Final answer:
Hatshepsut appropriated masculine qualities in her representations, not to hide her femininity but to conform to the entrenched male symbolism of Egyptian pharaohs, thereby fortifying her position as a legitimate female ruler.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pharaoh Hatshepsut, known for being one of ancient Egypt's few female monarchs, appropriated formal characteristics of her predecessors to assert her authority as a legitimate ruler. Instead of continuing the traditional depiction of female royalty, Hatshepsut chose to depict herself with masculine qualities in statuary, such as a broad torso and ceremonial beard, symbols associated with the pharaonic office.
This inclusion of male attributes in her representations was not to obscure her femininity but rather to align with the conventional male symbolism of Egyptian pharaohs, which had been established long before her reign.
Acting as a testament to her power and influence, the iconography used by Hatshepsut in her statues followed this pattern, underscoring her unique status as a female pharaoh while maintaining traditional kingly iconography.
Her adoption of these formal characteristics represented a strategic use of visual symbols to convey her dual identity as both king and woman. This renowned image curation helped solidify Hatshepsut's place in the annals of history, despite the later attempts by her successors to erase her from the historical record through the destruction of her images and inscriptions.