Puduchepa
Flourished circa 1275–1245 B.C.E., Hittite empire (modern-day Turkey)
The correct spelling of this name is PUDUHEPA.
The Hittite queen Puduhepa, wife of King Hattushili III (ruled circa 1275–1245 B.C.E.), shared equal yet independent power with her husband, as attested by much documentary evidence. She corresponded with many other kings and queens, including the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, arranging marriages, judicial affairs, and other matters of state. Her seal appears on a wide variety of documents, including disputes over which she presided. The daughter of a priest and herself a priestess, she also had an influence in religious worship in the area, perhaps supervising different cults and their rituals.
