Editing Hatshepsut (section)

===Official lauding===
{{See also|Depiction of Hatshepsut's birth and coronation}}
[[File:Hatshepsut-CollosalGraniteSphinx02 MetropolitanMuseum.png|upright=.8|alt=Large granite sphinx bearing the likeness of Hatshepsut, depicted with a false beard |thumb|Hatshepsut was "often portrayed in lion form [[sphinx]] when she ruled as king",{{sfn|Graves-Brown|2010|p=132}} as in this [[granite]] sculpture which also shows her wearing the traditional [[Beard#Egypt|false beard]], a symbol of pharaonic power.]]
[[File:S F-E-CAMERON Hatshepsut Hawk.JPG|thumb|left|The Hawk of the Pharaoh, Hatshepsut—''Temple at Luxor'']]
[[Hyperbole]] is common to virtually all royal inscriptions of Egyptian history. While all ancient leaders used it to laud their achievements, Hatshepsut has been called the most accomplished pharaoh at promoting her accomplishments.<ref name="pbslink">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/newkingdom/hatshepsut.html|title=Hatshepsut|publisher=PBS|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831181559/http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/newkingdom/hatshepsut.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hatshepsut assumed all the [[regalia]] and symbols of the Pharaonic office in official representations: the [[Khat (apparel)|Khat]] head cloth, topped with the [[uraeus]], the traditional false beard, and [[shendyt]] kilt.<ref name="pbslink"/> Hatshepsut was ambiguous and androgynous in many of her statues and monuments. She would create a masculine version of herself to establish herself in the Egyptian patriarchy.{{sfn|Cooney|2018|pp=144-145}}

Osirian statues of Hatshepsut—as with other pharaohs—depict the dead pharaoh as Osiris, with the body and regalia of that deity.{{sfn|Baum|Thomas|2016|p=60}}

To further lay her claim to the throne, [[Ancient Egyptian religion|priests]] told a story of divine birth. In this myth, [[Amun]] goes to [[Queen Ahmose|Ahmose]] in the form of Thutmose I. Hatshepsut is conceived by Ahmose. [[Khnum]], the god who forms the bodies of human children, is then instructed to create a body and [[Ka (Egyptian soul)|''ka'']], or corporal presence/life force, for Hatshepsut. [[Heket]], the goddess of life and fertility, and Khnum then lead Ahmose along to a place where she gives birth to Hatshepsut.{{sfn|Wells|1969|p=177}}{{sfn|Morenz|1992|p=184}}{{sfn|Lipinska|2001|p=86}}{{sfn|Martin|2012}}{{Page needed|date=November 2024}} Reliefs depicting each step in these events are at Karnak and in her mortuary temple.{{sfnm|Pirelli|1999|1p=278|Dorman|2005a|2p=87|Roth|2005|3p=149}}

The Oracle of Amun proclaimed that it was the will of Amun that Hatshepsut be pharaoh, further strengthening her position. She reiterated Amun's support by having these proclamations by the god Amun carved on her monuments:

{{blockquote|Welcome my sweet daughter, my favorite, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Maatkare, Hatshepsut. Thou art the Pharaoh, taking possession of the Two Lands.{{sfn|Breasted|1906|pp=116–117}}}}

Once she became pharaoh herself, Hatshepsut supported her assertion that she was her father's designated successor with inscriptions on the walls of her mortuary temple:

{{blockquote|Then his majesty said to them: "This daughter of mine, Khnumetamun Hatshepsut—may she live!—I have appointed as my successor upon my throne... she shall direct the people in every sphere of the palace; it is she indeed who shall lead you. Obey her words, unite yourselves at her command." The royal nobles, the dignitaries, and the leaders of the people heard this proclamation of the promotion of his daughter, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Maatkare—may she live eternally.{{sfn|Seawright|2000}}}}