Books in Ancient Egypt. series

Hatshepsut was arguably the most powerful female to rule as pharaoh during its long and storied history in the wealthy Egypt of the New Kingdom. Her rule was highly unconventional, yet she had the support of the power brokers at the time. Somehow, during her long reign as pharaoh with her stepson, she managed to maintain positive relationships with the right constituency, as well as her co-ruler. It would seem likely that, if there was internal strife within the royal house as to the moves made by Hatshepsut, there would be some documentation or indication of this tension in the historical record. As of the time of this writing, no evidence of poor relations or civil strife has ever been found. Growing up in a powerful royal family, she was, from birth, a woman of greater power than ordinary. As the only surviving daughter of the pharaoh Thutmose I, it was known early on that her destiny was to be Queen. This means that she had the benefits of education and training that most could not even dream of receiving. Her early participation in religious rituals and rites also helped her develop connections with highly influential people within the cult of Amun that was growing immensely in power and wealth during the New Kingdom. As it turns out, her destiny had something far greater in store. She did not come to power all at once, nor did she take or keep the throne by force. She married her half-brother and incoming pharaoh, Thutmose II, at a very young age. From all accounts, her husband was very reliant on Hatshepsut's opinion and input. This gave her an unprecedented level of power for a woman.

Nefertiti's Mysterious Origins For centuries, the beautiful, mysterious Queen Nefertiti, has captured our imaginations. We do not know very much about the woman's origins, or her demise, which only adds to her mysterious appeal. What we do know, however, is that she was the wife of one of the most controversial and radical of all of ancient Egypt's Pharaohs. Her husband, Akhenaten, often referred to as the “Heretic King” started a revolution for the proto-monotheistic cult of Aten, the sun disk. This revolution led to dramatic social and political changes during what was later called the Amarna Period. From a huge upheaval in the traditional power structure of the nation, the outlaw of traditional gods, and even the relocation of the capital of the nation, there were actually deliberate attempts from the rulers who came after to erase this period of Egyptian history from the historical record. And they nearly succeeded. What we do know about Nefertiti is that she was stunningly beautiful and incredibly powerful. She was, in fact, one of the most powerful queens in Egyptian history. Many scholars claim that she was the prime confidante, as well as advisor, to her husband during his reign. She is shown in a position of power in artistic depictions that is usually reserved for a king – whether she is shown smiting Egypt's enemies or even racing chariots or leading religious ceremonies.

Ramses the Great In all of Egypt's long and storied history, Ramses the Great stands out as one of the best known and successful of all. Ruling the country for some 67 years, Ramses II ruled over Egypt during a time of stability and prosperity. His rule was marked by economic prosperity, successful military campaigns, and impressive building projects. He wanted from the very beginnings of his long reign, to ensure that his legacy was sealed, literally in stone, and that reminders of his rule were so ubiquitous that he would not be forgotten. In this, like many other elements of his kingship, he was highly successful and he has gone down in history as a legendary ruler. Ramses II came to power at a young age. As co-regent with his father, he learned the proverbial ropes of leading the nation and leading a military. When he ascended to the throne, it became very clear that he was an incredibly passionate warrior. He has a long-standing military tradition going back many generations in his family, so being an active, successful campaigner was a vital part of his kingship. Some of the battles were undertaken to subdue untenable populations, others were to gain more wealth and power for the nation. Perhaps the most famous of all his military campaigns were his various battles against Egypt's dreaded for, the Hittites. He was also incredibly passionate about women. One of his enduring legacies is his success with the women of his time. We know of many principal wives, concubines, and errant women. It is said that he fathered close to 200 children in his lifetime. Nefertari was his first principal wife and the best known. So favored was Nefertari, Ramses the Great had an intricate and beautiful temple erected in her honor next to his stunning construction at Abu Simbel. Nefertari may have been the favorite, but we know that he had close to ten other principal wives, with whom he fathered many children, as well as concubines and other various women he may have conquered in his time.

The pharaoh was more than a king-he was "the highest priest for all the gods, the head of the army and the owner of all the riches of Egypt." Using numerous supporting illustrations, timelines, maps, and photographs, Ikram chronologically introduces the pharaohs from Menes, who unified Egypt in 3050 BCE, to Cleopatra VII, whose death in 31 BCE marked the end of Egyptian self-rule for the next 1,500 years. In addition to examining the highlights of the thirty centuries that the pharaohs ruled, Ikram discusses how hieroglyphics and ancient Egyptian art help scholars understand the lives of the pharaohs. The book is an excellent introduction for the young enthusiast.