NPR, The Picture Show: One of the first people known to change their gender was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh

[highplainsdem]

Last edited Tue Mar 31, 2026, 02:48 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2026/03/31/g-s1-115791/hatshepsut-one-of-egypts-greatest-pharaohs

The Picture Show
One of the first people known to change their gender was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh
Hatshepsut was one of the greatest pharaohs, and her legacy was erased and forgotten for over 3,000 years

March 31, 20261:00 PM ET
By Jackie Lay


For Women's History Month, I wanted to highlight Hatshepsut, who was forgotten to history for over three millennia and is still not quite a household name. While Cleopatra and Nefertiti are much better known, no female ruler of the ancient world was as adept and successful as Hatshepsut, which may be the key to why her legacy was erased for so long:

-snip-

Very nicely illustrated by Jackie Lay. Real art, not AI slop.

EDIT: See reply 3 for a link to photos of artifacts and a complete 340-page book about her that the Met has online.

[Coventina]

1. No! she did not change her gender!

She was king of Egypt, but everyone knew she was a woman. She made frequent public appearances.

This is really irresponsible reporting.

[highplainsdem]

2. From the story: "Was Hatshepsut transgender? No one can say for sure, but most historians think it's not likely."

[Coventina]

6. It's a really misleading and irresponsible headline. Shame on NPR.

She's a wonderful story from history, but to frame it as a transgender issue in the headline is click-bait.

[highplainsdem]

3. What the Metropolitan Museum has online about her is wonderful. An entire book to read online or download.

https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/hatshepsut-from-queen-to-pharaoh

[underpants]

4. I had never heard this.

[highplainsdem]

5. See reply 3 and the link there for the great photos and an entire book on her that the Met has online.