personality of the week.

My apologies for not keeping personality of the week going as much as its popularity might have demanded. Owing to a really busy summer I was not able to put the required work in to produce these personality sketches, so they have not been many of them. However, here is at least one personality of the week it is the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut. Although there were several queens of Egypt Hatshepsut has probably received the most attention owing to her numerous building projects and comparatively peaceful reign.

Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as sole ruler (pharaoh) between 1479 to 1458 BC, although exact dates are open to debate. As ruler she was involved in the usual kind of projects, building temples, presiding at religious festivals, and leading the troops in battle.

The policy that most befits her for entry into the café’s hall of fame is her idea of going to foreign lands – the Land of Punt – and collecting from there frankincense trees. These trees were carefully stored and watered in baskets so they could be replanted back in Egypt. This is the first recorded case a transplant of crops between countries. At the café, we think this shows cleverness, persistence and innovation and for this reason Hatshepsut deserves the title of personality of the week. Hatshepsut, a casket of Frankincense awaits you at the front of the café.

My thanks to for the use of the image: Keith Schengili-Roberts