Hey guys i've got an assessment hand in essay due next friday and I'm just wanting some people's opinions on it. I handed my draft to my teacher and he said it was great didn't say i needed to change anything but i don't really trust his judgement. The essay is basically the personalities section of the HSC with a 1000 word limit. Any criticisms on the response would be much appreciated, either post them here or PM me.
a) Discuss how Hatshepsut showed her devotion to Amun-Re, 10 marks
There are many ways in which Hatshepsut showed her devotion to Amun-Re, through dedicating to him extensive building programs, military success and offerings of exotic gifts. Above all, Hatshepsut showed her devotion by claiming that she was the daughter of Amun-Re. This concept of divine conception displayed such an important link for Hatshepsut to Amun-Re that later pharaohs such as Rameses II and Amenhotep III copied her divine birth scenes to display their bond with Amun-Re.
Throughout her time as pharaoh, Hatshepsut ensured that continued wealth flowed into the temple of Amun at Karnak. During her reign, the temple of Amun at Karnak became one of the largest and most affluent institutions in Egypt, religiously, economically and politically. As Tyldesley points out “By promoting the cult of Amun, she was effectively reinforcing her own position and promoting herself.”The high priest of Amun Hapusoneb during her reign not only had religious roles but also held the title Overseer of Upper and Lower Egypt and was possibly even appointed to vizier. This shows the growing power of the cult of Amun-Re during Hatshepsut’s rule as she attempts to display her strong relationship with him. There is also evidence that suggests that two prominent religious festivals dedicated to Amun-Re in the New Kingdom, the Opet Festival and the festival of the Beautiful Valley were introduced during Hatshepsut’s reign.
One of the most notable points of Hatshepsut’s rule was her expedition to Punt, which happened around year nine of her reign. An oracle of Amun-Re is credited with initiating the expedition, Hatshepsut claims that he commanded her to “establish for him a Punt in his house.”By organizing and executing such an enormous and no doubt expensive expedition, she was displaying her devotion to her divine father. One of the key objectives of this expedition was to bring back live myrrh trees to be planted in the forecourt of her mortuary temple for the pleasure of Amun-Re. The myrrh was also used for incense in everyday temple rituals honouring Amun-Re. Exotic goods such as ivory, ebony and animal skins were also brought back and offered to Amun. In relief scenes on the middle colannade at Dier el Bahri Hatshepsut is scene offering these products to Amun-Re and inscriptions show him praising Hatshepsut and promising success for future expeditions.
Finally, Hatshepsut’s building program was intended to honour Amun-Re. New buildings such as the barque sanctuary at Luxor, the Red Chapel at Karnak, four obelisks at Karnak and pylon VIII at Karnak were all constructed in the name of Amun-Re. The dedication of all these building programs to Amun-Re clearly shows Hatshepsut’s strong to devotion to him and her will to promote his cult as the chief state cult of Egypt.
b) Assess Hatshepsut’s relationship with Thutmose III, 15 marks
The nature of the relationship between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III is one that is open to many questions and theories. It is clear however that after the death of Thutmose II, Thutmose III was destined to take the throne as he was Thutmose II’s only male heir. At this time Thutmose III was no older than ten and too young to rule. Hatshepsut, King’s Royal wife to Thutmose II and half sister of Thutmose III controlled Egypt as regent. For the first two years her depiction on monuments is as a secondary role to Thutmose III. However between years two and seven of Thutmose III’s reign, Hatshepsut ascended to the position of pharaoh and they ruled as a co-regency or diarchy.
It is certain by year seven that Hatshepsut had adopted the full titulary of a king and by this stage was being displayed in front of Thutmose III on monuments and showed that even though they ruled in a co-regency, there is no doubt that Hatshepsut was the senior pharaoh. The hypotheses as to why Hatshepsut seemingly usurped the throne from Thutmose III are varied, Callender believes that “She considered herself a more legitimate ruler than him because she was descended from pure blood and he was the son of a mere concubine.” However Tyldesley believes that “She was acting on the wishes of Thutmose III who needed her continuing support and protection.” There are many explanations as to why she may have done so, although it is clear that after ascending to the throne that she had the internal and external administration of Egypt under her control.
Many believe however that the relationship between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III during the co-regency was a peaceful one. This is supported by the fact that there are no documented uprisings during the co-regency by Thutmose III against Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut also gave Thutmose III the respect he was entitled to, she dated her rule by his regal years and Thutmose III is seen in many relief scenes as participating with Hatshepsut at important religious events. Another notable point about their relationship is that according to Brier, Hatshepsut seems to have given Thutmose III an important role in the army. This is possibly because Hatshepsut hoped that Thutmose III could take control of foreign campaigns and leave her in peace so that she could take care of the homeland and rule without challenge.
The most debatable part of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III relationship with one another is highlighted by the destruction of Hatshepsut’s monuments after her death by Thutmose III. This has led to the proposition of the Feuding Thutmosids theory. Many of Hatshepsut’s monuments were destroyed or defaced, her name on monuments was replaced by that of Thutmose I, II or III and her name was removed from the official kings list. It is possible that Thutmose III acted out of revenge against Hatshepsut because he detested her for usurping his right to the throne. Lawless though rightly points out “If he hated her so much, why wait twenty years for revenge?” It is generally accepted that Thutmose III did not begin to deface Hatshepsut’s monuments until twenty years after her death. It has been proposed that the reason for him destroying many of Hatshepsut’s monuments was because he was afraid that Hatshepsut’s achievements would overshadow his own. However many historians argue that the reason for destroying many of Hatshepsut’s monuments and replacing her name with those of his former Thutmose’s was to legitimize his own right to the throne by emphasizing his relationship with Thutmose I and II. Redford agrees that “Thutmose was motivated not so much by genuine hatred as political necessity.” It is also notable that Thutmose III may have wanted to restore Ma’at in Egypt by erasing all trace of an unorthodox female pharaoh. In conclusion it is evident that the defacing of Hatshepsut’s monuments was because of political necessity and not because Thutmose III hated her, this is reinforced by the fact that after her death he did not dismiss any of her officials.
Cheers
Nick
a) Discuss how Hatshepsut showed her devotion to Amun-Re, 10 marks
There are many ways in which Hatshepsut showed her devotion to Amun-Re, through dedicating to him extensive building programs, military success and offerings of exotic gifts. Above all, Hatshepsut showed her devotion by claiming that she was the daughter of Amun-Re. This concept of divine conception displayed such an important link for Hatshepsut to Amun-Re that later pharaohs such as Rameses II and Amenhotep III copied her divine birth scenes to display their bond with Amun-Re.
Throughout her time as pharaoh, Hatshepsut ensured that continued wealth flowed into the temple of Amun at Karnak. During her reign, the temple of Amun at Karnak became one of the largest and most affluent institutions in Egypt, religiously, economically and politically. As Tyldesley points out “By promoting the cult of Amun, she was effectively reinforcing her own position and promoting herself.”The high priest of Amun Hapusoneb during her reign not only had religious roles but also held the title Overseer of Upper and Lower Egypt and was possibly even appointed to vizier. This shows the growing power of the cult of Amun-Re during Hatshepsut’s rule as she attempts to display her strong relationship with him. There is also evidence that suggests that two prominent religious festivals dedicated to Amun-Re in the New Kingdom, the Opet Festival and the festival of the Beautiful Valley were introduced during Hatshepsut’s reign.
One of the most notable points of Hatshepsut’s rule was her expedition to Punt, which happened around year nine of her reign. An oracle of Amun-Re is credited with initiating the expedition, Hatshepsut claims that he commanded her to “establish for him a Punt in his house.”By organizing and executing such an enormous and no doubt expensive expedition, she was displaying her devotion to her divine father. One of the key objectives of this expedition was to bring back live myrrh trees to be planted in the forecourt of her mortuary temple for the pleasure of Amun-Re. The myrrh was also used for incense in everyday temple rituals honouring Amun-Re. Exotic goods such as ivory, ebony and animal skins were also brought back and offered to Amun. In relief scenes on the middle colannade at Dier el Bahri Hatshepsut is scene offering these products to Amun-Re and inscriptions show him praising Hatshepsut and promising success for future expeditions.
Finally, Hatshepsut’s building program was intended to honour Amun-Re. New buildings such as the barque sanctuary at Luxor, the Red Chapel at Karnak, four obelisks at Karnak and pylon VIII at Karnak were all constructed in the name of Amun-Re. The dedication of all these building programs to Amun-Re clearly shows Hatshepsut’s strong to devotion to him and her will to promote his cult as the chief state cult of Egypt.
b) Assess Hatshepsut’s relationship with Thutmose III, 15 marks
The nature of the relationship between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III is one that is open to many questions and theories. It is clear however that after the death of Thutmose II, Thutmose III was destined to take the throne as he was Thutmose II’s only male heir. At this time Thutmose III was no older than ten and too young to rule. Hatshepsut, King’s Royal wife to Thutmose II and half sister of Thutmose III controlled Egypt as regent. For the first two years her depiction on monuments is as a secondary role to Thutmose III. However between years two and seven of Thutmose III’s reign, Hatshepsut ascended to the position of pharaoh and they ruled as a co-regency or diarchy.
It is certain by year seven that Hatshepsut had adopted the full titulary of a king and by this stage was being displayed in front of Thutmose III on monuments and showed that even though they ruled in a co-regency, there is no doubt that Hatshepsut was the senior pharaoh. The hypotheses as to why Hatshepsut seemingly usurped the throne from Thutmose III are varied, Callender believes that “She considered herself a more legitimate ruler than him because she was descended from pure blood and he was the son of a mere concubine.” However Tyldesley believes that “She was acting on the wishes of Thutmose III who needed her continuing support and protection.” There are many explanations as to why she may have done so, although it is clear that after ascending to the throne that she had the internal and external administration of Egypt under her control.
Many believe however that the relationship between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III during the co-regency was a peaceful one. This is supported by the fact that there are no documented uprisings during the co-regency by Thutmose III against Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut also gave Thutmose III the respect he was entitled to, she dated her rule by his regal years and Thutmose III is seen in many relief scenes as participating with Hatshepsut at important religious events. Another notable point about their relationship is that according to Brier, Hatshepsut seems to have given Thutmose III an important role in the army. This is possibly because Hatshepsut hoped that Thutmose III could take control of foreign campaigns and leave her in peace so that she could take care of the homeland and rule without challenge.
The most debatable part of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III relationship with one another is highlighted by the destruction of Hatshepsut’s monuments after her death by Thutmose III. This has led to the proposition of the Feuding Thutmosids theory. Many of Hatshepsut’s monuments were destroyed or defaced, her name on monuments was replaced by that of Thutmose I, II or III and her name was removed from the official kings list. It is possible that Thutmose III acted out of revenge against Hatshepsut because he detested her for usurping his right to the throne. Lawless though rightly points out “If he hated her so much, why wait twenty years for revenge?” It is generally accepted that Thutmose III did not begin to deface Hatshepsut’s monuments until twenty years after her death. It has been proposed that the reason for him destroying many of Hatshepsut’s monuments was because he was afraid that Hatshepsut’s achievements would overshadow his own. However many historians argue that the reason for destroying many of Hatshepsut’s monuments and replacing her name with those of his former Thutmose’s was to legitimize his own right to the throne by emphasizing his relationship with Thutmose I and II. Redford agrees that “Thutmose was motivated not so much by genuine hatred as political necessity.” It is also notable that Thutmose III may have wanted to restore Ma’at in Egypt by erasing all trace of an unorthodox female pharaoh. In conclusion it is evident that the defacing of Hatshepsut’s monuments was because of political necessity and not because Thutmose III hated her, this is reinforced by the fact that after her death he did not dismiss any of her officials.
Cheers
Nick
