This head belonging to Hatshepsut derives from one of her statues at Deir El-Bahari. It portrays the queen in idealized Osirian form, but still showing delicate feminine features such as the curving eyebrows, the wide eyes extended by cosmetic lines, the delicate aquiline nose and the gracious mouth. A certain intelligence and beauty emanate from the face. The well preserved colors enhance the expression. Hatshepsut married her half brother as a male was preferred to rule the kingdom but he died prematurely leaving her as regent for her young stepson. In the second year of his reign Hatshepsut seized the royal titulary and as king of Upper and Lower Egypt ruled the country for at least two peaceful decades.