The Chronicles of Moses
The Man who would be Pharaoh
Epic Novel
The Man who would be Pharaoh
Epic Novel
- The Man who would be Pharaoh
By Paul Rodricks
– The Man who would be Pharaoh
Now Available on Amazon.com
Historical-Ancient-Egyptian-Biblical Fiction Thriller.
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Unique Novel with many DISCLOSURES.
Glossary of Ancient Egyptian Names
Senmut, Senenmut “Mother’s brother”
Kemet Egypt, ‘black’ land
Waset Thebes
Mennefer Memphis
On Heliopolis
Ta-Seti Cush, Kush
Ta netjer Punt
Read the preview of the CHAPTER TWO here:
PART ONE
CHAPTER 2
1524 BC – Hatshepsut
At first Senenmut, felt outraged and then alarmed over the fate awaiting the deposed Queen. His mind tried to seek relief by going back into the past when destiny brought them together at the royal palace in Waset.
Her father Tuthmosis I, had become the Pharaoh King and they had shifted the place of residence from Mennefer.
Hatshepsut was the favorite daughter of Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmosis. She was eight years old when Mose as a child of three, come to live at the palace with his parents. She renamed him Senenmut.
He knew her as Ma’at-Kare. And, this was his favorite name to address her in private. They had grown up with her half-brother Tuthmosis II, and others of the royal family. The outside world hailed her as the "Pharaoh's Daughter”, the Crown Princess-in-waiting.
Senenmut grew up getting to watch Hatshepsut turn into a beautiful woman, learning, and adapting to her role as the heir apparent. Senenmut himself was receiving the royal academic training, which the Pharaohs had to undergo.
By the time, Hatshepsut was about 16 years old both her parents were dead.
According to the royal policy of succession, she had to marry her half-brother, Tuthmosis II. She ruled as a Co-regent for a few years when the Pharaoh died of chronic illness. They had no issue of their own, but he left behind a secondary son Tuthmosis III, born of his concubine, Iset. Tuthmosis was two-years old when his father died.
Since Tuthmosis was a minor, Hatshepsut continued to rule as the Co-regent Queen Pharaoh.
Hatshepsut was about twenty-two old by then, and Senenmut about 19 years. Living and officiating at the royal palace made them feel naturally attracted to each other.
Left without a husband, she had turned to the strong, good-looking, talented, and resourceful young Senenmut for a relationship. In time, their friendship became intimate. Moreover, he was already beginning to assist her in governing Kemet. He helped to consolidate her power and influence over the court officials. That included the royal dignitaries, the political leaders, and the ever-powerful Amun-Ra priesthood.
Thus, seven years later, both having decided that an opportune time had come, Hatshepsut declared herself the ruling Queen Pharaoh. Tuthmosis was still an underage.
Thereafter, she promoted Senenmut to the highest position in Kemet, as her Chief Vizier. In due course, his accomplishments earned him more than 20 other royal titles. Some of these were the Official Architect-Engineer, Civic Planner, Diplomat, and Military Commander.
Hatshepsut was twenty-five years of age, when she gave birth in secret to their daughter, Princess Neferure. Senenmut himself took the complete responsibility of educating their daughter. He groomed Neferure and prepared her for the royal duties of the Crown Princess.
As the Queen Pharaoh of Kemet, Hatshepsut was a shrewd politician and a graceful diplomat. She used propaganda and skill to exercise her authority to reign over the Kemite Empire. To prove Kemet’s sovereignty, Queen Hatshepsut sent Senenmut on military expeditions and diplomatic missions. Her Vizier led the Kemite army to counter the aggressions and put down the rebellions in Ta-Seti and Ta netjer.
Queen Hatshepsut also promoted trade missions, herself participating in a memorable one to Ta netjer. The Kemites coveted and were always in search of precious and valuable goods such as gold, ivory, exotic animals, spices, and aromatic trees.
During her rule, Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut commissioned Senenmut to undertake the works of her three-level Mortuary Complex - Djeser-Djeseru. Within this complex, Senenmut would undertake to build his secret underground tomb. Hatshepsut also restored the ruined temples in the Valley of the Kings and she built a large temple in the honor of her father.
To commemorate the 30-year Anniversary of her reign as the Queen Pharaoh, she ordered the building of two Sed obelisks.
She claimed a direct divine lineage to the national god, by first claiming the title, “Daughter of Amun-Ra” and later proclaiming herself as "God's Wife of Amun-Ra.” Hatshepsut did this to consolidate her right to rule as Pharaoh since kingship belonged to males only. Further, she went to the extent of commemorating the renewal of her Pharaoh Anniversary, at the significant Hep Sed Festival tradition.
Keen to accentuate her role as the Pharaoh, Hatshepsut took to dressing in the male costume of the Kemite Pharaoh. This consisted of the Shendyt Kilt, the Nemes headdress with its Uraeus and the khat head-cloth and the false beard. In private, Senenmut would jest about her alien way of dressing, but they both knew it was a necessity to endorse her role as the Pharaoh.
Another side of her, which the Vizier had recognized during her reign, was about her strong traits inherited from her father, the mighty Pharaoh Tuthmosis I. She possessed the characteristics of a strong-willed, persistent, and non-comprising person. To her allegiance meant total commitment.
He wondered what led to the unexpected overthrow by Tuthmosis. Except for the usual talks and rumors, they had seen no danger signs nor been warned of any impending revolt.
To be continued...
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