KemetLeads
Hatshepsut
Pharaoh of ancient Egypt (Kemet)
The woman who ruled as king — and made Kemet prosper.
The rise
Stepping beyond the role of regent, Hatshepsut took the full titles of pharaoh, one of the very few women to rule ancient Egypt in her own right.
What they did
Her reign brought peace and wealth: grand temples like Deir el-Bahari, restored trade networks, and a famed expedition to the land of Punt.
The full picture
After her death, successors tried to erase her name and image from monuments — nearly deleting her from history until modern scholars restored her.
Why it matters
Hatshepsut is one of antiquity's most successful rulers and an enduring symbol of African and female leadership at civilization's dawn.
“I have restored that which was ruins, I have raised up that which was unfinished.”
Hang the engraving
Framed engraving of Hatshepsut — from $129, free US shipping →