Recent research challenges the long-held belief that the destruction of Queen Hatshepsut's statues was an act of vengeance by her successor, Thutmose III. Evidence suggests the statues were ritually 'deactivated' to neutralize their perceived supernatural powers.
Hatshepsut (ruled c. 1479-1458 BCE), one of ancient Egypt's few female pharaohs, saw many of her statues broken after her death. This led to the assumption that Thutmose III ordered their destruction out of animosity.
Archaeologist Jun Yi Wong's study, published in *Antiquity*, re-examines these artifacts. Wong analyzed archival records from 1920s excavations at Deir el-Bahri, where numerous fragments of Hatshepsut's statues were discovered.
The statues were intentionally broken at specific points, such as the neck, waist, and knees. This practice, known as 'ritual deactivation,' was common in ancient Egypt to neutralize the statues' power, as they were believed to be living entities.
While Thutmose III did try to erase Hatshepsut's legacy, the destruction of her statues was likely a ritualistic act. This aligns with how statues of other pharaohs were treated, suggesting a standardized approach to deactivating royal statues.
Wong's findings provide a more nuanced understanding of events after Hatshepsut's death, highlighting the interplay between ritual practices and political motivations in ancient Egypt.