Ancient Egypt

By bpeeters
  • Period: 2970 BCE to 2970 BCE

    MerNeith

    Evidence shows that she was a queen consort and regent in the 1st dynasty of Egypt, but may have also been a ruler for a small period of time. Her tomb closely resembles those of Egyptian kings and reflects many of the honours given to them. Additionally, her name was included in a list of early pharaohs found on a seal in her son's tomb, but beside her title was ‘King’s Mother.’ If she ruled, she would have been the first female pharaoh and queen regnant in recorded history.
  • Period: 1806 BCE to 1802 BCE

    Sobekneferu

    Sobekneferu was the last ruler of the 12th dynasty following the death of her brother Amenemhat IV. More than five other women are speculated to have ruled Egypt as pharaohs prior to Sobekneferu, but she is the first one confirmed by evidence.
  • Period: 1478 BCE to 1458

    Hatshepsut

    She is the second historically confirmed female pharaoh, becoming queen in the 18th dynasty after marrying her half-brother and then becoming regent to his son when he died. Quickly into her regency, she assumed the title and full powers of pharaoh. As a symbol of her power, she ordered all official representations of her to include the traditional regalia and symbols of the pharaoh, but statues of her today use elements of traditional female representations.
  • Period: 1353 BCE to 1336

    Neferneferuaten Nefertiti

    Akhenatan, her husband, and Nerfertit started monotheistic religion in the 18th dynasty and prayed to one god, the sun disk called Aten. Under their rule, Ancient Egypt was at the height of its wealth and prosperity. In certain artwork, there are scenes of Nefertiti in roles usually reserved for the pharaoh, such as hitting enemies. Some scholars believe she ruled Egypt briefly as pharaoh under the name Neferneferuaten after the death of her husband and before the ascension of Tutankhamun.
  • Period: 1191 BCE to 1189 BCE

    Twosret

    Twosret is the last known pharaoh of 19th dynasty. At first, she was the second wife of Seti II and regent to his heir Siptah, but when her husband died she assumed control of the throne and officially declared herself pharaoh. It is not known whether her reign ended in civil war or the conflict began as a result of her death.
  • Period: 51 BCE to 30 BCE

    Cleopatra Vll

    She ruled ancient Egypt as co-regent (first with her two younger brothers and then with her son) for almost three decades and was the last active pharaoh in Ptolemaic Egypt. She became pharaoh when she was 17 years old after her father died, serving as co-regent with her brother. In 48 B.C., her brother exiled her, and she fled to Syria where she assembled an army, got the backing of Julius Caesar, and with Rome’s military help, she regained her control of Egypt.