The mystery of Egypt's Queen Hatshepsut might be classified as history's ultimate cold case. The Queen enjoyed more power than Cleopatra or Nefertiti, but after her reign ended in 1458 B.C., Hatshepsut's body disappeared and her likeness was erased from Egypt's monuments (her story is also related in some detail in the documentary Egypt: Engineering an Empire, reviewed in VL-3/07). What happened? This Discovery Channel production follows archaeologists, historians, and a team of forensic experts who tackle the riddle of this ambitious ruler who was determined to make her mark as the great builder of Egypt's golden age. Rumors abound, including the belief that she had an affair with her master architect, and that she was murdered on orders of a jealous stepson. Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen follows the experts as they explore dig sites (at some risk) and use 3-D computer imaging, DNA testing, and a few astute hunches to narrow down the identity of Hatshepsut, which is finally confirmed by matching a missing tooth found in a relic box to an x-ray of a female mummy. Was Hatshepsut murdered? Again, using DNA testing, it's determined that Hatshepsut died from an infection, though a descendant did try to erase her from history. While this documentary should have been as exciting as an episode of the TV series Bones, the program is overlong, with an abundance of tangential detail that may discourage all but the most avid of armchair historians. Optional. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen
(2007) 100 min. DVD: $14.99. Image Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 3
Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen
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