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Primary sourceSculpture

Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Relief from the Red Chapel at Karnak

A carved relief from the Red Chapel at Karnak showing Hatshepsut alongside Thutmose III during their shared rule.

This Karnak relief shows Hatshepsut depicted beside Thutmose III, illustrating their shared rule.

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Carved Egyptian relief on a sandstone wall showing two standing figures in profile with hieroglyphic inscriptions and cartouches around them. The taller figure on the right wears a tall crown with a headdress and holds objects; the figure on the left wears a short wig and kilt. Pitted stone surface with a small hole near the top.
Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, relief from the Red Chapel, Karnak. Photograph by Markh.

About this source

What it is

This is a stone relief carved on a wall of the Red Chapel at Karnak, showing two standing figures in profile surrounded by hieroglyphic inscriptions and cartouches. One figure wears a tall crown; the other a short wig and kilt. The relief depicts Hatshepsut and Thutmose III together.

Why it matters

The Red Chapel was built as part of Hatshepsut's building program at the great temple complex of Karnak. Showing her alongside Thutmose III in formal temple art illustrates how their joint rule was presented publicly and preserved for religious purposes.

Look closer

  • What differences can you see between how the two figures are dressed and posed?
  • Why would a temple wall be chosen to record images of the rulers?
  • What might the cartouches around the figures have named or recorded?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hatshepsut on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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