Egyptian archaeologists announced on Wednesday that a mummy discovered in 1903 has been identified as Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt’s most powerful female pharaoh. The mummy was found in the Valley of the Kings and remained there for over a century until it was moved to the Cairo Museum for testing.
Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt during its peak from about 1502 to 1482 B.C. Her reign was the longest and most successful of all female pharaohs. She expanded trade and built many temples and monuments. Despite her achievements, her legacy was almost erased, possibly by her stepson Tuthmose III. The discovery of her mummy may help historians better understand this important period in Egyptian history.