship and even wearing a false beard. Scribes seem to have been confused as to quite how to refer to this female king. Long after her death, her monuments were damaged by her stepson, which some have argued is evidence for a vendetta between the two kings.

The lecture will be given by Britain’s most informed Egyptologist, Dr Kate Spence from the Egyptology department at Cambridge University. She will use recent research into the decorative programmes of Hatshepsut’s temples and texts from her reign, analysis of the tombs and of sarcophagi from her tomb, together with the results of recent excavations to reassess the position and impact of Hatshepsut as a king. It is a strange tale of religious reform, political spin, incest, cross dressing and moving mummies.

The lecture entitled ‘Hatshepsut: Egypt’s female king’ starts at 7pm at NEWI on Friday 24 March. For more details on any of these events being held during Wrexham Science and Technology Week @ NEWI log on to www.newi.ac.uk. The lectures throughout the week are free, but people are asked to reserve their place by calling 01978 293439/3597 or e-mail eventsteam@newi.ac.uk.