A woman pharaoh who took the royal title of “King of Upper and Lower Egypt” and whose official statuary depicted her with pharaonic beard and male regalia, Hatshepsut is endlessly fascinating. Impressive architectural projects and savvy encouragement of foreign trade established her legacy. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of her Deir el-Bahri temple and palace complex—did the men in her life openly resent her and plot against her? Did they recognize her smarts and secretly admire her? Surely she is one of history’s most interesting mysteries.
lyrics
Way back in history BCE
Lived the first cross dressing woman king
Sister, wife, stepmother, queen
Finest pharaoh on the scene
Husbands, fathers, nephews, kings
Jealous of the mannish queen
She offers wine to Amun-Ra
Spends all day at Isis’ Spa
Wears a plumed platform crown
A vulture hat and a full-length gown
Her mummy stolen, tomb destroyed
Made Cleopatra paranoid
So when you travel up the Nile
Take your time and stay awhile
Luxor, Karnak, ancient Thebes
Across the Valley of the Kings
See the terraced temple in the sand
Of the goddess-pharaoh-woman-man