Queen Hatshepsut (Ma'at-ka-Ra) who lived between 1508 and 1458 BC . Although not the only female ruler of Egypt, Hatshepsut was one the few female pharaohs of Egypt. There were female pharaohs prior to her, as well as female pharaohs after her. However, Queen Hatshepsut was in many respects special. The question is, how was a woman able to establish such power during a time when societies were predominantly ruled by men? To answer this question we must take a closer look at the social climate for the "common" woman in ancient Egypt.
Hatshepsut's name lives on, as an example of the power that one woman can possess if she sets her mind to achieving it. In a time when women were thought of as second-class citizens, good only for delivering sons who would be kings, Hatshepsut was the ruler herself. Courageous, strong-willed, and dynamic, Hatshepsut has passed on her name to the list of famous women in history.