Queen Ahhotep

Pharaohs and Queens like king Tutankhamun and queen Hatshepsut, and their mysterious mummifications, have captured the interest of thousands of scientists in different generations. But among the characters of Ancient Egypt, Queen Ahhotep is one of the most interesting. 

Ahhotep was the protagonist of one of the most important and stirring eras of Ancient Egypt. Her reign was located at the end of the XVIIth Dynasty and the beginning of the XVIIIth. She was the one who guided the destinies of Egypt during the years when her son, Pharaoh Ahmosis I, was a minor. Known as the Queen of Liberty and the Warrior Queen, this woman set an indelible mark in Egyptian and universal history 

About Queen Ahhotep it is known that she was born in the bosom of the ruling family of the city of Thebes. Daughter of prince Senajtenra Taa and his wife Tetisheri, it is believed that she came into the world between the years 1585 and 1575 B.C. Her hometown was one of the principalities farthest from Memphis, a region from which the Pharaoh dominated Egypt. All the principalities that made up the Egyptian civilization at that time depended to a greater or lesser extent on Memphis, of the XV dynasty, which was made up of an Asian people who had invaded Egypt sixty years earlier, the Hyksos. 

When Queen Ahhotep's father died, she was forced to marry his older brother, according to the customs of the time. It was thus that she, together with her now husband and occupant of the throne of Thebes, Seqenenra Taa, began to plot a rebellion. The royal couple, advised by Tetisheri, the mother of both, and adding a council of military, nobles, priests, and scribes, were shaping a rebellious plan that would allow them to expel the Hyksos from their territory. 

Rumors of the Theban rebellion soon reached the ears of Pharaoh Memphis, who sent a Hyksos retinue to the principality, demanding that the sacred hippopotamuses of the temple of Amun be sacrificed since their bellowing interfered with the sleep of the Pharaoh, who lived hundreds of miles away. The provocation was answered. King Seqenenra Taa, nicknamed The Brave, went out at the head of an army, to free Egypt from the Hyksos yoke. Queen Ahhotep remained at the head of the court in the absence of her husband, assuming the government with a mettle and integrity that would be recognized by all. 

The hidden treasure of Queen Ahhotep 

Queen Ahhotep inherited her son in Egypt very different from the one in which she was born. After transferring the power to him, she retired to the temple of Karmak, where she lived many more years, until she died, already very old. She was buried in the family necropolis of Dra Abu el-Naga. It was right there where, in the year 1859, her tomb was found. Her sarcophagus and her mummy rested inside, together with many objects of her trousseau. Due to the anxiety and imprudence of the explorers, they opened the sarcophagus, damaging the mummy, which was reduced to dust. 

However, the enormous treasure that was preserved as part of her trousseau, could be preserved. In the tomb of Queen Ahhotep was found valuable jewelry with lapis lazuli stones, semiprecious stones, a dagger of pure gold and the legendary gold flies that she received as a military award of honor. Pieces with the engraved names of Kamose and Ahmose were also found. A magnificent bracelet in the shape of an open-winged vulture of the brightest colors crowned the exquisite collection of jewels that made up the treasure of Queen Ahhotep. 

The extraordinary beauty and value of these historical pieces made them desirable to many. In 1867 they were sent to the Universal Exposition in Paris, where they remained until they were transferred to the place where they should always belong, the Cairo Museum, where they are still exhibited today as extraordinary pieces of jewelry, which are faithful samples of Egyptian history. 

Egypt is one of the most amazing nations on the planet, nestled between northwest Africa and the middle east, Don't forget that all of our Egypt day trips are fully customizable. So, if you want to visit the pyramids of Giza and the great sphinx Palace and you don't see them mentioned in your itinerary, just let us know and we will make the necessary changes to suit your individual needs. And on the bank of the nail river, there is the most famous restaurant with delicious food and you can take an egypt nile cruise tour, or if you want a 2 hours trip on the Nile river you can have the felucca ride trip from our Cairo day tours category where you will find all of the best of Egypt day tours from all the cities of Egypt and the most requested trips as the Hurghada day tours to enjoy the crystal blue waters of the red sea and have some chilling time to cut off your routine life.