Hatshepsut
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Hatshepsut lived from 1508-1458 B.C and at the age of 12 she married Thutmose II who later died leaving the next heir to the throne an infant, born to a concubine named Isis. Hatshepsut played as his ‘temporary replacement’ for a while until she was officially christened pharaoh. Hatshepsut’s reign was a success as unlike the other rulers in her (18) dynasty, she was more interested in the economic prosperity and restoring monuments throughout Egypt and Nubia conquering new lands. Hatshepsut also had one notable trading expedition to the land of Punt in the ninth year of the reign. The ships returned with gold, ivory and myrrh trees. The scene was even immortalised on the walls of the temple.
Cause of Death
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It was in early February in 1458 B.C that the beautiful queen had died and according to recent scientist discoveries, her death was caused by an ointment or ‘salve’ that contained toxic ingredients and the testing of artefacts that were in her burial tomb revealed traces of carcinogenic substance, a substance involved in causing cancer, which was verified by German researchers in 2011. Also, according to Jone Lewis, a woman’s history expert, her mummy showed many signs of dental cavities, root inflammation and metastasized bone cancer which might have been in her soft tissues like the lungs.
Preparation of burial
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As you most know in ancient Egypt, after the loss of an important pharaoh they believed the pharaoh’s body should be well prepared for the afterlife, through mummification, and that was exactly what happened to Hatshepsut. Her body was purified with different oils, her intestines and other body parts removed from her body and her body was carefully wrapped in rolls and rolls of bandages.
How she was Discovered
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Not only was Hatshepsut loyal and courageous, she was also very smart! She was so intelligent that before she died she made sure had made her burial tomb safe from tomb raiders by not only making one tomb, but by making several with one that had her official body inside. KV20 was the tomb Hatshepsut’s body was properly buried and secured in which is located in the Valley of the Kings. However, it wasn’t that easily noticed as it had several secret passage ways and that the tomb was actually build high in the cliffs making it unnoticeable to a human’s eye! Although they had been several archaeologists that supposedly tried searching for her tomb, the only successful one was British archaeologist Howard Carter and later on was rechecked out by Dr Zahi Hawass.
Inside, besides gold and prize possessions they found the sarcophagus, which was one of the 3 Hatshepsut had made, it was made of quartzite. The height of the sarcophagus was an impressive; 1.99metres (6ft 6)! The sarcophagus was also inscribed ‘Hatshepsut’.
Inside, besides gold and prize possessions they found the sarcophagus, which was one of the 3 Hatshepsut had made, it was made of quartzite. The height of the sarcophagus was an impressive; 1.99metres (6ft 6)! The sarcophagus was also inscribed ‘Hatshepsut’.