Gender and political power can be very different depending on the period and culture considered. Based on these differences, it can influence the type of art created. Two cultures that will be examined in this essay are Egypt and Mesopotamia. Specifically, how power is represented in these two cultures, how gender affects this power, and how people in these cultures let it influence their works. Coins from both cultures that display gender and political power are the Sphinx of Hatshepsut, from Egypt, and King Ashurbanipal II Hunting Lions, from Mesopotamia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayIn Egypt, by the time Haptshepsut was in power, gender and politics had changed dramatically. For example, Haptsheput had just become the first female pharaoh. But before that, women played a very different role in Egypt. Their status, if they are lucky enough to have one, depends on their relationship with the king. Women in power were often referred to as "the king's mother", "the king's wife", "the king's daughter", etc. Even though the king's daughters have the potential to become queen, they do not receive the same iconography and praise associated with being a queen. king. Egypt was once ruled by male gods, but then it began to be ruled by human kings. These human kings were men divinely distinct from any other human. “The function of kingship was essential to the very existence of the Egyptian state. The king stood between the divine and human worlds, acting as a point of contact and mediator.” It was believed that the king was the only one who could perform the rituals necessary to keep the universe intact. But all that changed when Hatshepsut declared herself pharaoh. She realized after the death of her husband/brother Thutmose II and the death of her son Thutmose III, too young to rule Egypt, that there could be two kings at once. Since then, Hapsheput and Thutmose had ruled together, but Haptsept was more recognized and clearly the more dominant. Early in her reign, Hapshetsut was depicted in a more feminine manner. His statues had the physique of a woman with a thin waist and chest. His paintings often had paler skin. But as she advances in her reign, her image becomes more masculine. She had darker skin, more muscular features and even a fake beard. Egypt was able to portray a female ruler, but it still represented her as a man. In Mesopotamia, men were of course still treated as if they were superior to women. Men could be farmers, slave owners, warriors, kings. Only men reserved the right to get involved in politics, which gave them even more power and authority. Women were simply seen as wives, mothers, housekeepers, etc. In Mesopotamia, power was conveyed by royalty. King Assiruial showed his royal power by being a great military officer. He achieved many successful military conquests. His power was demonstrated by his large palace covered with relics testifying to his military triumphs. He used his power to secure his empire and ensure that there were no invasions. “The king, as representative of the god Ashur, represented order. Wherever he controlled the situation, there reigned peace, tranquility and justice, and where he did not rule, there reigned chaos. The king's duty to restore order throughout the world justified military expansion.”.