Ever heard of the great Queen of Egypt?
Most people do not even know that ancient Egypt was once ruled by Queen Hatshepsut.
Yes, she has been called “the first great woman of history of whom we are informed” by renowned Egyptologist James Henry Breasted, despite having donned a fake beard to take a male persona later in her reign. Ruling Egypt from 1478 BCE to 1458 BCE, she was almost completely erased from history by subsequent rulers.
Ancient Egypt experts think her stepson, Thutmosis III is to blame for attempting to erase her from history. Thutmosis III became the Egyptian pharaoh in 1458 BCE when de crusaded to destroy any traces of her including monuments and even modifying existing carving to changer her female appearance to a male appearance.
Researchers from the German Archaeological Institute may have discovered an unknown building from the time of Hatshepsut reign on the Island of Elephantine in the River Nile. Thought to be destroyed long ago, archaeologist believe that these stones have been altered to erase the female ruler.
Despite being a prominent figure in the ancient world, relics like these newly discovered stones to illustrate more of the ruler are rare.
One block shows her name has been etched out while another shows that her image as a female has been replaced with that of a different king. An obvious attempt to rewrite or delete history creates great intrigue for archaeologist.