Final answer:
Women in ancient Egypt had significant power and status. They had legal rights and even female pharaohs like Hatshepsut. However, there were cases where male successors tried to erase the memory of powerful female rulers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unlike many other ancient societies, women in ancient Egypt enjoyed significant power and status. They had the legal right to own property, sue, and exist as independent legal entities, which was not available to women in Europe or the United States until much later. In fact, there were even female pharaohs like Hatshepsut, who assumed the authority of a king and commissioned sculptures and architecture that set standards for future rulers. However, there were also instances where male successors attempted to remove the memory of powerful female rulers by destroying their statues and historical records.