Hapshetsut

Hapshetsut was one of the most successful and significant female pharaohs of ancient Egypt, reigning during the 18th dynasty in the 15th century BCE. She was the daughter of Thutmose I and served as regent for her stepson Thutmose III before declaring herself pharaoh. Hapshetsut is renowned for her ambitious building projects, including her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, which is considered an architectural marvel. Her reign is marked by peace and trade expansion, particularly with the land of Punt, and she is often depicted in male pharaonic regalia to legitimize her rule in a male-dominated society.