The shattered statues of Queen Hatshepsut have often been viewed as a testament to political resentment from her successor, Thutmose III, who sought to obliterate her legacy. However, emerging research grounded in recent discoveries and archival materials challenges this narrative. New evidence suggests that the destruction of her statues may have stemmed from more ritualistic and pragmatic motivations than mere spite.

Hatshepsut, renowned as the longest-reigning female pharaoh, led Egypt during a prosperous era marked by economic growth and extensive building projects. Known as “The Woman Who Was King,” her reign was significant for the advancement of the Egyptian civilization. Yet, following her death, there appeared to be a systematic effort by her successors to erase her name and image from history.

While some interpreted this as a campaign of annihilation, modern analysis reveals a more intricate reality. Jun Yi Wong, a researcher from the University of Toronto, meticulously examined numerous statue fragments discovered in Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple and its surroundings. His findings highlight that much of the damage to her statues wasn’t inflicted maliciously but rather reflected a deliberate process of deactivation, wherein statues were broken at their weakest points to neutralize their spiritual power.

This practice was commonplace in ancient Egypt, especially concerning the statues of deceased monarchs. Importantly, many of Hatshepsut’s statues have been recovered in largely intact conditions, with their faces preserved. Instances of damage are often attributed to reuse or natural wear over time, rather than intentional destruction.

Wong posits that the treatment of Hatshepsut’s statuary is part of a complex ritual tradition, paralleling practices related to other pharaohs. This suggests her legacy, while subjected to an erasure campaign, remains intricately woven into Egypt’s historical narrative and cultural practices.