Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt and one of the most successful rulers in Egyptian history. Initially acting as regent for her young stepson, she eventually took the full titles and powers of a pharaoh. To legitimize her rule, she was often depicted in statues with a traditional pharaonic beard and masculine features. Her reign was characterized by peace and economic prosperity rather than war. She established important trade routes, most notably to the Land of Punt, which brought back gold, ivory, and frankincense. Hatshepsut was also a prolific builder, commissioning the magnificent mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. After her death, her successor attempted to erase her name from history by defacing her monuments, but modern archaeology has restored her legacy as a brilliant female leader who shattered the glass ceiling of the ancient world.