Hatshepsut
Explain how Hatshepsut used her divine birth right and coronation scenes at Diel El Bahari to legitimate her claim to the throne?
During the New Kingdom Egypt, a female pharaoh named Hatshepsut ascended to the most powerful position in the country- the title of a pharaoh. Despite living in a patriarchy society, Hatshepsut was able to gain support from the Egyptian people through the use of propaganda such as the story of Divine Birth and Coronation which was carved on the north wall of the middle colonnade of her Deir el Bahari mortuary temple. In both scenes, she further legitimated her throne by using her divine birth and royal blood-line. As consequence, Hatshepsut gradually rose to power, from a co-regent to pharaoh, became the first female ever to claim the Egyptian throne.
The Divine Birth scene proclaimed Hatshepsut’s relationship with the god-Amun as daughter and father. On the relief, the god Amun took form of Thutmose II. As a pharaoh, he was wearing royal regalia- the crown and false beard. Amun held an ankh- symbol of eternal life to queen Ahmose’s nose so she could breathe in and conceive Hatshepsut, and below them are the gods who supported the pregnancy. This is an example of religious propaganda and helped to legitimise Hatshepsut's claim to the throne as it showed that she was the divine conception of Amun, who was the highest god. The Divine Birth story would influence the people of Egypt into supporting Hatshepsut because of her proven divine birth.
The Coronation scene is a continuation of the Divine Birth scene, giving details of the revelation of young Hatshepsut’s royal status and most importantly, her coronation as a pharaoh. In the scene, Hatshepsut was portrayed a pharaoh, wearing the white crown and the false beard. She was kneeling down and received blessing from her father- Thutmose I. In addition, the Coronation inscription consisted of political statements emphasising Hatshepsut's right to the throne, as her father chose her
During the New Kingdom Egypt, a female pharaoh named Hatshepsut ascended to the most powerful position in the country- the title of a pharaoh. Despite living in a patriarchy society, Hatshepsut was able to gain support from the Egyptian people through the use of propaganda such as the story of Divine Birth and Coronation which was carved on the north wall of the middle colonnade of her Deir el Bahari mortuary temple. In both scenes, she further legitimated her throne by using her divine birth and royal blood-line. As consequence, Hatshepsut gradually rose to power, from a co-regent to pharaoh, became the first female ever to claim the Egyptian throne.
The Divine Birth scene proclaimed Hatshepsut’s relationship with the god-Amun as daughter and father. On the relief, the god Amun took form of Thutmose II. As a pharaoh, he was wearing royal regalia- the crown and false beard. Amun held an ankh- symbol of eternal life to queen Ahmose’s nose so she could breathe in and conceive Hatshepsut, and below them are the gods who supported the pregnancy. This is an example of religious propaganda and helped to legitimise Hatshepsut's claim to the throne as it showed that she was the divine conception of Amun, who was the highest god. The Divine Birth story would influence the people of Egypt into supporting Hatshepsut because of her proven divine birth.
The Coronation scene is a continuation of the Divine Birth scene, giving details of the revelation of young Hatshepsut’s royal status and most importantly, her coronation as a pharaoh. In the scene, Hatshepsut was portrayed a pharaoh, wearing the white crown and the false beard. She was kneeling down and received blessing from her father- Thutmose I. In addition, the Coronation inscription consisted of political statements emphasising Hatshepsut's right to the throne, as her father chose her