Along with her development of Egypt. Hatshepsut’s expedition to Punt was one that she took great pride in. sufficiency for it to be recorded in her mortuary temple. Along with the expedition came many positive results. which included spiritual. economic and political benefits. Bentley believes that it was one of the most ‘important events of her reign’ .
One chief characteristic of importance of the expedition was the economic impact that it had. Hatshepsut benefited greatly from the expedition. with many resources obtained. Redford states ‘Hatshepsut was non unsighted to the demand of bolstering Egypt’s economy’ . underscoring that she was active in her trade missions. Bradley states ‘the Egyptians needed a go oning supply of alien products…’ this illustrates the demand for strong trade in order to keep stableness. The alien merchandises that they received included sweet cicely. incense. coal black. tusk. gold and even dancing pigmies. harmonizing to Tyldesley. These merchandises were rare and objects such as these heightened the degree of success of the Egyptians. Tyldesley states that ‘trade flourished’ during her reign in contrast to the reigns of her predecessors.
The Speos Artemidos temple. in-between Egypt quotes ‘and Punt overflows me on the fields’ . This temple shows the position of Hatshepsut in publicity of her expedition. therefore it may hold prejudice from her position. Hatshepsut used the expedition as propaganda and the temple may be to an extent biased. Tyldesley provinces ‘presented the King with a fantastic propaganda coup…’ exemplifying her usage of propaganda. This beginning ensures that there was economic growing and that the expedition did profit her reign. With the economic benefits came support and it farther justified her reign. The expedition besides gave an chance for extended trade with other parts of the continent. The expedition opened up trade between Egypt and interior Africa. harmonizing to Bentley. Egypt prospered from this trade and provided continuity during the period.
Another of import point was that this expedition was a resurgence of New Kingdom tradition. harmonizing to Grimal. Grimal besides states that it was a high point in her foreign policy. Along with this Grimal believes that it was rare. that she was non every bit adventuresome as Tyldesley believes ( ‘Hatshepsut’s wider foreign policy should be classed as one of adventuresome and exploration’ ) Nevertheless this would farther reenforce her reign. as she was emulating the old Pharaohs. This trade is comparable with great Pharaohs of the yesteryear ; therefore it would delight the public and functionaries.
The economic factor was every bit of import as any for Hatshepsut. Without the expedition the great merchandises that they received would ne’er hold been had. therefore at that place would hold been less prosperity. The expedition came at a really good clip. when Hatshepsut needed to warrant her reign and maintain her people happy. In this facet the expedition was really of import to her reign.
The expedition to Punt besides gave spiritual benefits. Some historiographers believe that it was Amun who ordered her to travel on the expedition ( Tyldesley ) . One of the chief grounds Hatshepsut went on the expedition was to have spiritual benefits by pacifying Amun and to besides keep the support of the Amun priesthood. Another position comes from O’Connor. who believes that Hatshepsut did non necessitate support from the Amun priesthood because she was the caput of faith.
By demoing devotedness to Amun it would besides pacify the functionaries and farther justify her reign. In the scenes at Deir el-Bahri. an lettering is made which is devoted to her dedication to Amun. which is farther cogent evidence of her dedication. Through this Hatshepsut justified her reign and now had blessing from the functionaries and the Amun priesthood. Harmonizing to Lawless. Hatshepsut did more than any other Pharaoh to raise the position of Amun beyond all other Gods. The success of the expedition increased Hatshepsut’s familiarity with Amen as Amen commanded the expedition to her. ‘The ways to Punt should be searched out…’ .
With this in head. there are others who believed that this did non happen. Bradley believes ‘it is likely that it was Senenmut or Hapuseneb who suggested that an expedition to be sent…’ . Bradley has a different position. with the expedition sent to convey back merchandises to utilize at spiritual temples. Bradley raises a valid point but is non one who uses new readings. Robins is one who does differ with Bradley. believing that this position was non true and that Amun ordered Hatshepsut to travel on the expedition.
The expedition to Punt provided Hatshepsut with spiritual benefits. which moreover reinforced her reign. With the support of Amun and from functionaries. Hatshepsut was able to do her reign last thirster and have a more supportive base.
The expedition to Punt was really of import to Hatshepsut as she had a new manner to advance her success. Tyldesley provinces ‘returning victory from Punt…presented the King with a fantastic propaganda putsch and an resistless chance to publicize the glorifications of her reign’ . This statement is supported with grounds from many ancient beginnings. Deir el-Bahri has a subdivision devoted to Punt. the in-between portico shows the narrative of the expedition and so does many other of her edifice plant. This besides highlights that Hatshepsut saw it as a really of import point of her calling.
Hatshepsut as a female Pharaoh was ever traveling to necessitate to be pro active in order to hold support. With this one success. she used it every bit much as possible in order to advance her reign. In order to be Pharaoh. she would necessitate support. particularly from males harmonizing to Gardiner. Tomb scenes depict Hatshepsut as a typical male monarch. farther grounds that she justified her reign. Her events. particularly that of the expedition to Punt are widely recorded. Hatshepsut wanted to be remembered for it because it contributed to Egypt’s prosperity and she successfully illustrates this through the propaganda that she employed.
Hatshepsut significantly besides extended the boundaries the cognition of the Egyptians. The expedition to Punt can be seen as one of her enterprises that made Egypt prosper. Bradley identifies that she opened a peaceable trading path. while Bentley besides agrees with this. Once once more Hatshepsut emulated past Pharaohs and even managed to make what other Pharaohs in the yesteryear had non. Edwards provinces that ‘her reign was by and large peaceable and she increased the trade boundary lines of the country’ . Trade so flourished and for Egypt a period of prosperity occurred. This was peculiarly of import to Hatshepsut as
The expedition to Punt is seen every bit of import as it provided economic. political and spiritual benefits for Hatshepsut. As a consequence of the expedition she was seen as a traditional Pharaoh and was so depicted as one. The expedition made a important impact. non merely as it sustained her power as Pharaoh but besides because it besides contributed to her success as the first female Pharaoh who wholly owned the throne.
Bibliography:
Books:
Redford. D. The History and Chronology of the Eighteenth Dynasty. University Press 1984
Edwards. A. A. B. Queen Hatasu. and Her Expedition to the Land of Punt. 1891
Tyldesley. J. Daughters of Isis: adult females of ancient Egypt. 1994 Penguin Books
The Columbia Encyclopedia. Edition 6. 2000
Breasted. J. H A History of the Ancient Egyptians. 1908
Web sites:
Anonymous. 1997. retrieved November 6th 2006
World Wide Web. smithsonianmagazine. com
Anonymous. 1998. retrieved November 6th 2006
World Wide Web. touregypt. com
Lorton. D. 1987. retrieved November 7th 2006
World Wide Web. geocities. com
Anonymous. 2001. retrieved November 10th 2006
World Wide Web. egyptologyonline. com
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