I know that the most well-known Pharaoh's are probably King Tutankhamun and Ramses. What about some of the more obscure Pharaoh's? I've been kind of interested in Smenkhkare, mainly because you DON'T hear about him that often and little is known about him. In fact, I don't think that Egyptologists even agree upon whether he was actually ever a Pharaoh.

What are some of the other Pharaohs that come to mind as not being in the limelight of Egyptian history?

I remember seeing something on Hatchepsut. She was a women Pharaoh. I don't remember hearing alot about her. It is usually the bigger ones that I have seen alot of information on.

I've always been curious about her Temple as it apparently predates the Parthenon in its symmetry. The photos of it look gorgeous. She was a real builder, that one, first female contractor in Egypt? LOL

Smenkhare was a pharoah, who supposedly ruled as regent with Nefertiti, after Akhenaton disappeared. But some egyptologists say that Smenkhare was actually Nefertiti herself. He does appear on some wall reliefs, and is depicted wearing the royal crown. But who he was and whether he was real is up for debate. Until they figure out more about the Amarna period, it is doubtful they will know any more than they know now.

Hatshepsut was the only female pharoah until the Cleopatras of the Ptolemaic period. She was married to her brother Tuthmosis and when he died she made herself regent for her nephew Tuthmosis 3rd. Then basically sent him off to fight with the army, and took control of the crown herself. In most of her wall reliefs she is depicted wearing the male false beard of the pharoahs. Her temple at Deir El Bahari is magnificent, I think Mushtaq has already posted some photos of it. She added much to Karnak temple, including the enormous obelisks there. She was an amazing pharoah who brought much prosperity to Egypt. On her death, Tuthmosis regained his crown, and defaced all of her wall reliefs, thereby removing her from history.

Interesting to hear about all these pharoahs that we never knew about. I had no idea there were female pharaohs. Thanks for all the info!

I need to ask my friend about this. He's a total Egypto-phile, and could probably come up with a large list of more obscure phraoahs off the top of his head. I think he can name whole dynasties.

I don't remember seeing the pictures on here of Hatshepsut. I might have though I have seen so many beautiful and interesting pictures on here. Thank you so much for the information.

It must have been an incredible discovery to find King Tut's tomb.

Did that discovery tell us most of what we know about his time, or was his life and reigning well documented elsewhere?

Howard Carter, an English archaelogist, discovered King Tuts tomb in the 1920s. As I understand it, there was little known about Tut until then. There was a fabulous BBC production about Carter a couple of years ago. If you can rent it, do! It was a fabulous show.

I had done a report on more of the obscure pharoahs. Hatshepsut had put Tuthmosis in jail was another thing I heard. I had heard it from an actual Egyptian I wonder if it is true.

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Egyptian Lover