Hatshepsut: The First Pharaoh to Use the Title as Such—A Queen Who Changed the Rules

Grand staircase leading to the Temple of Hatshepsut with colossal statues and columns

In the annals of ancient Egyptian history, Hatshepsut stands out not just because she was a powerful female ruler but because she was the first ruler to formally adopt the title of “Pharaoh.” Before Hatshepsut, the term “Pharaoh” (per-aa, meaning “great house”) was used to refer to the royal palace, the institution of the monarchy, […]