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Tausret: Forgotten Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt
One of only a few women who ruled ancient Egypt as a king during its thousands of years of history, Tausret was the last pharaoh of the 19th dynasty (c. 1200 BCE), the last ruling descendent of Ramesses the Great, and one of only two female monarchs buried in Egypt's renowned Valley of the Kings. Though mentioned even in Homer as the pharaoh of Egypt who interacted with Helen at the time of the Trojan War, she has long remained a figure shrouded in mystery, hardly known even by many Egyptologists. Nevertheless, recent archaeological discoveries have illuminated Tausret's importance, her accomplishments, and the extent of her influence. Tausret: Forgotten Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt combines distinguished scholars whose research and excavations have increased our understanding of the life and reign of this great woman. This lavishly illustrated book utilizes recent discoveries to correctly position Tausret alongside famous ruling queens such as Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, figures who have long dominated our view of the female monarchs of ancient Egypt. Tausret brings together archaeological, historical, women's studies, and other approaches to provide a scholarly yet accessible volume that will be an important contribution to the literature of Egyptology -- and one with appeal to both scholars and anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt culture.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published February 29, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 26, 2018
A truly engaging biography of a much-overlooked pharaoh. I must admit I was surprised to find a biography of Tausret, precisely because we know so little about her. There are certainly other pharaohs with more evidence for their lives who do not have a biography. Tausret is of great interest because she is one of the very few female rulers in ancient Egypt’s history, and Richard Wilkinson doesn’t disguise the paucity of evidence. Much of it, he tells us, has only come to light in the past fifty years, and there still exist large gaps. However, I found this a fascinating read.
Chapters are contributed by guest scholars, variously examining other examples of female rulers, the sequence of events of Tausret’s life, and her construction works including her tomb and her mortuary temple. Joyce Tyldesley’s opening chapter on previous ruling queens shows its age somewhat, mentioning Nefertiti dying in Year 12 of Akhenaten’s reign (we now have evidence of her alive in Year 16), but other than that I spotted no egregious errors. Each chapter is written in a lucid style that welcomes the general reader just as much as the scholar and hobbyist.
Like others, my one real beef with the book was its brevity. I was struck by just how much we still do not know about Tausret’s reign and life, and those gaps are frustrating. Certainly not the author’s fault though, so I shan’t mark the book down.
8 out of 10
May 20, 2012
This is an excellent overview of the life, reign and monuments of one of the most underrated figures from Ancient Egyptian history.
Tausret was the Great Royal Wife of Seti II, and acted as regent for his youthful successor of dubious parentage, the boy-king Siptah. When Siptah died without a heir, Tausret became the nineteenth dynasty's eight, and final, king. There are obvious parallels with Hatshepsut, though it has been suggested a more apt comparison is the Middle Kingdom queen and pharaoh, Sobekneferu.
This is a very slim volume, at just over 100 pages (excluding notes, bibliography and index), and features only five chapters (covering the royal women of Egypt, Tausret's life, monuments, tomb and mortuary temple). There are no real "weak" chapters, though I didn't get into the chapter on her tomb as much as the others – possibly I was too distracted when I read it. But the writing is accessible and engaging – this isn't a book for "scholars only".
Perhaps the most interesting chapter was Gae Callender's overview of Tausret's life. While I can nitpick (as someone who is yet to read The Iliad, more discussion of Tausret's role there would have been welcome), this chapter allows the reader to catch glimpses of the real Tausret's life, personality and relationships.
The one flaw with Tausret is that I wanted more. The book itself is packed full of information, yet it doesn't feel like it's enough. This is not necessarily a fault of the book - in comparison to individuals such as Hatshepsut, Akhenaten and Ramesses II, the evidence we have for Tausret's life and times is scant. Because Tausret comes across as one of the most extraordinary and fascinating women of Ancient Egypt, it is a pity there's so much uncertainity about her.
Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt and/or the awesome women of the ancient world.
Tausret was the Great Royal Wife of Seti II, and acted as regent for his youthful successor of dubious parentage, the boy-king Siptah. When Siptah died without a heir, Tausret became the nineteenth dynasty's eight, and final, king. There are obvious parallels with Hatshepsut, though it has been suggested a more apt comparison is the Middle Kingdom queen and pharaoh, Sobekneferu.
This is a very slim volume, at just over 100 pages (excluding notes, bibliography and index), and features only five chapters (covering the royal women of Egypt, Tausret's life, monuments, tomb and mortuary temple). There are no real "weak" chapters, though I didn't get into the chapter on her tomb as much as the others – possibly I was too distracted when I read it. But the writing is accessible and engaging – this isn't a book for "scholars only".
Perhaps the most interesting chapter was Gae Callender's overview of Tausret's life. While I can nitpick (as someone who is yet to read The Iliad, more discussion of Tausret's role there would have been welcome), this chapter allows the reader to catch glimpses of the real Tausret's life, personality and relationships.
The one flaw with Tausret is that I wanted more. The book itself is packed full of information, yet it doesn't feel like it's enough. This is not necessarily a fault of the book - in comparison to individuals such as Hatshepsut, Akhenaten and Ramesses II, the evidence we have for Tausret's life and times is scant. Because Tausret comes across as one of the most extraordinary and fascinating women of Ancient Egypt, it is a pity there's so much uncertainity about her.
Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt and/or the awesome women of the ancient world.
September 7, 2014
Homer mentions in The Odyssey, an Egyptian King named Polybus, who lived with his wife, Alcandra in Thebes during the Trojan War. Manetho changes Polybus’s name to Thuoris, and claims that he was a male king during his chronological list of the 19th dynasty pharaohs. What these two men did not realize was that King Polybus/Throuris was actually a female pharaoh named Tausret. Pharaoh Tausret has been forgotten over the years, and this book sheds some facts based on archeology to the reign of the fascinating and powerful pharaoh.
Pharaoh Tausret was a descended to Ramesses II, who because of his long reign outlived many of his children and grandchildren. His longevity created a crisis in Egypt because there were very few heirs left to succeed him. His thirteenth son, Merenptah succeeded him, and he reigned for thirteen years. After Merenptah’s death there was dissent among the royal family regarding the succession, in which it involved to have an effect of Tausret. She was the queen consort of Sety II, the eldest son of Merenptah but Setty II was challenged by Amenmesse, whose origins are still unclear, that also claimed himself as Pharaoh. However Amenmesse died a few year later leaving Sety II as the sole ruler of Egypt.
Like Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who reigned Egypt before her, Queen Tausret was queen regent to Siptah after Sety II’s death. Siptah, was a child and the son of a Canaanite woman and possibly Amenmesse. There was also a man of obscure origins named Bay that rose to become the most powerful man at court. Only Bay ended up being executed by Pharaoh Siptah. However after Siptah’s sudden death there was no other legitimate ruler to succeed the Egyptian throne. In order to help preserve the succession of Egypt during this dynastic crisis, Tauret become pharaoh. Unlike the Hatshepsut, Tausret was sole ruler, and did not dress up like a man but instead kept her female image. Because there was no one to fulfill the queenly duties, she played both the roles of queen and king. The end of her reign is unknown, and the majority of her memory has been erased until the nineteenth century. The very few records of her in ancient history gives her identity as a male king.
Overall, I found this book to be interesting and fascinating. The book not only recounts her reign, but it also analyzes the positions and roles of royal women in Egypt. It also undergoes a detailed study and examination of the archeology of Tausret’s monuments, tomb ( Ramesses II usurped her tomb in honor of his father Sethnahkt, who was the successor and possible overthrower of Tausret), and temple. This book shows Tausret as admirable and skilled ruler that is worthy of taking her place among powerful pharaohs of Egypt. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Egypt and others who are curious of learning about this little-known female pharaoh.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Pharaoh Tausret was a descended to Ramesses II, who because of his long reign outlived many of his children and grandchildren. His longevity created a crisis in Egypt because there were very few heirs left to succeed him. His thirteenth son, Merenptah succeeded him, and he reigned for thirteen years. After Merenptah’s death there was dissent among the royal family regarding the succession, in which it involved to have an effect of Tausret. She was the queen consort of Sety II, the eldest son of Merenptah but Setty II was challenged by Amenmesse, whose origins are still unclear, that also claimed himself as Pharaoh. However Amenmesse died a few year later leaving Sety II as the sole ruler of Egypt.
Like Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who reigned Egypt before her, Queen Tausret was queen regent to Siptah after Sety II’s death. Siptah, was a child and the son of a Canaanite woman and possibly Amenmesse. There was also a man of obscure origins named Bay that rose to become the most powerful man at court. Only Bay ended up being executed by Pharaoh Siptah. However after Siptah’s sudden death there was no other legitimate ruler to succeed the Egyptian throne. In order to help preserve the succession of Egypt during this dynastic crisis, Tauret become pharaoh. Unlike the Hatshepsut, Tausret was sole ruler, and did not dress up like a man but instead kept her female image. Because there was no one to fulfill the queenly duties, she played both the roles of queen and king. The end of her reign is unknown, and the majority of her memory has been erased until the nineteenth century. The very few records of her in ancient history gives her identity as a male king.
Overall, I found this book to be interesting and fascinating. The book not only recounts her reign, but it also analyzes the positions and roles of royal women in Egypt. It also undergoes a detailed study and examination of the archeology of Tausret’s monuments, tomb ( Ramesses II usurped her tomb in honor of his father Sethnahkt, who was the successor and possible overthrower of Tausret), and temple. This book shows Tausret as admirable and skilled ruler that is worthy of taking her place among powerful pharaohs of Egypt. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Egypt and others who are curious of learning about this little-known female pharaoh.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
October 6, 2018
Truly a superb and informative book! The extensive research really shines and provides key insights to the life and times of Tausret. I love the fact that such an ambitious, brave, dynamic, confident and remarkable woman's story is being given the historical recognition her life and deeds are worthy of. Extremely strong, bold and resourceful- Tausret undoubtedly ranks high with the fantastic queens and Pharaohs who preceded and followed her era. While she did not succeed in preventing the 19th Dynasty's decline- Tausret did rule with the same charisma and fearlessness her ancestors, notably Ramses II, exhibited and utilized to maintain Egypt's status as a superpower. Tausret's story which long has been vague now is revived for posterity by Wilkinson and other authorities in Egyptology. A film certainly needs to be done about this incredible woman! Personally, I think Danai Gurira is a great candidate for the role. One of this generation's most thrilling actresses, Gurira is best known from her role as General Okoye in the recent Marvel blockbuster "Black Panther". Like Tausret, Okoye is a warrior with overtly authoritarian overtones. However, unlike Tausret, Okoye was not a ruler, but still a fully lethal force, wife and patriot . . . yet nonetheless powerful and influential. Gurira would be perfect to represent the spirit of this commanding yet enigmatic leader. A must-read for all interested in Ancient Egypt and martial women who made impressive impacts on History.
July 2, 2013
Love this book, a gathering together of the latest research into the life of the last ruler of the 19th dynasty, one of the few women to rule solely as Pharaoh and to have a tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
December 2, 2019
I really wanted to like this book but I just had problems with following it and getting excited over the details. It was probably e and not the author.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews