Latest news with #ThutmoseIII
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-07-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New wave of discoveries in Egypt - Heritage - Al-Ahram Weekly
In recent months, Egypt has unveiled a rich array of new discoveries and restorations that span millennia, from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman era, offering new insights into ancient daily life, religious practices, and architectural ingenuity, reports Nevine El-Aref. These discoveries were carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) alone or in collaboration with international missions. From the vibrant chapels of Luxor's Karnak Temple and newly unearthed tombs in Aswan to the rediscovery of a lost Delta city in Sharqiya, these achievements not only deepen our understanding of Egypt's past but also reinforce the nation's global standing as a cultural and scientific heritage hub. As excavation tools meet ancient stone, Egypt's timeless story continues to unfold, layer by layer. At Karnak's Akh Menu Temple, a major restoration project has unveiled scenes depicted on the walls of the Southern Chapels, a cluster of seven interconnected shrines and two columned halls rich in colourful inscriptions and reliefs dating back to the reign of Thutmose III. This initiative was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of the Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the SCA. 'The restoration of the Southern Chapels not only preserves a remarkable part of ancient Egyptian architecture but also enriches the visitor experience by showcasing inscriptions and rituals that have remained hidden for centuries,' said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the SCA, who described the restoration as a 'crucial achievement' that expands access to lesser-known archaeological sites and diversifies Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. The chapels feature vivid depictions of royal rituals, including Heb Sed jubilee celebrations and inscriptions declaring the site a 'Temple of Millions of Years'. The restoration efforts have also enhanced accessibility with ramps and signage, enriching the visitor experience and diversifying Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. Meanwhile, excavations at the Asasif Necropolis on the West Bank at Luxor have revealed undecorated wooden child coffins, ostraca, seals, faience figurines, and architectural remains, offering a more intimate look at the lives of non-elite individuals during the New Kingdom. At Nagaa Abu Asaba near Karnak, archaeologists have unearthed a massive mudbrick enclosure wall stamped with the names of King Menkheperre and his queen, alongside bronze moulds, Osirian figurines, amulets, and a beer-brewing facility. The discovery suggests the site was once an industrial and religious hub, illustrating the sophistication of ancient Theban society. At the Tell Al-Faraon (Tell Nebasha) site in the Sharqiya governorate, a British team from the University of Manchester has uncovered the remains of 'Imet', an ancient city dating back to the fourth century BCE. Multi-storey tower houses, grain storage facilities, and animal shelters paint a vivid portrait of urban life in the Nile Delta during the Late Period and the early Ptolemaic era. Excavation of the temple district has revealed the remnants of a monumental limestone floor and mudbrick columns believed to have formed a sacred procession route to the Temple of the Goddess Wadjet, reconstructed under kings Ramses II and Ahmose II. Among the standout artefacts are a faience ushabti, a bronze sistrum adorned with Hathor heads, and a carved stela of the god Horus on crocodiles, reflecting both everyday life and complex religious beliefs. In Aswan, an Egyptian-Italian mission working at the Qubbet Al-Hawa Necropolis has uncovered three rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom, some of which were reused during the Middle Kingdom. Although modest in decoration, the tombs retain false doors, offering tables, pottery, and hieratic inscriptions, providing new perspectives on social hierarchies and funerary evolution across the centuries. Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, emphasised that the discovery expands our knowledge of cultural and economic transitions during the First Intermediate Period and beyond. Meanwhile, in the necropolis surrounding the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan in Aswan, a joint Egyptian-Italian mission from the University of Milan has unearthed several well-preserved Graeco-Roman tombs. The highlight was Tomb 38 housing a two-metre-tall, decorated limestone coffin bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions and the name Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official during the Graeco-Roman period. The tomb contains the mummified remains of adults and children, indicating multi-generational burials. These findings, according to Khaled, reflect complex burial practices that spanned both elite and middle-class individuals and adapted over time, especially during epidemics or economic hardships. Further research will involve CT scanning and the biological analysis of the remains to explore health conditions and demographics. Patrizia Piacentini, head of the archaeological mission, noted that previous discoveries have been made in the same area, including funerary terraces, animal sacrifices, and a possible Ptolemaic-era place of worship, highlighting the site's enduring sacred status. With these discoveries, Egypt continues to offer an inexhaustible trove of archaeological wonders, each a thread in the grand tapestry of a civilisation that shapes our understanding of the past. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Study probes motive behind destruction of Queen Hatshepsut statues
After the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut died around 1458 BC, many statues of her were destroyed. Archaeologists believed that they were targeted in an act of revenge by Thutmose III, her successor. Yet the condition of the statues recovered in the vicinity of her mortuary temple varies and many survive with their faces virtually intact. Now a new study by archaeologist Jun Yi Wong re-examines the original excavations and offers an alternative explanation. Much of the damage may in fact be from the 'ritual deactivation' of the statues and their reuse as raw material. We asked him to explain. Why was Queen Hatshepsut? Hatshepsut ruled as the pharaoh of Egypt around 3,500 years ago. Her reign was an exceptionally successful one – she was a prolific builder of monuments, and her reign saw great innovations in art and architecture. As a result, some regard her as one of the greatest rulers – male or female – in ancient Egypt. She has also been described as the 'first great woman in history'. Hatshepsut was the wife and half sister of pharaoh Thutmose II. Following the premature death of her husband, she acted as regent for her stepson, the young Thutmose III. However, about seven years later, Hatshepsut ascended the throne and declared herself ruler of Egypt. Why were her statues destroyed? After her death, Hatshepsut's names and representations such as statues were systematically erased from her monuments. This event, often called the 'proscription' of Hatshepsut, is currently part of my wider research. There's little doubt that this destruction began during the time of Thutmose III, since some of Hatshepsut's erased representations were found concealed by his new constructions. The statues that formed the subject of my recently published study were discovered in the 1920s. By this time, Thutmose III's proscription of Hatshepsut was already well known, so it was immediately (and rightly) assumed it was caused during his reign. Some of the broken statues were even found underneath a causeway built by Thutmose III, so there is little doubt that their destruction took place during his reign. Because the statues were found in fragments, early archaeologists assumed that they must have been broken up violently, perhaps due to Thutmose III's animosity towards Hatshepsut. For instance, Herbert Winlock, the archaeologist who led the excavations of 1922 to 1928, remarked that Thutmose III must have 'decreed the destruction of every portrait of (Hatshepsut) in existence' and that every conceivable indignity had been heaped on the likeness of the fallen Queen. The problem with such an interpretation is that some of Hatshepsut's statues have survived in relatively good condition, with their faces virtually intact. Why was there such a great variation in the treatment of the statues? That was essentially the main question of my research. How did you find the answer? It was clear that the damage to Hatshepsut's statues was not caused solely by Thutmose III. Many of them were left exposed and not buried, and many were reused as building material. Indeed, not far from where the statues were discovered, the archaeologists found a stone house that was partially built using fragments of her statues. Of course, the question is to what extent these reuse activities added to the damage of the statues. Fortunately, the archaeologists who excavated the statues left behind field notes that are quite detailed. Based on this archival material, it is possible to reconstruct the locations in which many of these statues were found. The results were quite intriguing: statues that are scattered over large areas, or have significant missing parts, tend to have sustained significant damage to their faces. In contrast, statues found in a relatively complete condition typically have their faces fully intact. In other words, statues that were subjected to heavy reuse activities are far more likely to have sustained facial damage. Therefore, it is likely that Thutmose III was not responsible for the facial damage sustained by the statues. Instead, the destruction that he was responsible for was far more specific, namely the breaking of these statues across their neck, waist and knees. This form of treatment is not unique to Hatshepsut's statues. What does this mean? The practice of breaking royal statues across their neck, waist and knees is common in ancient Egypt. It's often referred to as the 'deactivation' of statues. For the ancient Egyptians, statues were more than just images. For example, newly made statues underwent a rite known as the opening of the mouth, where they were ritually brought to life. Since statues were regarded as living and powerful objects, their inherent power had to be neutralised before they could be discarded. Indeed, one of the most extraordinary discoveries in Egyptian archaeology is the Karnak Cachette, where hundreds of royal statues were found buried in a single deposit. The vast majority of the statues have been 'deactivated', even though most of them depict pharaohs who were never subjected to any hostilities after their death. This suggests that the destruction of Hatshepsut's statues was motivated mainly by ritualistic and pragmatic reasons, rather than revenge or animosity. This, of course, changes the way that her relationship with Thutmose III is understood. Jun Yi Wong is a PhD candidate in Egyptology, University of Toronto. This article is republished from The Conversation.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why ancient Egyptians broke Queen Hatshepsut's statues — it's not just patriarchy
Source: iStock For years, the story seemed straightforward: Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and fascinating rulers, was posthumously erased by her successor, Thutmose III. The narrative had all the drama — a woman who ruled as a king, a threatened male heir, and a vengeful campaign to wipe her from history. But now, a new study throws a surprising twist into that tale. According to research published in the journal Antiquity, many of Hatshepsut's statues were not destroyed out of hatred or misogyny. Instead, they were ritually deactivated — a normal ancient Egyptian practice. Not erased, but 'deactivated' The research, led by Jun Yi Wong, a doctoral candidate in Egyptology at the University of Toronto, dives into records from the 1920s and '30s, when archaeologists uncovered shattered statues of Hatshepsut buried in pits at her temple at Deir el-Bahri. While it was long assumed this destruction was a symbolic erasure ordered by Thutmose III, Wong found something different. Speaking to Live Science, Wong explained that the statues weren't smashed at the face or stripped of inscriptions — the usual markers of desecration. Instead, they were systematically broken at the neck, waist, and feet, which seems like a process Egyptologists now call 'ritual deactivation.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AC Installation & Repair from Certified Pros Search7 Learn More Undo Source: iStock Ancient Egyptians believed that statues, especially of pharaohs, weren't just stone — they were spiritually potent. Once a pharaoh died, statues could be ritually 'turned off' to prevent lingering powers from interfering with the world of the living. This isn't to say Hatshepsut escaped all forms of persecution. Her images and names were indeed destroyed from various monuments, most likely ordered by Thutmose III. However, there is a difference between the careful deactivation of her statues at Deir el-Bahri and the violent defacement elsewhere hints at a more complex motivation. Source: Canva According to Wong, the evidence suggests Thutmose III may not have acted out of personal resentment. Instead, political pressure from elites who disapproved of a woman taking the throne or fears about her legacy overshadowing his may have motivated his decisions. The new understanding that ancient Egyptians 'turned off' their dead rulers' statues explains how Egyptian culture had complex layers. Sites like the Karnak Cachette — where hundreds of statues from different dynasties were buried in a similar fashion — show that Hatshepsut wasn't uniquely targeted in this way.
Malay Mail
24-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Hatshepsut's hidden truth: Unravelling the real reasons behind the erasure of an iconic queen's reign
TORONTO, June 24 — She was one of ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, a rare female pharaoh who preceded Cleopatra by 1,500 years, but Queen Hatshepsut's legacy was systematically erased by her stepson successor after her death. The question of why her impressive reign was so methodically scrubbed has attracted significant debate, but in new research published Monday, University of Toronto scholar Jun Wong argues far too much emphasis has been placed on her gender. 'It's quite a romantic question: why was this pharaoh attacked after her death?' Wong told AFP, explaining his interest in a monarch who steered ancient Egypt through a period of extraordinary prosperity. Earlier scholars believed Queen Hatshepsut's stepson Thutmose III unleashed a posthumous campaign of defilement against her out of revenge and hatred, including because he wanted to purge any notion that a woman could successfully rule. 'The way in which (Hatshepsut's) reign has been understood has always been colored by her gender,' Wong said, referencing beliefs that Thutmose III may have viewed her as 'a kind of an evil stepmother.' His research, which builds on other recent scholarship and is being published in the journal Antiquity, argues Thutmose III's motivations were far more nuanced, casting further doubt on the theory of backlash against a woman in charge. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt roughly 3,500 years ago, taking over following the death of her husband Thutmose II. She first served as regent to her stepson, the king-in-waiting, but successfully consolidated power in her own right, establishing herself as a female pharaoh. Experts say she expanded trade routes and commissioned extraordinary structures, including an unparallelled mortuary in the Valley of the Kings on the Nile's west bank. Wong reassessed a range of material from damaged statues uncovered during excavations from 1922 to 1928. He said there is no doubt Thutmose III worked to eliminate evidence of Hatshepsut's achievements, but his efforts were 'perhaps driven by ritual necessity rather than outright antipathy,' Wong said. Thutmose III may have been trying to neutralize the power of his predecessor in a practical and common way, not out of malice. He also found that some of the statues depicting Hatshepsut were likely damaged because later generations wanted to reuse them as building materials. 'For a long time, it has been assumed that Hatshepsut's statuary sustained a vindictive attack,' Wong said, arguing that a fresh look at the archives suggests 'this is not the case.' — AFP
Khaleej Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Gender not main factor in attacks on Egyptian woman pharaoh: Study
She was one of ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, a rare female pharaoh who preceded Cleopatra by 1,500 years, but Queen Hatshepsut's legacy was systematically erased by her stepson successor after her death. The question of why her impressive reign was so methodically scrubbed has attracted significant debate, but in new research published on Monday, University of Toronto scholar Jun Wong argues far too much emphasis has been placed on her gender. "It's quite a romantic question: why was this pharaoh attacked after her death?" Wong told AFP, explaining his interest in a monarch who steered ancient Egypt through a period of extraordinary prosperity. Earlier scholars believed Queen Hatshepsut's stepson Thutmose III unleashed a posthumous campaign of defilement against her out of revenge and hatred, including because he wanted to purge any notion that a woman could successfully rule. "The way in which (Hatshepsut's) reign has been understood has always been colored by her gender," Wong said, referencing beliefs that Thutmose III may have viewed her as "a kind of an evil stepmother." His research, which builds on other recent scholarship and is being published in the journal Antiquity, argues Thutmose III's motivations were far more nuanced, casting further doubt on the theory of backlash against a woman in charge. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt roughly 3,500 years ago, taking over following the death of her husband Thutmose II. She first served as regent to her stepson, the king-in-waiting, but successfully consolidated power in her own right, establishing herself as a female pharaoh. Experts say she expanded trade routes and commissioned extraordinary structures, including an unparallelled mortuary in the Valley of the Kings on the Nile's west bank. Wong reassessed a range of material from damaged statues uncovered during excavations from 1922 to 1928. He said there is no doubt Thutmose III worked to eliminate evidence of Hatshepsut's achievements, but his efforts were "perhaps driven by ritual necessity rather than outright antipathy," Wong said. Thutmose III may have been trying to neutralize the power of his predecessor in a practical and common way, not out of malice. He also found that some of the statues depicting Hatshepsut were likely damaged because later generations wanted to reuse them as building materials. "For a long time, it has been assumed that Hatshepsut's statuary sustained a vindictive attack," Wong said, arguing that a fresh look at the archives suggests "this is not the case."
