Ahhotep I's inner coffin lid,

Ahhotep I's inner coffin lid, and a selection of grave goods recovered from the Dra Abu el-Naga tomb. The gold flies, dagger and battle axe seem to confirm Ahhotep's active role as defender of her land.

Ahhotep I had a long and influential life. A few surviving records show that Ahhotep (1560- 1530 BC) was a woman who was stronger, braver, and a more powerful ruler than the average man. Her thrilling story starts in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom and ends in the storage rooms of the famous Cairo museum. The title "King's Mother" (mwt niswt) was found on the Deir el-Bahari coffin.