When an Egyptian pharaoh is depicted, it is normally a person with a very elegant crown and well-designed clothing, but most importantly, a pharaoh is depicted as a man. In Egyptian history, however, some pharaohs were actually women, as in the case of Hatshepsut. There were other female rulers of Egypt, and when asked which one is most recognized, it is probably Cleopatra, but Hatshepsut deserves as much respect as Cleopatra for how she achieved the title of Pharaoh. Not only did she break the traditional laws of Egypt by becoming pharaoh, but Hatshepsut let nothing stop her from becoming a future pharaoh of Egypt. Becoming pharaoh was no simple task, but to become pharaoh “Hatshepsut made the most extraordinary gesture ever made by an Egyptian or by any other woman” (Wells 185). The decision to follow his dreams was fraught with difficulties, and the main difficulty that stood in his way was being a woman while most pharaohs are men. Another struggle was that of his stepson Thutmose III and his journey to become the next Pharaoh. The final battle was to make her legacy known after her death in order to show the pharaoh who she really was. Through all the battles to become pharaoh, Hatshepsut remained strong to become a person that many women could not be in that specific time period. Hatshepsut, no doubt, had a tough time becoming pharaoh, but she fought every battle to become one of Egypt's most famous and popular pharaohs. To understand Hatshepsut's struggles, you need a little history about her journey. become pharaoh of Egypt. The story goes that most of the heirs came from the lineage of the ancient royal family. Hatshepsut had this advantage, because "Thutmose had no surviving sons with her... middle of paper ......). Hatshepsut didn't stop stealing after taking office, and with that stealing, she took people she didn't know she would have too. She took on Egyptian citizens to prove that a woman was fit for the job, took in her own stepson, and set out to make her legacy known around the world. Through all of these battles throughout her journey, Hatshepsut remained strong so that she could help the country she loved. Hatshepsut may not be the most famous pharaoh of Egypt, but she certainly played an important role in the legacy of Egyptian history. Works Cited Galford, Ellen. Hatshepsut: The princess who became king. Washington DC: The National Geographic Society, 2005. 1-59. Print.Roehrig, Catharine H. Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006. 1-296. Print.Wells, Evelyn. Hatshepsut. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1969. 1-267. Print.