Greenblatt Miriam. Hatshepsut and Ancient Egypt

New York: Benchmark Books, 2000. — 80 p. — (Rulers and Their Times). — ISBN: 0-7614-0911-4.The civilization of ancient Egypt goes back more than five thousand years, to about 3100 B.C.E. From its beginnings until the fourth century B.C.E., it was ruled by a king, who came to be known as the pharaoh. The people looked upon the pharaoh as a god, a son of the sun god Re. The pharaoh owned the land of Egypt and all it produced. He issued the nation's laws. He was its highest judge, as well as commander in chief of the army. He was also the chief priest.
Some pharaohs were great warriors. Others were famous for the magnificent temples and monuments they built. Hatshepsut was famous for a different reason: she was the first successful female pharaoh to sit on Egypt's throne. Yet for more than three thousand years after her death, no one knew anything about her or her accomplishments. It was as if she had never existed.
In this book, you will read about how Hatshepsut became a pharaoh and why the records of her reign were wiped out until just recently. You will learn about how her people lived—the clothes they wore and the foods they ate; their homes, jobs, and amusements; and the way they buried their dead. Finally, you will read some letters, poems, and stories in which the ancient Egyptians themselves tell us about their achievements and their dreams.