The Forgotten Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt
When we think of ancient Egypt, names like Cleopatra and Nefertiti often come to mind — powerful women immortalized in marble, myth, and modern cinema. But what about the pharaohs whose stories have been buried beneath the sands of time? In our latest episode of the King Cam’s Ujumbe Podcast, we kick off the “Queens of the South” series on Youtube with a discussion on one of the most overlooked yet powerful rulers in African history Sobekneferu, the first recorded female pharaoh of Egypt.
Let’s break down the truths, myths, and strategic brilliance of the queens who ruled with grace, power, and divine authority.
A New Series Begins: Queens of the South
We’ve talked about the great male rulers of Kemet — Thutmose III, Ramesses the Great, and Akhenaten. But now it’s time to focus on the sisters. This spring, we’re launching a season-long journey into the lives of the queens who defied expectations and claimed power in the ancient Nile Valley.
Our first queen? Sobekneferu — the “Goddess of the Seven Stars,” the crocodile queen of divine balance.
From the Pages of History: Andrew Collins’ Groundbreaking Work
Our discussion is inspired by Andrew Collins’ book, “The First Female Pharaoh: Sobekneferu, Goddess of the Seven Stars.” Though well-researched, it carries a Eurocentric lens at times. Collins opens by examining why female pharaohs were so rare in Egypt’s history and what societal structures limited their rise.
But we ask — were those restrictions truly Egyptian? Or were they retrofitted later by Greek, Roman, and European interpreters?
Cleopatra Aint Her
Collins starts with Cleopatra, but King Cam is clear: “She ain’t her.” While Cleopatra was strategic — leveraging her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony — her legacy is clouded by Roman propaganda and Hollywood fantasies. That Elizabeth Taylor portrayal? Let’s be honest — it couldn’t survive the African sun.
Nefertiti: The Hidden Queen
We then shift to Nefertiti, the iconic queen who helped usher in a religious revolution alongside Akhenaten. Their 17-year reign challenged the old gods and introduced a solar monotheism that rattled Egypt’s spiritual foundations.
But did you know that the most famous bust of Nefertiti — the one in museums and textbooks — is based on a German model and likely inauthentic? The real image shows an unmistakably African queen, and speculation continues about her fate — she vanished from the record before King Tut took the throne. And no, she was not his mother.
Hatshepsut: The Woman Who Became King
Next, we explore Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I, who ruled not just as queen but as Pharaoh. After her husband’s death, she stepped in as regent for her stepson and quickly claimed the throne.
To secure her legitimacy in a male-dominated society, she adopted full male regalia — the double crown, the false beard, and all symbols of pharaonic power. Her motives were clear:
Political Stability
Religious Symbolism
Strategic Legitimacy
She expanded trade to distant lands like Punt -Ta-Neter (or “God’s Land”), took on massive building projects, and was remembered for balancing divine authority with practical governance.
Rewriting the Patriarchal Narrative
Throughout the episode, we challenge the common claim that ancient Egypt was strictly patriarchal. The evidence? Countless statues and reliefs showing queens sitting beside their kings — not behind them. Divine balance (Ma’at) required the feminine and the masculine. A true pharaoh was not just a king but an intermediary between the gods and the people — and many learned that role at their mother’s feet.
Enter Sobekneferu: The Forgotten Pharaoh
Her reign — though short, lasting just under four years — was powerful and symbolic. She ruled Upper and Lower Egypt as “Lady of the Two Lands” and bore sacred names that connected her to the gods:
Meri-t-ra (Beloved of Ra)
Beket Ra (Daughter of Ra)
And importantly, devoted to Sobek, the crocodile god of strength, protection, and fertility.
She wasn’t born in Waset (Thebes) like many royal predecessors but rose to power in the Faiyum region, aligning herself with local traditions and initiating major architectural projects. Her devotion to Sobek signified a return to indigenous power structures — a spiritual and political move.
Her Name Was Her Power
Ancient Egyptians had multiple sacred names — each representing a role, a divine function. Sebec Neferu’s names were carefully chosen to:
Legitimize her lineage (her father and brother were kings)
Anchor her rule in divine will
Connect her to the central cults of the time (Heliopolis, Memphis, and the Faiyum)
Names were not labels — they were living affirmations of spiritual authority.
A Legacy of Divine Balance
Even in a male-dominated role, Sebec Neferu’s reign suggests a queen who understood the importance of Ma’at — truth, balance, and justice. She governed during a transitional period after the 12th Dynasty and held the kingdom together. Her use of crocodile iconography wasn’t random — it reflected cosmic order, divine wrath, and protective force.
She wasn’t just the “first female pharaoh” — she was a cosmic ruler, strategically reclaiming power through symbolism, devotion, and spiritual science.
The Journey Continues…
This is only the beginning. In upcoming episodes of King Cam’s Ujumbe Podcast, we’ll continue exploring ancient queens, the political dynamics they navigated, and their esoteric legacies. We’ll also address the real “King of the North and South” — because Kush and Nubia have entered the conversation.
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Talk to you later
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
👉 Exploring the Forgotten Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt
📚 Want to go further?
Check out Andrew Collins’ The First Female Pharaoh and dig into ancient names, temple rituals, and divine power politics.
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