The First Female Pharaoh

Sobekneferu, Goddess of the Seven Stars

By: Andrew Collins

Narrated by: Micah Hanks

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

• Reveals the achievements of Sobekneferu, the political and religious issues of her age, the temples and ruins associated with her, and her continuing impact on ancient Egypt after her reign 

• Discusses Sobekneferu’s magical beliefs and practices centered on the crocodile god Sobek, the hippo goddess Neith, and their representation as constellations 

• Examines the modern-day resurrection of Sobekneferu among mystics and occultists of Victorian London, including her role in Bram Stoker’s shocking gothic novel, The Jewel of the Seven Stars

Cleopatra. Nefertiti. Hatshepsut. All of them are ancient Egyptian female rulers who rose above their predominantly patriarchal societies to become controllers of a great empire. Missing from this list, however, is Sobekneferu, ancient Egypt’s first female ruler. Why was the reign of this powerful woman all but forgotten? 

Piecing together the lost history of the first female pharaoh, Andrew Collins presents the first comprehensive biography of Sobekneferu. Using every text and monument that concerns Sobekneferu and her time in power, he examines her achievements as ruler, the political and religious issues of her age, the temples and ruins associated with her, and her continuing impact on ancient Egypt after her reign. He explores her relationship with her brother Amenemhat IV, her sister Neferuptah, and their father Amenemhat III, regarded as one of the most beloved pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom. He examines Sobekneferu’s untimely end, the fate of her body, and the cult that developed in her name.  

Discussing Sobekneferu’s magical beliefs and practices, Collins shows how they centered on the crocodile god Sobek, the hippopotamus goddess Neith, and Sekhmet, the goddess presiding over divine power. He reveals also how Sobekneferu’s suspected pyramid was positioned to align with the setting of Eltanin, the brightest star in the constellation of Draco, seen in ancient Egypt as the celestial form of Sobek. Examining the modern-day resurrection of Sobekneferu among the occultists and mystics of Victorian London, Collins shows how she is the true inspiration behind every ancient Egyptian female queen who comes back to life after her tomb is found—as featured first in Bram Stoker’s shocking 1903 novel The Jewel of Seven Stars and later in several modern blockbuster movies.

Revealing how Sobekneferu has left a lasting impact on culture and occulture through the ages despite being nearly erased from history, Collins shows how her continuing legacy is perhaps, ultimately, her true resurrection.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Andrew Collins. All Rights Reserved. (P)2023 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.

A great listen but polytheist thinking required

This tome presents a great assemblage of facts about the Queen that became King Sobekneferu. There is plenty in here for those that love detail, examination of known facts and artifacts, with speculation that is (mostly) neither outlandish nor unreasonable.

The accompanying PDF is helpful with but does not dominate the story or require having to reference it every 5 minutes, which I appreciate. Also, the PDF has some great images including photos of long-lost artifacts relating to and depicting the monarch.

I am critical however of the author's viewpoint as a non polytheist. Unless we move forward with our ideas about the religion of the Ancient Egyptians, we will not understand them properly or their understanding of the divine; I challenge the serpent god Nehebukau being ever equated with the chaos serpent Apep. Far too much of our understanding of this netjer as a friend to humanity exists in the archaeological record for us to think of Him as conflated with Apep.

Similarly, we can not think of the priesthoods and cults of the various netjeru as "rivals". This is a monotheistic concept. Set is not the Egyptian devil - this is a Christian projection; and Osirian cults "dismantling" other cults is again, more thinking from a non-polytheist.

The gods were not different football teams to be disparaged in favor of "our one true football team" that we personally barrack for. These ideas are antiquated and in line with Victorian-era Egyptology that was still emerging from Bible-based archaeology.

Mr. Collins has made some interesting connections with this work, and frankly, I found it enjoyable. This work can be considered as a decent reference book on the life of King Sobekneferu, as we currently understand it.

Across time

A marvellous feat by the author to pull all the strings into a continuous story line revealing the different landscapes of politics, culture, environment, and ultimately beliefs and rituals.