She Broke a 1000-Year-Old Tradition to Become the First Female Pharaoh
Sobekneferu changed the way Egyptian society viewed women in power
If you go 100 km southwest of Cairo, you will find an oasis in the middle of a desert. The oasis, also known as Faiyum Oasis, used to be a freshwater lake. It was a lifeline for the people living there. A barren pile of mud brick stands near the oasis. A closer view reveals a limestone base beneath the mound.
At first sight, you may mistake it for a little ruin. The mound is nothing compared to the Great Pyramids of Giza or the magnificent temple complex in Luxor. The location is not well-known among travelers.
But once upon a time, Herodotus, the famous Greek historian, praised the enormous pyramid that stood at the site of the mound.
This I have actually seen, a work beyond words. For if anyone put together the buildings of the Greeks and display of their labours, they would seem lesser in both effort and expense to this labyrinth- Herodotus.
The Greek scholar was at a loss for words to describe the magnificent structure.
The pyramid was erected for Pharaoh Amenemhat III (1818 BC to 1770 BC), the last great monarch of Egypt’s 12th dynasty. While he was alive, the Pharaoh started building…
