In ancient Egypt, the ultimate opportunity for power was the throne, a position reserved for men. Yet Hatshepsut, a woman of immense ambition, saw her chance and seized it. Understanding that tradition was her biggest obstacle, she made a strategic investment in her public image. She adopted all the symbols of kingship, dressing as a male pharaoh and even wearing a ceremonial fake beard, a clever move to secure her claim to the valuable property of the entire kingdom and ensure the success of he