Hatshepsut Pharaoh Queen

water.

CHAPTER I

The scent of perfumed oils wafts across the room tickling at my nostrils and I know, without opening my eyes, that my mother is standing in the doorway to my sleeping chamber, hidden behind the linen drapes, wanting to look in on me, yet, as usual, she is late and must hurry on past.

I keep my eyes closed. I knew she would not enter my chamber for she was on her way to my father's rooms. I heard the swish of her skirt and the jingle of her bracelets as she moved away, her bare feet making scarcely a sound on the marble tiled floor. Only the sound of the accompanying guards’ hard leather sandals let me know she has proceeded to my father’s rooms.

As soon as she was gone the odor of my guards' sweat once more pervaded my chamber. Oh if only they would leave and I could be alone. But I am never alone for I am Nefure beloved daughter of the God King Thutmose I, and like my mother must always be accompanied or watched over by guards.

I toss and turn and immediately feel the fans, held by the servants kneeling around my bed, waft the air about me. Mere children, younger than I, they kneel to either side of my bed fanning me with their hand held, long poled ostrich plumed fans so that I might be cool and sleep.

But I cannot. I sit up and order them from my chamber watching them rise on cramped legs, the result of kneeling so long, and scamper out through the linen draped doorway. As they leave the lights in the oil sconces flutter but do not die so that the shadows of the guards, standing outside of the chamber, take on grotesque and undulating shapes until the floating wicks finally stop their movements.

I feel beads of perspiration on my upper lip and wish I had not sent the fan bearers away. Of course I could call them back immediately if I wished, but decided against it. I laid down to sleep once more, though sleep was hard to come by for I kept imagining all kinds of specters and ogres in every shadowed corner of the room. The flickering lamps had done nothing to allay my fears and I huddle in a ball under my soft blanket my eyes closed tight shutting out all light.

When next I wake, filtered light is creeping into my bed chamber and the servants are back once more, in their kneeling positions, to either side of my bed, and wafting the air about me with their fans.

I rouse myself and slowly look around. I see Alisama standing off to one side, a far away look on her face.

Alisama, who sleeps at the foot of my bed, has been up a while for I note that my clothes for the day are already laid out on the gilded ebony chair and my oils, perfumes, powders and unguents wait for me, in their containers inside my open tortoise shell box, atop the carved and gilded console.

I stir and slowly stretch, sit up and am helped from my bed by Alisama who seems startled to have been caught day dreaming. She divests me of my night shift. Her eyes never making contact with mine as the servants form a wide circle around us with their backs to us, wafting their plumed fans backwards over their heads with fluid grace.

I push two aside so that I might walk over to the chair that I use to relieve myself and do so, into the fresh sand tray that lies beneath the round hole cut into the wooden seat.

Alisama claps her hands and a young boy runs in, keeping his head down low so as not to gaze upon my person, and quickly, with practiced ease, pulls out the sand tray which he immediately takes from the chamber.

Alisama then bathes me with perfumed water and, after drying my body with a soft cotton towel, rubs my body down with scented oils. Next my eyes are outlined with kohl and my black wig placed on my head before she wraps and pins, with gold pins, my morning high skirt about me. Made of the sheerest of cottons, it is wrapped around me three times over my small, just forming breasts. Then my gold and turquoise three stranded necklace is attached around my neck and I chose a coral, a turquoise, and several gold rings for my fingers from my jewelry box. How I love that box. I stroke its rough surface lovingly with my hands. It is made from black lacquered woven reeds and decorated with nacre. My father had brought it back, as a gift for me, from a trip he had made to the Land of Punt when I was yet too young to travel with him.

Punt! Sometimes, when I can’t sleep at night, I lie thinking about the land of Punt and imagine myself taking a journey to its exotic location. But, for now, I can only imagine the land and its people and the wealth it is reputed to hold. Nothing compares to the riches that are Egypt’s, but still, it would be worth the journey.

I have been taught, since I was very young, that the God Amun, Lord of all the gods, presider over Karnak, had ordered my father’s expedition to the land of Punt, for he ‘so much loves the King of Upper and Lower Egypt’ that he had wanted him to see for himself the marvels of every country. When I rule I will also order an expedition to the fabled land of Punt.

I w-am brought back to the present as Alisama claps her hands and the fan boys and girls quickly run to form two lines to either side of me. I slip into my morning slippers, woven of the finest palm fronds, and, with Alisama bringing up the rear, exit my sleeping chamber.

The guards, the same who had watched over me all night, are relieved by the day guards who immediately fall in behind my small cortege, their short skirts with studded leather overlays flapping with every step they take. Their sandal clad feet also flap in unison on the marble tiles echoing my every step. It is hard not to walk in cadence with the guards’ pace. Behind me, I hear Alisama smother a giggle as I try to high step like the guards. She is the only one, of course, who could observe what I was doing.

The guards keep up their pace, not looking at me, for to do so would be to incur my wrath and punishment, for gazing on the royal personage is not tolerated unless acknowledged. Looking upon the royal personage unbidden could even be considered sacrilegious.

Thus, we make our way out onto the terrace where baskets of fruits and bowls of grains await, as does my darling Sitre- In, my old wet nurse, who stands alongside my two tutors. They all pretend not to notice that Alisama and I are giggling and not behaving in a proper and dignified manner. This of course only causes Alisama and I to giggle all the more.

Nefure! admonishes Sitre-In.

Yes, ma’am, I respond, as I sit on my little gold chair under the blue and gold awning and wait for the food servants to come and kneel before me and, with heads bowed, proffer up, for my selection, baskets and bowls of fruits and grains. Another servant, pours a goblet of beer for me and I begin my first meal of the day after the food and drink tasters have taken their samples.

From my vantage point I can look out over the city of Thebes, glistening in the morning sun, out over the white temples and, bathed by the sun's rays, the pink and brown administrative buildings which stretch out before me until they meet up with the brown mud houses of the people and the rush huts of the lowly workers. Long straight avenues, flanked by pillars and obelisks, stretch from the palace to every reach of the city before me.

Where I am seated is on the eastern bank of the Nile and is for the living, the dead, in their resting places, lie to the west of the river.

One day, all this will be mine.

I then cast my eyes over the great river Nile, as it flows by beneath us. From my vantage point I can look down onto the barges which are being readied for our journey to Abydos, for I am to be wed there to my half brother Thutmose, who lives at Abydos with his tutors. I do not relish the thought of being wed but I do look forward to the journey, for as long as memory has served me I have accompanied my father on most of his travels throughout his kingdom and I love visiting new places. Indeed, Alisama and myself were often the only two females along on his trips and expeditions, for he did not even take a wife to comfort him.

How I relished these moments with my father. He treated me as an equal for I was well versed in my writing and sums and in all the ceremonial rites of both court and temple. I also have a most able tutor who teaches me the ways of overseeing governmental and regimental duties. I am prepared to take on any task that might befall me as the daughter and legitimate heir of my father Thutmose I. Marrying my half brother Thutmose, named of course after our common father, will not change that, for we will rule together.

Thutmose and I had often played together as children and, I like him well enough, though he is not very smart for he would rather play at soldiers than learn his lessons. I, however, know that knowledge is the path to power for I have been well taught by my tutors and the priests of Karnak; one can always find a good general to deal with all things military and to handle any outside threats to the Kingdom but, one must be in control, especially of all things administrative and legal, if one is to be a strong ruler and maintain peace on the domestic front.

I have tried to persuade my father to let me marry my other brother, Moses. I am going to call him by that name, though we all call him Sen-Mut, because later on, another man, also named Sen-Mut, would play a large role in my life and I don’t want you to be confused by what I tell you. And, Moses is not really my brother, even though I call him that, for he has been raised as such.

What can I tell you about Moses? Only that he was the sweetest baby ever, even if he is now proving himself to be headstrong in all matters. He has a charm, however, that is not lost on anyone and, much more so than I, can wheedle anything he wishes out of anyone - except my father. When he talks people listen, for he has a way with words and a most melodious yet commanding voice. I have tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to plead with my father to let me marry Moses rather than Thutmose, for Moses is a fine boy, intelligent, quick on his feet and with the bow and arrow. He listens to his tutors and is adept with a stylus, even though still very young, and knows all the workings of the kingdom and rites of the temple. But my father is adamant, he will not allow any foreigner or ‘Asiatic’ to ascend to the holiest of thrones.

We were living in Memphis, not where we are now in Thebes, when little Moses came into my life. I was then the only surviving legitimate issue of my father and mother, two brothers and a little sister having died in infancy and childhood. And then my father had a son by a concubine and, no matter what I did, no matter how brilliant I was in my studies, and no matter how well I applied myself, it was understood that this son, Thutmose, would be the next Pharaoh. He was a sickly and somewhat unstable boy, though I liked him well enough for, he was after all my brother, but then little Moses came into my life and I loved him and forgot about Thutmose, away in Abydos.

I was walking along the river bank of the mighty Nile in Memphis, which was then considered the capital of our great country, though now Thebes has become our capital, with my dear nursemaid Sitre-In, one of my tutors, and a small escort of guards, when we all noticed an unusual occurrence. Ibis, ducks and geese were rising and settling, rising and settling as though performing some kind of a ritual dance, from a clump of very densely packed papyrus water reeds, which grew fairly far out in the river.

What is happening? I asked, my curiosity roused. But no one seemed to know, nor could we see anything out among the reeds from where we walked along the river bank. If Alisama had been along for the walk, she would have been curious like me, but she was not yet allowed to accompany me when I was with one or more of my tutors, except at meal times of course. It would not have been proper for a maid to learn any of that in which I was being instructed.

It’s probably a crocodile or a hippo annoying the birds, said Sitre-In. Come, do not concern yourself with silly birds. Princesses should not be concerned with such lowly creatures. You must remember, always, that your father is coregent and your mother is the honored Great Royal Wife Ahmose, and one day, soon, for your grandfather lies sick, your father will be the Pharaoh of all of Kemet. You should behave accordingly and pay attention to your lessons.

Sitre-In birds are not silly, are not Pharaohs considered to be the manifestation of the falcon-headed deity Horus?

Of course, but falcons are wise, swift birds, renown as hunters, whereas the birds we are referring to are considered good enough to eat, but not good for much else!

Oh I wouldn’t say that Sitre-In. We do use their feathers for decoration and for stuffing pillows, and their fat is used in winter on our chests for medicinal purposes. And sometimes we even make utensils from their bones.

You know very well what I mean young lady, please do not forget that I love you and nursed you as a baby, I am but trying to keep your mind on more serious matters.

Yes, Sitre-In, I replied, though I was nonetheless intrigued by the birds. Birds normally did not resettle back from where they were disturbed, so I, personally, did not feel that the reason for their soaring and settling was a crocodile or hippo. But I obediently followed Sitre-In down the pathway and looked across the wide river to the temples, pyramids and small homes that dotted the landscape surrounding Memphis.

Princess, if you look across the river you can see how the rulers of yore built their pyramids in clusters, family clusters, continued my tutor.

Yes! I responded somewhat distracted and wishing I could find out instead what had caused the birds to rise.

Can you tell me, Princess, which God was then worshiped as the primary God?

Ptah, I answered bored. Everyone knew that. Why didn’t he ask me something I didn’t know so that I could learn something new?

Very good, Princess. Indeed it was the God Ptah and Memphis was the center of the cult to honor him. Now he is considered to be only a state God. Can you tell me what his attributes are and how you would recognize him were you presented with several small statuettes of different gods?

He is a creator god and is the patron god of craftsmen. He is usually, though not always, represented wrapped up in the attributes of a mummy.

Yes, indeed. You know your lessons well, said my tutor, as Sitre-In smiled benignly at me.

Princess, what was the original name of Memphis and why was it called thus?

Memphis was originally called White Wall because of the fortifications which were erected to protect the King’s palace and which were built of dazzling whitewashed mud-brick. The sphinx, which sits on guard at the site of the great Temple of Ptah, is also constructed of white alabaster, I responded.

Very good, said my tutor. What else can you tell me about this great city?

It was a center of trade, a great port, but enough, for now, I said, let us just enjoy the walk.

As we walked we came upon a group of fishermen casting their nets from the shore while others cast one wide from a boat, that bobbed just offshore, and which was made from the same reeds that had attracted my attention.

Guards! Call the fishermen on the boat to shore! I heard myself state. I wish to go on the river to find out the cause of the birds’ unrest.

Nefure! said Sitre-In in an admonishing tone of voice, while my tutor began to fuss and begged me to continue on our walk and with my lessons.

I want to find out what is causing the birds that we passed earlier, to act in that way, I responded, trying to sound as though I had authority but even to myself, I sounded childish.

One of the guards was meanwhile calling the boatmen over to the shore. As he shouted out to them to bring the boat to shore they looked up and, seeing who was on the shore, quickly pulled in their net and poled the boat to shore as ordered.

The two men and one boy on the boat jumped to shore and fell to their knees in front of me, while the oldest of the men held on to the side of the boat to prevent it drifting away.

The princess wishes you to take her out on the river, said the guard.

The little boy and the men looked up at the guard in astonishment, and the one holding the boat stood up, hesitantly, though his companions still stayed on their knees and bowed low. The man holding onto the boat was now in a quandary. If he fell to his knees again he might release the boat, yet if he did not fall to his knees he risked losing his life! So he fell to his knees again while still managing to hold onto the side of the boat. I knew what they all must be thinking. Why our lowly craft when the Princess has several large royal barges at her disposal? But they could not address a Princess and therefore acquiesced to the request.

So, as a guard lifted me up and placed me on the small craft, followed by Sitre-In, who would not let me venture onto the river alone, the tutor stood on the bank following our progress, with much hand wringing and pleas for us to reconsider our action. Like the fishermen who could only acquiesce to my demands he too could only go along with anything I wished though, supposedly, I was in his care while he tutored me.

But I ignored him and urged the fisherman to take us to where the birds had caused me to stop on my walk earlier. The man holding the boat vaulted in with alacrity and began to pole us out into midstream. As we moved along on the river, in the direction I requested, the guards followed along the pathway while the other fishermen, stood, mouths agape their fishing forgotten, their catch floundering about in the nets at their feet.

The fisherman on the boat poled us through the reeds to where the birds had risen as though disturbed. As we neared, I thought I heard a baby cry. But no that could not be, there was no habitation in this area which was solely devoted to temples and chapels. But I was not wrong! For, when we finally pulled into the middle of the thickest part of the reeds, I heard the sound again.

A baby! I exclaimed, standing up, causing the boat to rock from side to side. Sitre-In, who had insisted I could not go alone with such a lowly person as the fisherman, clutched the sides of the boat her fear reflected on her face at the thought that the boat might capsize!

How can that be? she managed to say, as she swallowed hard. Please, Princess, please sit down before we all drown.

Look! I exclaimed, as we saw something that looked like a miniature papyrus bark caught up in the reeds.

The fisherman steered the boat closer. I pulled back the reeds and was finally able to peer over the side of the boat and into a small woven basket in which lay a little baby boy! The basket had been snagged on a clump of reeds.

Ooh! I exclaimed, as I knelt upright, for water had come over the edge of the boat as I leant forward and I could feel it lapping about my knees and over my feet.

Nefure! Let’s return to dry land, please, the boat is taking on water and I am afraid we might drown. Your father would be most displeased, said Sitre-In, cajolingly.

No, not before we rescue the baby. Can you reach the basket? I asked the fisherman.

He nodded, hesitating.

I looked from him to the basket where the baby was now wailing most pitifully.

You may address me, I said to the fisherman who stood, his thin legs shaking as I spoke.

Have no fear, no harm will come of it. Can you reach the basket? I asked.

I will have to wade into the reeds to do so though, for the boat cannot approach any closer, the reeds are too dense.

Please, I beseeched him. We cannot leave a small baby out here, the crocodiles or hippos might do him harm, or worse, eat him!

You should have seen the look on the man’s face as he looked at me, then over to the basket and all around us, in case a crocodile or hippo lurked in the shallows!

You will be well rewarded, I said, and you need have no fear, crocodiles and hippos would not be able to make their way through such dense growth!

I don’t think he believed me, I scarce believed myself, but the thought of a reward goaded him to do what I requested, besides, he could scarce decline to do as requested by the Pharaoh’s daughter, for to do so would mean certain death.

He looked from me, to the guards on the river bank, training their spears in our direction, in case a hippo or crocodile presented itself but, I am sure, looking to the fisherman as though they might make him their next target practice if he did not do as I bid him to!

Princess, please hold onto those reeds so that the boat will not drift, he said, shaking at his audacity in speaking to me. As he climbed over the side, the boat rocked dangerously close to capsizing so that Sitre-In screamed out in fright.

Aieeeeeee!

As if he knew her fear the baby renewed its pitiful crying. I am telling you the noise the two of them made would have scared any lurking crocodile or hippo far from the vicinity!

I held the reeds tightly while I watched the fisherman bend over the basket, unsnag it from it’s reed prison, and pick it up by its sides. He slowly came towards us carrying it above his head, water dripping down over