Antiquity · Cleveland Museum of Art · 1920.1995
Relief of Hatshepsut or Tuthmosis III
Unknown maker, 1479–1425 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust · Public domain
- Artist
- Unknown maker
- Date
- 1479–1425 BCE
- Medium
- painted limestone
- Dimensions
- Overall: 22.8 x 16.6 x 3.8 cm (9 x 6 9/16 x 1 1/2 in.)
- Era
- Antiquity
Why it matters
At the death of King Tuthmosis II, a child was proclaimed king, Tuthmosis III. His aunt Hatshepsut was named to serve as his regent; however, she quickly proclaimed herself queen and ruled in the boy's stead for over twenty years. To further assert her power she often had herself portrayed in sculpture as a king with masculine torso and even a beard. She is shown here wearing crowns usually reserved for kings. When Tuthmosis III finally ascended to the throne, he had many of her monuments destroyed or vandalized.