In current times, both in Africa and around the world, the role of women in different cultures has a variety of similarities and differences. Many countries around the world have adopted equality for women, while others have not. When we look at the Nile region, we look toward Egypt. Today, Egyptian women may occupy different roles or be similar to those in other cultures. When we look back to the ancient times of Egypt, we might be surprised to find that the role of women was very different from that of other cultures of that time. “When Herodotus visited ancient Egypt and the late dynastic period, he was never intrigued to see women appearing as free as their men” (Tyldesley 1994). From the most famous Cleopatra to Queen Hapshepsut, women played an important role in ancient Egypt. Four queens are recorded as having ruled in their own right (Hawass). It was about the most famous female pharaoh, Hapshepsut, and her reign which spanned one of Egypt's most prosperous periods (Williams). Women held titles suggesting responsibility and independence. Many of these women also owned land and held secular positions (Ikram). Growing evidence confirms, through textual and archaeological discoveries, that the feminine element was vital to the survival of the king (Tyldesley 2006). For the purposes of this article, I will briefly expand on the political history of women in ancient Egypt, but I will focus specifically on Queen Hapshepsut and her reign. Through a chronological journey, I will discuss how she became queen regent, provide evidence of her significant political influence over Egypt during her reign, and explore her adversity during this period leading to her unfortunate and mysterious... middle paper. .....key of the queens of Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson, 2006. Print.Tyldesley, Joyce A. Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt. London: Penguin, 1994. Print. Williams, Malayna “Egyptian Women.” In The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Love, Courtship, and Sexuality Throughout History: The Ancient World. Westport: Greenwood, 2008. Reference Credo. Internet. March 25, 2014. Note: Special thanks to Google Images for the quality digital images used in this study. All images depicted in this study are available in the books listed in this bibliography. Due to the size of the small or large images of the cited works, the use of a scanner has been waived to improve the quality of the presentation. For more information and additional photos related to this study: http://www.google.com/imghpKeywords: Hapshepsut, Hapshepsut Temple, Hapshepsut Obelisks and Hapshepsut Metropolitan Museum of Art