1
00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,920
♪ ♪
2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,800
MOHAMED: This is the
entrance to the pyramid.
3
00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:09,800
It's really very exciting.
4
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:11,640
NARRATOR: Archaeologists
are on the brink of the
5
00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:13,920
discovery of a lifetime.
6
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:15,040
MOHAMED (off-screen):
Nobody entered here.
7
00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,240
It's a really important
moment for all of us.
8
00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,360
NARRATOR: Ahead,
the burial chamber of
a mysterious ancient queen,
9
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,000
untouched for 4,000 years.
10
00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,320
MOHAMED: We will
see if this wooden beam
is really stable enough.
11
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,880
(overlapping chatter)
12
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:32,920
We will remove this part.
13
00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,760
Let's hope it's safe.
14
00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,400
(shifting rocks)
15
00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,080
(speaking in native language)
16
00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:52,440
NARRATOR: Egypt.
17
00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,080
The land of the pyramids
and mighty monuments.
18
00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,480
Built by all powerful Pharaohs
19
00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,760
great kings like Khufu,
Ramses and Tutankhamun.
20
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,520
But now archaeologists are
revealing new evidence of
21
00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,040
rulers of a
different kind who could
wield great power and
22
00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,320
even become
Pharaohs themselves...
23
00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,120
the Queens of Egypt.
24
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,200
How do these women
rise to power in a world
25
00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:21,800
dominated by men?
26
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,280
To investigate American
Egyptologist Colleen Darnell
27
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,480
explores a
temple built by one of
Egypt's greatest queens...
28
00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,200
Hatshepsut.
29
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,920
COLLEEN:
This temple is fantastic.
30
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,120
NARRATOR: A row of imposing
statues lines the temple.
31
00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,440
COLLEEN: Oh, my goodness,
this is amazing!
32
00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,880
These statues are
images of the pharaoh
in the form of Osiris,
33
00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,760
but we know it's a king
because of the double crown
34
00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,000
of upper and lower Egypt.
35
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,760
NARRATOR: This is the
temple of Queen Hatshepsut,
36
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,760
but there are statues
of kings everywhere.
37
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,000
COLLEEN: The king
wears a divine beard,
38
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,280
and holds a crook and a flail,
39
00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,920
typical symbols of royalty.
40
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,200
NARRATOR: Even though
she was a woman,
41
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,440
Hatshepsut portrayed
herself as a man.
42
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,840
Colleen investigates why...
43
00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:25,200
COLLEEN: I would like to find
a cartouche that has a royal
44
00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,840
name written in hieroglyphs.
45
00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,840
NARRATOR: A cartouche is
an oval-shaped box used
46
00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:33,520
in Egyptian inscriptions.
47
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,920
Only kings or queens could
put their name inside one.
48
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,080
Colleen hunts
inside the temple.
49
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,960
It's a difficult task.
50
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:48,120
Many cartouches here have
been hacked out or destroyed.
51
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,520
COLLEEN: Aha!
52
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,560
This is the cartouche
I've been looking for.
53
00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:54,920
Hat-shep-sut.
54
00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,920
Over here is the word
"saat" for daughter.
55
00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,440
Now this is a big clue...
56
00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,680
The daughter of Re,
of his body, Hatshepsut.
57
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,640
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut's
cartouche identifies her as
58
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,320
a daughter, not a son.
59
00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:13,080
It's clear she was
not hiding her gender.
60
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,960
But the only way
Hatshepsut could project
her power as a pharaoh,
61
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,320
was to portray
herself as a man...
62
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:21,480
As a king.
63
00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,560
Hatshepsut was a queen
of Egypt and one of only
64
00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:31,560
a few women ever
to rule as king.
65
00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,320
She restored broken trade
routes with foreign lands,
66
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,520
bringing a wealth of
luxuries like gold, myrrh,
67
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,960
and ebony into Egypt.
68
00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,600
In the capital, Thebes,
69
00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,120
she erected
colossal monuments,
70
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,360
signifying the power, riches,
71
00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,120
and order she
brought to her country.
72
00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,680
And her mortuary temple
is one of the grandest ever
73
00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,360
built in Egypt.
74
00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,640
Its splendor is a monument
to Egypt's success under
75
00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,080
Hatshepsut's rule.
76
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,880
But how did this famous and
celebrated queen become king?
77
00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,800
Colleen investigates.
78
00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,440
COLLEEN: This is a
really interesting wall.
79
00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:23,520
The name of Thutmose III is
here and these would have been
80
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,600
the cartouches of Hatshepsut.
81
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,600
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut was the
daughter of one pharaoh and
82
00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,720
married to another.
83
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,200
When her husband died,
84
00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:36,760
her infant
nephew Thutmose
the Third became king.
85
00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,240
COLLEEN: Thutmose III
was just a child,
86
00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,840
so Hatshepsut essentially
ruled Egypt as queen,
87
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,720
but then she transforms
into Pharaoh herself,
88
00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,080
into a co-regent,
with Thutmose III.
89
00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,360
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut
ruled as co-regent for
90
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,480
20 prosperous years.
91
00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,160
The magnificent temple
is testament to her rule.
92
00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,920
But why is it so hard to
find evidence of her here?
93
00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,360
COLLEEN (off-screen):
After Hatshepsut's death,
94
00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,400
Thutmose became sole pharaoh,
95
00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,960
and later on in his
reign he hacked out
96
00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,200
the names and images
of his aunt, Hatshepsut.
97
00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,720
NARRATOR: Thutmose wanted to
erase the memory of Hatshepsut
98
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,320
and her children to secure
the throne for his son.
99
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,720
Yet, Hatshepsut's name
survives as evidence of the
100
00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,960
power women could
attain in ancient Egypt.
101
00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,400
COLLEEN (off-screen): She
was a spectacular pharaoh.
102
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,200
From monumental
building campaigns,
103
00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:35,200
to expeditions
to far off lands,
104
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:38,760
but I want to
know more about how
she ruled as a woman.
105
00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,520
NARRATOR: Archaeologist
Patryk Chudzik is also
106
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,280
exploring the
temple of Hatshepsut.
107
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,160
Like Colleen, he's
on the trail of how she
108
00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:56,760
ruled as a woman.
109
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,200
PATRYK: From
22nd-23rd dynasty.
110
00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:04,160
NARRATOR: Patryk
always dreamed of
becoming an Egyptologist.
111
00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,800
Now he leads the Polish
mission at one of Egypt's most
112
00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,280
famous monuments.
113
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,720
PATRYK: Hatshepsut
is my favourite pharaoh.
114
00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:18,720
It's a specific
story of a woman who
became a female king.
115
00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,920
NARRATOR: His team excavates
ground beside the temple.
116
00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,120
The old pathway
leads to an ancient tomb.
117
00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:34,440
PATRYK: To me it's
the most exciting tomb
in the Hatshepsut temple.
118
00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,240
NARRATOR: 100 years ago,
American archaeologist
119
00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,640
Herbert Winlock
excavated here.
120
00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,200
But he left a secret
hidden beneath the Temple:
121
00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:51,080
a tomb that he recorded
but never fully excavated.
122
00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,040
PATRYK: We know that
this tomb was erected
123
00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,720
around five hundred years
before Hatshepsut's reign.
124
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,320
And when she built
her temple in this area
125
00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,320
she left the area empty.
126
00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,080
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut could
have destroyed the tomb to
127
00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,840
build her temple here,
but she didn't.
128
00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,960
PATRYK: The question is
why she left the tomb open?
129
00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,720
NARRATOR: Patryk hopes that
the mystery of the tomb might
130
00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,960
explain why Hatshepsut built
her temple here and reveal
131
00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,640
something of how she
ruled as a pharaoh queen.
132
00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:59,560
At Saqqara, Mohamed Megahed
is also investigating
133
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,520
the queens of Egypt.
134
00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,640
He is exploring the remains of
a pyramid built for a queen.
135
00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,440
MOHAMED: I like our work
because it's not boring,
136
00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,480
every day you have a change,
every season you come here you
137
00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,200
have something new.
138
00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,080
NARRATOR: Mohamed, who
lives in the Czech Republic,
139
00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,320
has been returning to his
native Egypt for 12 years
140
00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,560
to excavate this site.
141
00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,920
He sees archaeology as
a forensic investigation.
142
00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,600
MOHAMED: This is
our crime scene,
every piece of sand,
143
00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,160
every piece of limestone it
gives us an idea of how the
144
00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,720
site looked like.
145
00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,840
NARRATOR: Mohamed heads up
to the top of the pyramid.
146
00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,160
The core has collapsed,
147
00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,840
forming a deep
crater in the center.
148
00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,880
But he plans to search for
the original entrance tunnel.
149
00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,000
MOHAMED: Today we will
start digging and finding the
150
00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,080
entrance of the pyramid.
151
00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,600
NARRATOR: This is the
biggest pyramid ever built
152
00:08:56,680 --> 00:08:58,280
for a queen.
153
00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,120
She must have been
extraordinarily powerful.
154
00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,120
Who was she?
155
00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,600
MOHAMED: For
hundreds of years,
156
00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:08,560
we knew that this
pyramid was a mystery.
157
00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,840
NARRATOR: The last attempt
to excavate it in 1952 failed
158
00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,600
to find the burial chamber.
159
00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:17,360
MOHAMED: We knew that
it was built for a queen,
160
00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,080
but we never knew
who was buried inside.
161
00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,800
We used to call this
pyramid, 'The pyramid
of the unknown queen.'
162
00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,080
NARRATOR: Mohamed discovered
the identity of the owner
163
00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,720
two years ago.
164
00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,400
MOHAMED: We found
the granite column lying in
this area and on the column,
165
00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,600
we have the name of
the queen and her titles.
166
00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,000
MOHAMED (off-screen):
Now we can say that
this pyramid belonged
167
00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,080
to Queen Setibhor.
168
00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,400
NARRATOR: Setibhor was
the wife of King Djedkare,
169
00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,960
a powerful
Old Kingdom Pharaoh who ruled
170
00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,440
4,400 years ago.
171
00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:58,120
Djedkare built a
pyramid 170-feet tall,
172
00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,840
cased with
white tura limestone,
173
00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,800
and capped with a
stone pyramidion...
174
00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,080
plated with gold.
175
00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,000
Around his pyramid sprawled
a vast complex of columns,
176
00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,040
statues, and temples.
177
00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,560
To the northeast is a
second pyramid for his wife,
178
00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,480
Queen Setibhor, with blocks
weighing up to 30 tons,
179
00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:25,280
rising 110-feet
from the desert sand.
180
00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,600
Clad in brilliant limestone,
181
00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:31,920
it had a burial chamber at
its heart to keep Setibhor's
182
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,320
body safe for all eternity.
183
00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,360
Queen Setibhor's pyramid
is the largest remaining
184
00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,800
with an unexplored
burial chamber in Egypt.
185
00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,840
MOHAMED: The
pyramid of Setibhor is
really the last pyramid
186
00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,160
to enter in the modern time.
187
00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:50,320
Nobody entered here.
188
00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,320
It's a really important
moment for all of us.
189
00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,200
NARRATOR: Discoveries in her
burial chamber could explain
190
00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,360
her importance and why
she has such a huge pyramid.
191
00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,560
But today, large parts
of the pyramid are missing and
192
00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:05,760
filled with sand.
193
00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,120
Mohamed has to dig deep
to find any remains.
194
00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,960
A metal scraping catches
Mohamed's attention.
195
00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,400
MOHAMED: We have here for
the first time today some
196
00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,040
nice white limestone.
197
00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,720
NARRATOR: The high-quality
limestone block could be a
198
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,000
sign of the entrance.
199
00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,920
MOHAMED: We have
to still go deeper.
200
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,440
NARRATOR: After many
hours of hard digging,
201
00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,040
Mohamed feels he
is getting close.
202
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,000
MOHAMED (off-screen):
I'm so excited.
203
00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,520
Underneath here, I'm
definitely sure that we will
204
00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,240
have the entrance
of the pyramid.
205
00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,560
NARRATOR: No one in
the modern era has entered
206
00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,320
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber,
207
00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,000
but Mohamed has discovered
an ancient passage.
208
00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,360
He could soon be the first
person to step inside the
209
00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,040
chamber in over 4,000 years.
210
00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,720
But ahead, a wall of
sand blocks the way.
211
00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,280
A team excavated here in 1952.
212
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,280
They built a wall and propped
up a collapsed ceiling before
213
00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,320
they abandoned their search
for the burial chamber.
214
00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,720
MOHAMED: We will see if this
wooden beam is really stable
215
00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,880
enough and if it's not stable,
we have to build here a small
216
00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,280
wall to support this.
217
00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,080
NARRATOR: Thousands of tons
of rubble and stone are
218
00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,640
directly above their heads.
219
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,240
MOHAMED: Let's hope it's safe.
220
00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:52,000
We will remove
this part of wood
221
00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,600
and we'll build here.
222
00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,520
NARRATOR: Mohamed must make
the corridor safe immediately
223
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,240
or risk a collapse.
224
00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,760
MOHAMED: We cannot
leave it for tomorrow.
225
00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,200
We have immediately
to build it.
226
00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:06,320
Today.
227
00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,840
NARRATOR: At
Deir El-Bahari near Luxor,
228
00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,000
Colleen is investigating
the reign of the pharaoh
229
00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,920
Queen Hatshepsut
and how she ruled a
society dominated by men.
230
00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:24,880
COLLEEN: See,
this is interesting.
231
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,200
Hatshepsut is being breast
fed by goddesses and this is
232
00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,360
something that we
know kings claimed.
233
00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,400
That they were consuming
the milk of various goddesses.
234
00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,320
NARRATOR: The engraving
reveals that Hatshepsut
235
00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,280
claimed kingship
as her divine right.
236
00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,440
She was the
choice of the gods.
237
00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,520
COLLEEN: This is the
god Amun, and he's seated,
238
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,840
his legs are, are slightly
overlapping those of Ahmose,
239
00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,960
the mother of Hatshepsut.
240
00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:03,320
Amun is handing
an Ankh sign, the sign
of life to Queen Ahmose
241
00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,720
and what this
means is that Amun is
242
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,640
impregnating the queen.
243
00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,960
This is the moment of
Hatshepsut's conception.
244
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,880
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut
claimed divine birth,
245
00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,160
that she was the
daughter of the god Amun.
246
00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,800
It was a powerful claim.
247
00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,920
COLLEEN: Hatshepsut is
being very clever here.
248
00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,400
Only the king can claim
to be of divine birth.
249
00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,520
She's using as propaganda
the divine birth,
250
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,760
claiming her right
to be a pharaoh.
251
00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,240
NARRATOR: Egyptians expected
the pharaoh to be male.
252
00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,800
Hatshepsut's royal birth
and marriage were not
253
00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,280
enough to claim the throne.
254
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,200
She had to invoke
the will of the gods.
255
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,680
COLLEEN: She was
the daughter of a king,
256
00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,640
and the wife of a king,
but the divine birth scenes
257
00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,240
enabled her to become king.
258
00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,080
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut
relied on clever propaganda
259
00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,560
to legitimize her
revolutionary rule.
260
00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,080
COLLEEN (off-screen): From the
beginning of Egyptian history,
261
00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,600
queen mothers could rule
when pharaohs were very young.
262
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,880
But Hatshepsut does
something different.
263
00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:22,440
She becomes pharaoh herself,
co-regent with Thutmose III,
264
00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,040
and here in
Hatshepsut's temple,
265
00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,120
we see her
remarkable rise to power.
266
00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,880
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut was
the firstborn of a pharaoh.
267
00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,680
She married the next pharaoh,
her half-brother.
268
00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,200
But when he died,
the next male heir was her
269
00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,080
infant nephew Thutmose.
270
00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,800
When the child
took the throne,
271
00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,720
she ruled by his
side for seven years,
272
00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,480
but then she made
a power grab,
273
00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:53,680
declaring herself
a true Pharaoh.
274
00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,800
As Pharaoh,
Hatshepsut launched
a campaign of propaganda.
275
00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,640
Painting scenes showing
the great god Amun as
276
00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,400
her father and of her birth,
in the presence of the gods,
277
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,240
legitimizing her
as the divine heir to
278
00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:12,560
the throne of Egypt.
279
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,600
COLLEEN: Ooh,
this is incredible!
280
00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,280
This is Hatshepsut as a
sphinx and you can see her
281
00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:26,120
long curling tail and what's
awesome are the legs of the
282
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:30,080
enemies flying up in the air,
as she tramples them.
283
00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,120
Even though Hatshepsut
was a female king,
284
00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,480
this depiction of her as a
trampling sphinx indicates the
285
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,920
ferocity of her rule.
286
00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,320
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut had to
project a carefully crafted
287
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,320
image of physical
strength and divine right.
288
00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,200
She was a prototype for ruling
queens throughout history.
289
00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,680
COLLEEN: As a
female pharaoh Hatshepsut
had tremendous power,
290
00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,320
but what I want to know
is did other queens exert
291
00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,240
the same authority?
292
00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,280
NARRATOR: Colleen wants
to find out if more ancient
293
00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:09,920
Egyptian queens followed
Hatshepsut's example.
294
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,840
Or if there was another
way to be a powerful Queen.
295
00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:22,280
At Saqqara, Mohamed's team
races to reinforce the
296
00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:25,480
entrance to queen
Setibhor's ancient pyramid.
297
00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,080
While Mohamed waits,
the rest of his team excavates
298
00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,920
the strange ruins
next to her pyramid.
299
00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,560
They have found huge stone
blocks buried in a deep
300
00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,760
sand-filled pit.
301
00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,920
They could reveal
clues to the role
and power of Setibhor.
302
00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,600
But first they
have to dig them out.
303
00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,640
MOHAMED: It was a very simple
calculation: The block weight
304
00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,760
is six and a half tons.
305
00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,120
For moving heavy stones like
this you don't need muscles,
306
00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,760
you need brain.
307
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,000
NARRATOR: As the
men get started,
308
00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,320
Mohammed spots
ancient hieroglyphs
carved into the granite.
309
00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,920
MOHAMED: It's mentioning
twice the name of the queen
310
00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,800
and one of
her titles, that's it.
311
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,400
Interestingly,
she's not mentioning
that she's the king's wife.
312
00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,480
NARRATOR: The hieroglyphs
suggest Setibhor is not just a
313
00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,240
royal wife.
314
00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,880
Also, the block itself
could be part of an
315
00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,520
important structure
next to her pyramid.
316
00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,200
And could reveal the extent
of her power and importance.
317
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,080
MOHAMED: This is the
fun maybe in our work.
318
00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,520
We collect small pieces
and it makes you try to
319
00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,360
understand the
rest of the story.
320
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,040
NARRATOR: The men
roll the block again,
321
00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,520
until it sits
precariously on the rails.
322
00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,400
MOHAMED: Six ton and a half,
323
00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,920
any mistake it
could cause an injury.
324
00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,360
NARRATOR: The block
is finally moving...
325
00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,600
The wrong way.
326
00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,040
NARRATOR: The men struggle
to move the granite block
327
00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,120
from the pit.
328
00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:11,480
(cheering)
329
00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,840
But Mohamed has a
new plan to get it out
330
00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:18,800
using a chain block.
331
00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,240
MOHAMED (off-screen): We will
see if it will work or no.
332
00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,600
(speaking in native language)
333
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,760
So finally, it's working!
334
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,560
It's slow but it's working.
335
00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,600
NARRATOR: At last,
the men move the block and
336
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,640
set it aside.
337
00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,560
MOHAMED: Wow they did it.
338
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,040
NARRATOR: So Mohamed
can examine it in detail.
339
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,640
MOHAMED: It's so beautiful.
340
00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:53,800
This was the door hinge,
so the door socket was here.
341
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,920
NARRATOR: Mohamed discovers
the block is a lintel that
342
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,240
would have sat
above a grand doorway.
343
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,880
MOHAMED: Now we know
exactly the width of the door.
344
00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,280
In the future, we
can reconstruct it.
345
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,760
NARRATOR: The lintel
bears Queen Setibhor's name
346
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,720
a clue it's part of
the mysterious structure
347
00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,880
built next to her pyramid.
348
00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,000
MOHAMED: She's using
very special granite,
349
00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,000
which was only used
for kings, not for queens.
350
00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,120
NARRATOR: Was Setibhor
acting as a king?
351
00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,880
What will this mystery
building, and her pyramid,
352
00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,600
reveal about
Queen Setibhor's power?
353
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,240
At Deir El-Bahari near Luxor,
354
00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:40,200
Patryk is also investigating
a queen, Hatshepsut.
355
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,240
Strangely, she preserved
an ancient tomb beneath her
356
00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,760
magnificent mortuary temple.
357
00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,120
Patryk wants to know if
it can shed light on how
358
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,960
Hatshepsut ruled
as a pharaoh queen.
359
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,840
The original occupant of
the tomb remains a mystery.
360
00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,040
PATRYK: We are sure
that it wasn't a prince
361
00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,320
or even another son of a king.
362
00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:07,720
NARRATOR: A hollow in
the floor once held a mummy
363
00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:09,320
in a wooden coffin.
364
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,560
They are both long gone.
365
00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,360
But Patryk's uncovered
some significant clues.
366
00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,120
PATRYK: We are
cleaning the tomb inside.
367
00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,760
Among the thousands
of kilograms of debris
368
00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,760
we found magnificent
objects from the tomb.
369
00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,000
NARRATOR: Their excavations
confirm that the tomb
370
00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,080
pre-dates Hatshepsut's
temple by hundreds of years.
371
00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,200
Hatshepsut built her
temple with three huge,
372
00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,440
layered terraces carved
into the rocks and parades
373
00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,280
of 22 columns.
374
00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,240
She adorned the walls with
scenes that proclaimed her
375
00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,760
divine right to rule Egypt.
376
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,440
But in the far corner
she left a small entrance
377
00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,560
to a corridor that led down
to a plain burial chamber.
378
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,960
Patryk's team excavated
rubble containing thousands of
379
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,200
ancient artifacts
including pottery and
380
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,200
mysterious wooden figurines.
381
00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,840
Why did Hatshepsut
build her temple on top of
382
00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:18,960
this hidden tomb?
383
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,680
PATRYK: Unfortunately there
is no inscriptional evidence
384
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,520
but I want to get to
know what the objects
385
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,960
which we revealed from
the debris will tell us.
386
00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,720
NARRATOR: Pottery expert
Ania Wezranowska is working
387
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,760
through the thousands
of finds from the tomb.
388
00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,120
She thinks she's found
something important.
389
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,320
ANIA: I wanted to
show you, there's a
complete one, actually.
390
00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,040
Ever seen something like that?
391
00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:51,440
PATRYK: Never before.
392
00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:52,880
Oh, that's impressive.
393
00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,240
NARRATOR: Even the smallest
find could help reveal the
394
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,960
secrets of the tomb,
and what significance it
395
00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:00,720
holds for Hatshepsut.
396
00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,560
In Saqqara, deep
inside the pyramid,
397
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,880
Mohamed's team has built
an extra supporting wall.
398
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,360
Now, he can
resume the search for
399
00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,560
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber.
400
00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,400
MOHAMED: We have
measured above the pyramid,
401
00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,080
and we are almost in the
middle of the pyramid here.
402
00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:27,120
NARRATOR: If Mohamed
can reach her tomb,
403
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,760
it may answer vital questions.
404
00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,120
Why did Setibhor have
the biggest pyramid ever
405
00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,200
built for a queen?
406
00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:36,160
What was the
extent of her power?
407
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,640
But to get any further,
408
00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,000
Mohamed faces
his toughest obstacle yet.
409
00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,040
The end of the corridor is
blocked by an unstable wall of
410
00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:49,000
sand and rubble.
411
00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,880
It could avalanche down
at the slightest touch.
412
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,240
MOHAMED: I
called now the Rais to
instruct him how to proceed.
413
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:04,160
I also trust him,
so I will take his
opinion if this is stable.
414
00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,320
NARRATOR: The foreman, the
Rais gives a cautious go-ahead
415
00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,680
to continue the search
for the burial chamber.
416
00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,240
(rocks shifting)
417
00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:27,280
(speaking in native language)
418
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,320
From the top of the pyramid,
419
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,720
Mohamed can see the problem.
420
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,840
A hole is
forming in the crater.
421
00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:40,560
The rubble is falling
straight through to the
422
00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:41,680
men in the tunnel.
423
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,720
MOHAMED: The bad
sign is part of the
ceiling is not preserved.
424
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:47,920
The good sign?
425
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,080
We are not very deep,
so we are very close
to the burial chamber.
426
00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,120
NARRATOR: Down below, the
rubble just keeps on coming.
427
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,320
NARRATOR: The dust slows
the work of Mohamed's men.
428
00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,560
But finally, they
make a breakthrough.
429
00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,320
MOHAMED: For the first time,
we have daylight inside the
430
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,000
burial chamber of the queen.
431
00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,080
We have to continue
removing the rubble
432
00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,200
and limestone chips.
433
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,040
NARRATOR: Mohamed
checks the pyramid core.
434
00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:29,840
But he must tread
carefully where the
tomb ceiling has collapsed.
435
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,240
MOHAMED: Part of the north
wall of the burial chamber of
436
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,160
Queen Setibhor which
is fantastic to see from
437
00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,200
the other side.
438
00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,920
NARRATOR: There's still
a lot of ancient rubble to
439
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,680
remove before he can
investigate inside.
440
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,160
He only has one week left
on his permit for the site.
441
00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,040
Will it be enough time
to reveal the secrets of
442
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:54,920
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber?
443
00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,400
At Abu Simbel, near
Egypt's southern border,
444
00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,520
Colleen visits one of Egypt's
most remarkable monuments.
445
00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,000
She is investigating how
women wielded power as queens
446
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,560
in a world dominated by men.
447
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,440
Hatshepsut turned
herself into a King.
448
00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,760
But was there another way
for queens to exercise power?
449
00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,360
Colleen has come to the
temple of one of the most
450
00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,200
exalted queens
of all to find out.
451
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,320
COLLEEN: I want to investigate
one of the greatest
452
00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:34,720
queens of history.
453
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,040
Her name is Nefertari
and she's the wife
454
00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:39,400
of Ramses the Great.
455
00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,720
NARRATOR: Ramses the Second
ruled Egypt for 60 years.
456
00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,320
He expanded the empire
and built more monuments
457
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,680
than any other ruler.
458
00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:52,640
His achievements
earned him the title,
459
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,200
"Ramses the Great."
460
00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,360
COLLEEN (off-screen): This is
a statue of Queen Nefertari
461
00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,040
to either side are
images of her husband,
Ramses the Second.
462
00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,680
But what's remarkable is
she's almost of equal height
463
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,600
to the pharaoh himself.
464
00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,240
NARRATOR: In Ancient Egypt,
size meant power.
465
00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,880
Nefertari was portrayed as
having virtually equal power
466
00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,240
as Ramses himself.
467
00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,560
But Colleen finds an
inscription revealing
468
00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:22,800
something even
more impressive.
469
00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,680
COLLEEN: Here's an
inscription that tells us
470
00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:31,640
Weben-Ra en Mirit-as,
"Ra Rises for love of her."
471
00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:37,120
NARRATOR: Ra was the
ancient Egyptian sun god.
472
00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,960
COLLEEN: This column of
Hieroglyphs means that
473
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,520
Nefertari was one of
the few queens to achieve
474
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,640
the status of a goddess.
475
00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,760
NARRATOR: Nefertari was
honored as a goddess even
476
00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,560
though she was not a
pharaoh queen like Hatshepsut.
477
00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,440
What did she do to
deserve this exalted status?
478
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:57,640
COLLEEN: So now
I want to know,
479
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,680
is this just propaganda for
a favorite wife or did she
480
00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,720
actually wield power?
481
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,280
This is the queen.
482
00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:15,640
Nefertari is
incredibly beautiful,
483
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,920
but I think there's more
to the story than that.
484
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:23,040
This is a clay tablet
found in modern day Turkey.
485
00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,840
NARRATOR: It's a letter
written in ancient Akkadian.
486
00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,120
It shows the queen of the
Hittites writing to Nefertari
487
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,400
before the two empires
completed the world's first
488
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,320
recorded peace treaty.
489
00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,280
COLLEEN: This means that
she was really involved in
490
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,920
diplomacy between the
two greatest empires of
491
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:45,520
the ancient world.
492
00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:51,080
NARRATOR: It
shows that Nefertari
was an influential figure.
493
00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:54,000
She helped broker a treaty
that kept peace between the
494
00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,640
great empires for 40 years.
495
00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,040
Ramses acknowledged his
queen's importance on the
496
00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,600
walls of her temple.
497
00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,880
COLLEEN (off-screen): This
is Ramses smiting an enemy.
498
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,600
It's a brutal, but this is
how ancient Egyptian kings
499
00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:12,560
express their power.
500
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:17,240
What's unusual is that
Queen Nefertari is behind him.
501
00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,920
NARRATOR: Kings rarely
shared the glory of military
502
00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,440
victories with their queens.
503
00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,440
It suggests Nefertari
played a significant role
504
00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,320
in Ramses' reign.
505
00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,760
COLLEEN: It's possible
that this is propaganda,
506
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:37,680
but it's also likely that this
shows Queen Nefertari had real
507
00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,600
political power.
508
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,200
NARRATOR: The evidence
suggests Nefertari and Ramses
509
00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,480
formed a royal power couple,
510
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,240
each vital to the
success of the other.
511
00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:50,280
COLLEEN:
Ancient Egyptian queens,
512
00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:54,600
whether they were married
to a pharaoh or ruled as
pharaoh in their own right,
513
00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,480
they truly wielded authority.
514
00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,000
NARRATOR: While
Hatshepsut ruled as a king,
515
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,960
Nefertari exercised a
different sort of power.
516
00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:09,400
From behind the throne, her
astute diplomacy and political
517
00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,440
influence helped change the
course of Egypt's history.
518
00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,760
At Saqqara, time is running
out for Mohamed to discover
519
00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:29,520
the secrets of
Queen Setibhor's
burial chamber.
520
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,280
His team has finally
cleared a path.
521
00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,320
Now Mohamed can
get through to see
the chamber for himself.
522
00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,000
But they face a
new danger from above.
523
00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:48,360
The roof of the burial chamber
has completely collapsed,
524
00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:51,400
and the crumbling,
overhanging walls could follow
525
00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,240
at any moment.
526
00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,480
MOHAMED: This is the area
which we need to support.
527
00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:58,680
NARRATOR: If the walls
are only propped up by the
528
00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,880
loose rubble underfoot,
the slightest move could bring
529
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,040
them crashing
down in an instant.
530
00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:09,040
But if they can find
solid stone foundations
beneath the wall,
531
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,160
they can be more
confident that the overhang
532
00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,320
won't collapse as they dig.
533
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,120
MOHAMED: We have here
parts of the large stones,
534
00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,800
and he's looking for the
continuation of the stones.
535
00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,680
NARRATOR: They search for the
massive stone slabs that once
536
00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:25,760
supported the structure above.
537
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,640
Until they find them, their
only protection is to patch
538
00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,320
the walls with mortar.
539
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,920
NARRATOR: Outside
Setibhor's pyramid,
540
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,440
Czech archaeologist
Hana Vymazalova helps Mohamed
541
00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,320
investigate the
mysterious ruins.
542
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,760
If she can discover
what they were,
543
00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,280
it might reveal the source
of Setibhor's power and
544
00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,160
how she ruled as queen.
545
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,160
She finds an important clue.
546
00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:58,240
HANA: Yep...
547
00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:02,280
So, we have here the typical
pattern of the ceilings,
548
00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,320
like a night sky with stars.
549
00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:06,840
NARRATOR: The stars
would have originally been
550
00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,240
painted yellow on
a dark blue background.
551
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,240
They help Hana
identify the structure.
552
00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:14,960
HANA: This is a roofing block,
553
00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,120
which came from the
portico of the queen.
554
00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,920
NARRATOR: It's part
of a huge portico,
555
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,640
a ceremonial entrance to
what must have been a temple.
556
00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:29,080
HANA: This was the portico,
and here is an entrance into
557
00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:33,440
the temple which was just
opposite to the stairs and if
558
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,080
you measure the
width of this entrance,
559
00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:37,960
it actually fits very nicely.
560
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,280
NARRATOR: Hana's discovery
proves this mysterious
561
00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,640
building was Queen
Setibhor's funerary temple.
562
00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,760
Where priests and
worshippers spoke her name,
563
00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:50,720
and according to
Egyptian belief,
564
00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,480
ensured her soul
lived for eternity.
565
00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:56,800
HANA: It is very exciting
to see it all coming together.
566
00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,240
It's a puzzle, 3-D!
567
00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,240
NARRATOR: It's a
significant find,
568
00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,560
and its size is more
evidence that Setibhor was
569
00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,240
a powerful woman.
570
00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,120
MOHAMED: The funerary temple
is the biggest funerary temple
571
00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,200
built for a queen
in the Old Kingdom.
572
00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,760
NARRATOR: What
more can these ruins
reveal about Setibhor and
573
00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:18,600
the queens of the Old Kingdom?
574
00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,000
Could she have paved
the way for powerful
New Kingdom queens
575
00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,720
like Hatshepsut
and Nefertari?
576
00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:34,800
At Deir El-Bahari, Patryk
wants to know why Hatshepsut
577
00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,280
chose this location
for her temple,
578
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,280
and how she ruled in a
world dominated by men.
579
00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,400
He hopes that the thousands
of finds from a tomb
580
00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,800
beneath it might yield clues.
581
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,920
One new discovery
intrigues Patryk and
his colleague Ania.
582
00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:55,920
PATRYK: It's amazing, a double
bottle showing two females
583
00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,520
with a female breast
in the upper part.
584
00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,360
ANIA: And that's interesting,
this has female features also.
585
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:02,600
PATRYK: And it also
came from the tomb?
586
00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:04,080
ANIA: Yes, yes.
587
00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,640
NARRATOR: The pieces
look like religious charms.
588
00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,400
PATRYK: This cow head with
a cobra and a solar disc
589
00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:15,200
between the horns,
which is unfortunately gone.
590
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:20,040
Amulets showing the head
of a woman with cow ears.
591
00:34:22,240 --> 00:34:26,000
NARRATOR: Patryk
has a hunch that he's
seen these features before.
592
00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,880
He heads up to
a shrine that Hatshepsut
built in her temple.
593
00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,040
It could reveal why the
pharaoh queen built here.
594
00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,880
PATRYK: On pillars we
can see a female head
595
00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,440
with cow ears on both sides.
596
00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:48,160
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut
dedicated this shrine
to the cow goddess Hathor.
597
00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,400
It's directly above the tomb.
598
00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,840
The matching finds
confirm a theory Patryk has,
599
00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:59,040
that the tomb was
used by a religious cult
that worshiped Hathor.
600
00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:04,520
Hathor was the
mother of the gods and their
representatives here on earth,
601
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,480
the pharaohs.
602
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,240
Ancient Egyptians worshipped
Hathor in the form of a cow or
603
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,920
as a woman with cow horns,
holding the sun disc.
604
00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,720
She was the powerful goddess
of motherhood and fertility...
605
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,720
who breathed new life
into dead souls and guided
606
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,360
them to the hereafter.
607
00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:34,320
In some myths, Hathor gave
birth to the sun each day,
608
00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,480
bringing life and
banishing the darkness.
609
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,840
She was particularly
revered by pharaohs.
610
00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,360
By feeding them
her divine milk,
611
00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:48,960
Hathor bestowed on
them the power to rule.
612
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:56,000
PATRYK: It's really
exciting because the
items which we found
613
00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:57,640
in the tomb, now we know that
614
00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:01,640
they were connected for sure
with the cow goddess Hathor.
615
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:06,320
NARRATOR: The tomb was
built long before Hatshepsut.
616
00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:10,880
But the Hathor
amulets discovered
in it date to her era.
617
00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,800
They're powerful proof that
the old tomb was used in the
618
00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,280
cult worship of Hathor
in Hatshepsut's time.
619
00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,800
PATRYK: It's telling us
about a very intensive story
620
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,360
of the cult of
the cow goddess.
621
00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,920
NARRATOR: Patryk believes
this is why Hatshepsut
622
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,560
built her temple here.
623
00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:36,280
This entire valley had ancient
links with the Hathor cult.
624
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,040
And the sheer quantity of
discoveries in the tomb prove
625
00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,800
the cult was very active
during Hatshepsut's reign.
626
00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:47,240
PATRYK: The cow goddess was
worshipped in Deir El-Bahari
627
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,000
at least since
the Middle Kingdom.
628
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:51,520
But Hatshepsut
decided to build
629
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:53,720
not only her
temple at Deir El-Bahari
630
00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:59,040
but also to
construct a special
shrine for the cow goddess.
631
00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,400
NARRATOR: Hatshepsut was
one of the few queens ever
632
00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:05,520
to become pharaoh.
633
00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,200
She used masculine images
all over her temple to
634
00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:10,720
project her power.
635
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,840
But Patryk's new evidence
shows that she projected
636
00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:17,360
feminine powers too,
promoting Hathor here,
637
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,320
ahead of all the other gods.
638
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,240
Hathor, the powerful
goddess of femininity,
639
00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:27,000
motherhood and women,
helped Hatshepsut become the
640
00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:28,760
mother of her nation.
641
00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:39,640
At Saqqara, in
Setibhor's burial chamber,
642
00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:42,120
Mohamed's team is searching
for solid limestone
643
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,200
foundations beneath
the overhanging walls,
644
00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:46,840
so they can be
sure they are safe.
645
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,280
He hopes the chamber will
hold clues to how Setibhor
646
00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:51,960
ruled as a queen.
647
00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:54,680
Was she a ruling
pharaoh like Hatshepsut,
648
00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:57,120
or a powerful wife
like Nefertari?
649
00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:01,200
Finally, a worker sees
a smooth limestone face.
650
00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:06,040
Mohamed confirms it's the
stone he's been looking for.
651
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,600
MOHAMED: It's good news
because it's supporting
all of the area here.
652
00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,360
NARRATOR: Solid
stone foundations
underpin the overhang,
653
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:16,920
so digging can safely resume.
654
00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:27,000
NARRATOR: It's the last day of
excavation inside the pyramid.
655
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,680
Hana joins Mohamed
in the burial chamber.
656
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:33,720
But will they have time to
excavate all this rubble and
657
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,760
find any traces of Setibhor?
658
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:40,400
They've discovered she built
the largest pyramid and
659
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,040
funerary temple of any
queen of the Old Kingdom.
660
00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,600
She was a great
Old Kingdom Queen...
661
00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:48,240
But how did she rule?
662
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,920
Was she pharaoh herself, or
part of a royal power couple?
663
00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:56,760
Mohamed hopes that he
might find answers in
the burial chamber itself.
664
00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,440
MOHAMED: It seems
everything was smashed.
665
00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:05,560
This very small, tiny,
small pieces of limestone,
666
00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,080
it means that
stone robbers came here
and smashed everything.
667
00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:12,560
NARRATOR: Stone robbers
plundered valuable
668
00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:16,320
white limestone from most
of Egypt's ancient tombs,
669
00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,560
just as tomb robbers
took their treasures.
670
00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,320
But Mohamed still sees a
treasure trove of clues.
671
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:25,520
MOHAMED: Yes,
we have more surprises.
672
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,520
NARRATOR: The exposed
limestone reveals an
673
00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:30,000
important new discovery.
674
00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:31,400
MOHAMED: The serdab.
675
00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:32,640
It's very nice.
676
00:39:33,240 --> 00:39:36,000
The queen built for
the first time, a serdab.
677
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,440
It's a storeroom to the
east of her burial chamber.
678
00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:43,040
NARRATOR: A serdab was a
chamber usually reserved for
679
00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,280
a statue of the pharaoh.
680
00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,840
Later queens had serdabs,
but Mohamed has discovered
681
00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:52,200
Setibhor was the
first queen to build one.
682
00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,560
Why was Setibhor able
to claim this, and other,
683
00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,240
privileges of kings?
684
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:02,880
All the clues show
that Mohamed and Hana have
685
00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:05,200
discovered one of the
most illustrious queens
686
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:06,640
of Ancient Egypt.
687
00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:10,080
Setibhor was wife of Djedkare,
688
00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:12,800
one of the great pharaohs
of the Old Kingdom.
689
00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:17,080
She was powerful enough to
build the largest pyramid and
690
00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:20,040
temple complex of
any Old Kingdom queen.
691
00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:26,720
The size and design
of her mortuary temple,
692
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:31,280
looks less like a queen's
and more like a king's.
693
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:38,400
Could this mean that
Djedkare's mysterious queen
694
00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:40,600
may have ruled, as king?
695
00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,800
Hieroglyphics expert, Hana,
thinks that the answer might
696
00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,880
be hiding on a column they
discovered by her pyramid.
697
00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:56,600
It's inscribed with
her name, Setibhor.
698
00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,040
The last part of it,
"Hor" stands for Horus,
699
00:40:59,120 --> 00:41:00,200
the falcon god.
700
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:03,760
HANA (off-screen): The
name of Horus is written
with the individual letters,
701
00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,600
not with the
sign of the falcon,
702
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:09,800
because if it's written
as a falcon then that would
703
00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:11,080
be the king's name.
704
00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:13,800
NARRATOR: The Horus'
inscription reveals the true
705
00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:15,760
extent of Setibhor's power.
706
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:19,960
HANA: They are
features which scream
I'm the important queen,
707
00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:22,760
but at the same time,
they are features which show
708
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,680
that she is not
a royal person,
she's not the ruler,
709
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:26,920
she's not the king.
710
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:30,360
NARRATOR: Setibhor
was not a pharaoh queen,
711
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:32,800
the supreme ruler of Egypt.
712
00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,800
She didn't have the
power of Hatshepsut.
713
00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:39,080
But the evidence uncovered
here suggests she was a
714
00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:42,640
powerful royal from a
powerful royal dynasty,
715
00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:46,960
and perhaps reigned more like
Nefertari, 1,000 years later.
716
00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:50,320
HANA: Everything that
we are uncovering here.
717
00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:54,160
They all seem to indicate
that she might have been
718
00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:56,320
related to the kings.
719
00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:59,760
So maybe she was the link
between those kings and
720
00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:01,400
Djedkare himself.
721
00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,520
Maybe that's why she was so
important because she was the
722
00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:08,080
one who helped him
to the throne of Egypt,
723
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:10,880
and she was the
power behind the throne.
724
00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,080
NARRATOR: Their discoveries
reveal that Queen Setibhor was
725
00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,000
one of the most powerful
and influential figures
726
00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:19,320
of Ancient Egypt.
727
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:23,160
And in a society that
venerated its ancestors,
728
00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:25,160
perhaps even a role model for
729
00:42:25,240 --> 00:42:27,040
the great queens
that followed her.
730
00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:32,080
Finally, the team's
excavated enough rubble for
731
00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:35,760
Mohamed to see the dimensions
of Setibhor's burial chamber.
732
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:39,320
MOHAMED: Maybe this is a line
of the height of the room.
733
00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,680
The ceiling reached up until
this line all the way we have
734
00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:45,160
the line in the room.
735
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:47,120
All the way here.
736
00:42:48,720 --> 00:42:50,840
NARRATOR: The discovery of
the ceiling line means there
737
00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:53,960
is still ten feet of
rubble to clear to reveal
738
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,000
the entire tomb and
time is running out.
739
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,160
Today is the last day on
his permit for the site.
740
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:02,880
MOHAMED: I'm not sure we
will reach the floor today,
741
00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:06,080
actually, I'm not sure
even if we will have a floor.
742
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,160
NARRATOR: But Mohamed
has achieved his goal,
743
00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:13,680
he's found Setibhor's
burial chamber and
744
00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:15,720
will return to
excavate it fully.
745
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,640
MOHAMED: I hope in the coming
season we will come again,
746
00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:20,520
and we will continue
and will finish the work.
747
00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:25,400
NARRATOR: Mohamed and Hana
have rediscovered a long-lost
748
00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:30,680
queen that towered over Egypt,
900-years before Hatshepsut.
749
00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:33,520
A queen ahead of her time,
750
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:36,240
inspiring queens
for centuries to come.
751
00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:41,000
Like Hatshepsut,
who projected masculine power
752
00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:44,200
but drew on the
feminine goddess Hathor...
753
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,000
And Nefertari,
754
00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:49,000
who wielded her formidable
power alongside one of the
755
00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:51,080
greatest kings of all time.
756
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,400
Perhaps Setibhor was
the trailblazer for both.
757
00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,800
Now she can be restored
to her rightful place
758
00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:03,120
alongside them and be
recognized amongst the
759
00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,080
greatest queens
of Ancient Egypt.