Queen Hatshepsut and Drag

In this third crossover history post on “fashion statements that made history” with Katie McGowan, I feature one of the most famous beards in history, worn by the Pharoh Hatshepsut, which means “foremost of women.” Yep, you read that right: Hatshepsut dressed in drag.

Hatshepsut (c. 1503-1482 BCE) had been wedded to the powerful ruler Thutmose II (she was also his half-sister), and when he died she became a regent for their young son. However, as time went on she took power in her own right, building a famous temple at Deir el-Bahri and sponsoring a lucrative overseas expedition to the land of Punt. As a woman, she was at a disadvantage: for instance, she was unlikely to have been able to lead military campaigns, something her successful male forebearers had done. On the other hand, during her reign a lack of warfare brought a prosperity to Egypt born of peace.

And then, there was that beard. All pharaohs adorned themselves with regalia that symbolized their power – thought to be from the divine gods. A false beard made out of metal was part of the royal costume. In fact, the male pharaohs were as bereft of facial hair as Queen Hatshepsut — but the beard signaled a claim as ruler of Egypt, the wealthiest lands along the Mediterranean Sea. After Hatshepsut’s death, her son tried to erase his mother’s memory by defacing her statues and obliterating texts with her name. Fortunately, he was not completely successful, and so her story has come down through posterity.