Hatshepsut was possibly the greatestpharaoh, female pharaoh, in history. When she ruled she did not come to powerwith war, nor did she even engage in violence. She ruled brilliantly.

Hatshepsut’s reign was, above all, a peak period for thearts in Egypt. Many of her artifacts have survived till this day that almostevery major museum in the world has some artifact from when she reigned. “She has become one of the most celebrated andcontroversial women of Egypt and the ancient world in general.” (AncientHistory Encyclopedia) Evenin the MET (Metropolitan Art Museum) in New York, there is an entire hallwaythat is devoted to the Queen.Near the entrance of the Egyptian hallway there stands a pinkgranite statue, eleven feet high, which had also been reconstructed, the veryLarge Kneeling Statue of the Pharaoh herself Hatshepsut, during the year 1479. Shestrides in a devotional posture with arms straight down and palms facing uptowards the sky which she is holding round shaped vessels which are offerings.These pots are called Nu-pots, simply water pots. Against the front of atriangular Kilt that ends above her knees.

Hatshepsut is shown here as a maleking, with a false beard, broad shoulders and no sign of breasts. On her headis also a crown signifying Upper Egypt. There lies at the base, an engraving onthis magnificent statue that explains the offering she is making to the god’s duringthat time.           With her knees apart and her feetclose together in the back, showing detail of her toes, her posture is sodemure, like she had been brought up with discipline.

It is Hatshepsut’s facialfeatures, though that gives the statue a personal character, her rounded face, thelack of any meaning, with the fainted hieroglyphics on the back. Large, eyesthat are very wide under her stylishly arched brows that are firm, her lipsshow a faint smile to create the impression that she was a ruler and knew howto be a leader with purpose. “Hatshepsut lived in agolden age of Egypt, New Kingdom 18th dynasty, which includes other famouspharaohs and queens such as Thutmose III, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamun. UnlikeTutankhamun, Hatshepsut has no treasure-filled burial tomb, but she constructeda magnificent rock-cut temple at Deir el-Bahri.” (Kids, Travel for) and also Amasis II.

Hatshepsut’sstatues are in the same style, her pose for each one because she compared herselfto the successful and glorious pharaohs of the past, she pushed her future achievements.          Amasis II was a great pharaoh, duringthe 26th Century of the Egyptian reign. Being the last ruler at thetime he became King during an army revolt, obtaining the throne. Amasis had builtmany temples and had encouraged the merchants of Greek to settle in the city ofAncient Egypt. Amasis did not grow up royally, but he became king when the armyrebelled against Apries. On the other hand, he was a leader who cultivated goodrelationships with both the lower classed and the wealthy foreigners.Compared the to the Kneeling statue of Hatshepsut was thekneeling statue of this King who was made with bronze, made with leaf andinlay. The childlike appearance of this kneeling King Amasis statuette has thesame characteristics as Hatshepsut, but is also missing a few qualities thatmake it different.

With its large head and headdress, beautiful features suchas the nose and eyes, the plump arms at the side, his short legs in a kneelingposition, this is a realistic characteristic of a metal royal statue madeduring the Late Period. Far more realistic than Hatshepsut, this work,testifies to the high level of artistry attained during his rule.           The statue of Amasis is a solid figure;his limbs were all integrally casted. Comparing to Hatshepsut, Amasis’sforearms were damaged in antiquity, probably when the figure was broken fromits base. He is holding also the nu-pots as well, and there is also no sign ofa beard, but his kilt is far more detailed than Hatshepsut’s.

There is aresemblance in both of them, the powerful broad shoulders and head, knowing bothwere made to look like a ruler.          Queen Hatshepsut and King Amasis are worthstudying in ancient Egypt. The woman Pharaoh had just the same influentialpower as the future King, both their methods of acquiring and holding ontopower suggested a darker side to their reign and characters. Hatshepsut’sstatue really was empowering, the fact that she ruled as not just a politician,but also a stateswoman for 20 years and it shows in the work of art. Comparedto the smaller statue of Amasis, when you walk into the room filled with manyother statues, the massive statue of the kneeling Hatshepsut will always catchyour eye.

“Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the peoplewill say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speakof what I have done.” (Hatshepsut, Smithsonian)