Hatshepsut was one of the most successful pharaohs of Egypt, ruling for over 20 years during the 18th Dynasty. Originally serving as regent for her stepson, Thutmose III, she eventually assumed the full powers of a pharaoh. Her reign was characterized by peace, the restoration of trade routes (most notably the expedition to the Land of Punt), and prolific building projects, including her magnificent mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. To legitimize her rule in a male-dominated society, she was often depicted in statues with a traditional pharaonic beard and male physique. After her death, her successor attempted to erase her from history by defacing her monuments, but modern archaeology has restored her legacy as one of antiquity's greatest female leaders.