The Egyptian authorities on Thursday, celebrated the 17th Dynasty Ancient Queen Tetisheri, as part of the events marking the International Women’s Day.
The North African country’s Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement that it decided to celebrate the revered Queen due to the prominent role she played in shaping the ancient empire which has continued to impact on generations of Egyptians.
A citation published by the Ministry, noted that Queen Tetisheri was the wife of king Seqenenre Tao I, and became co-regent with her son Seqenenre Tao II, after her husband’s death.
“Queen Tetisheri had a long life and witnessed her family fight for liberation against the Hyksos in the north of Egypt,” the citation reads.
“Her grandson, King Ahmose I, dedicated a stela in her memory and wrote ‘the mother of my mother and the mother of my father. My majesty has wished to make for her a pyramid and chapel in the sacred land close to the monument of his majesty.”
“The statue shows the Queen seated with a vulture wig headdress and a white dress.”
“Tetisheri was the wife of Pharaoh Senakhtenre Ahmose of the late seventeenth dynasty. She is sometimes referred to as the “mother of the New Kingdom” because of her powerful influence on her son Seqenenre Tao and her grandson, Ahmose I, who fought to expel the Hyksos from Egypt and lead the country into a new age of wealth and prosperity.”
“She is also thought to have been the mother of Queen Ahhotep, the wife of Sequenenre Tao who acted as regent for Ahmose in his early reign.”
“Tetisheri lived to the grand old age of seventy. During her lifetime, numerous decrees proclaimed her services to the Egyptian people.
“On her death, Ahmose I granted her a great estate, pyramid, and mortuary temple with priests and servants to conduct rituals in her honor. He also had a cenotaph constructed for her at Abydos.”