Sobekneferu | the First Queen of Egypt

• 16 / 5 / 2023

History of Queen Sobekneferu

Known as "the beauty of Sobek" or Neferusobek, Sebekkara Neferusobek was a queen-pharaoh who ruled from approximately 1790/89–1786 BC. She was the final ruler of the 12th dynasty and of the Middle Empire of Egypt.

The term accepted by convention to refer to an Egyptian queen is woman-pharaoh or queen-pharaoh. Therefore, the word "pharaoh", so widespread and rooted in the popular lore, curiously turns out not to be a correct linguistic permutation.

Also, a strong personality, determination robust intellect, and tactical ability were necessary for this woman to rule an empire, as prosperous as it was complicated; for it had been classically in the hands of pharaohs. If you are looking to discover secrets about Egyptian pharaohs, I advise you to book our Egypt tours to Luxor, where you will be entertained with many places such as Karnak temple, Luxor temple, the Valley of the King, and more.

A brief history of the first queen of Egypt

She was the youngest of the granddaughters of King Amenemhat I. Her older sister, Neferuptah, seemed to show interest in power before Sobekneferu and although she was destined to occupy the throne, she died before her father without inheriting it. Egyptologists attribute to this empress a reign of three years and ten months. During that time, the queen achieved relatively important achievements that you will discover during your Egypt travel packages, related to the architecture of her nation: she greatly extended the funerary complex of Amenemhat III (known today as the Labyrinth of Herodotus) and promoted relevant constructions in Herakleopolis Magna.

From the records of her reign that have survived, it is clear that she was a woman of firm disposition and unwavering attitude. Her strong character, her courage, and, above all, her intelligence and care for her reign allowed her to go down in history as one of the most outstanding rulers of the Egyptian Empire. During your Egypt day tours you will discover many secrets about Sobekneferu and what her name means.

What was so special about this queen?

Let's go on unique Egypt Luxury tours to discover some of the most characteristic traits of Sobekneferu, it was her courage and dedication to stand out as an honorable and respected ruler in a universe of male regents. However, she also stood out for her great nonconformity with the gender canons of the time.

In this sense, and for more speculation that the representations of Sobekneferu dressed in male clothes have generated, the first queen of Egypt never failed to use female suffixes in her titles. Something not all female Egyptian rulers agreed with. All these myths will be more Clear during your Luxor day tours.

In an effort to normalize the role of women in the highest power and to equalize in power the symbols of femininity and masculinity, there are several portraits and statues that show her with highly unusual clothes and tools of power (crowns and scepters).

At a time when, as many experts claim, the female gender was sometimes considered a source of shame, there is no reason to think that Sobekneferu wanted to pass as a man. During Ancient Egypt, the aspiration of any king was to go down in history as a pharaoh in the most traditional of senses; something that necessarily - by cultural rootedness - implied the use of certain markers of masculinity.

Thus, the combination in his public representations of feminine and masculine markers could be explained as a mechanism to establish himself as a classic and venerable pharaoh, but with the peculiarity of having been a woman.

While the tomb of Egypt's first officially confirmed queen is yet to be discovered, what we can recognize is that she was an example of strength and overcoming and fighting for gender equality. We can all be first kings, rulers of our lives, and leaders of our destinies. Like Sobekneferu, an unbreakable will and the ability to fight are all we need to build our place in world history. I advise you to book our amazing Egypt Classic tours to discover the women's role in ancient Egypt.

Learn more about the Egyptian Queens and their power in ruling Egypt by being on your tour during Egypt travel packages with Cairo Top Tours.