The Original Queen
Nefertiti, whose name means, “the beautiful one has come,” was more than just a beautiful face. She was the daughter of Ay, a nobleman who was the brother of Queen Tiy. Nefertiti was also known by her people as, “Ruler of the Nile,” “Daughter of Gods,” and “Empress of the Mediterranean.” The wife of Pharaoh Akhenaton, Queen Nefertiti welded the major political and religious power of her day. Nefertiti as influenced in establishing one of the world’s first monotheistic religions, the worship of the sun-god, Aton.
Nefertiti’s preeminence during her husband’s reign is evident in the temple carvings, of which dominated those of Pharaoh Akhenaton. This gives a strong indication that Nefertiti matched her husband in religion status. She was the only queen addressed in prayer and therefore was accorded divinity while her husband was still alive.
Never before has there been a recoded concession where a queen expressed ideas different from those of the Pharaoh, but inscriptions on stone panels indicate that Nefertiti had ideas of her own regarding possible locations for the new capital that was built by Akhenaton. Some portraits of Nefertiti even show her wearing the pharaoh’s crown. It is even thought upon Akhenaton’s death that Nefertiti assumed the role of Pharaoh Smenkhkare, who reigned briefly after Akhenaton and prior to Tutankhamen.
Nefertiti was also the mother of six daughters, and for several years, she cared for Tutankhamen. One of Nefertiti’s daughters, Ankhesenamon was determined to hold the throne herself. She and her sisters ascended to the throne.
Nefertiti’s famous life-sized bust depicts a beautiful woman and it precisely echoes her praise in an Egyptian hymn as, “youthful forever and ever.” The bust eloquently speaks to her ageless beauty. It is one of the artistic masterpieces of all time.
Nefertiti’s preeminence during her husband’s reign is evident in the temple carvings, of which dominated those of Pharaoh Akhenaton. This gives a strong indication that Nefertiti matched her husband in religion status. She was the only queen addressed in prayer and therefore was accorded divinity while her husband was still alive.
Never before has there been a recoded concession where a queen expressed ideas different from those of the Pharaoh, but inscriptions on stone panels indicate that Nefertiti had ideas of her own regarding possible locations for the new capital that was built by Akhenaton. Some portraits of Nefertiti even show her wearing the pharaoh’s crown. It is even thought upon Akhenaton’s death that Nefertiti assumed the role of Pharaoh Smenkhkare, who reigned briefly after Akhenaton and prior to Tutankhamen.
Nefertiti was also the mother of six daughters, and for several years, she cared for Tutankhamen. One of Nefertiti’s daughters, Ankhesenamon was determined to hold the throne herself. She and her sisters ascended to the throne.
Nefertiti’s famous life-sized bust depicts a beautiful woman and it precisely echoes her praise in an Egyptian hymn as, “youthful forever and ever.” The bust eloquently speaks to her ageless beauty. It is one of the artistic masterpieces of all time.