Who was Queen Nefertiti?
Nefertiti
was the wife of the pharaoh Akhenaten who is known for his radical changes to
new kingdom Egypt during his reign. The name Nefertiti means "the
beautiful one has arrived" Nefertiti is known for her elegant beauty as
well as her prominent and controversial presence. Nefertiti is known as being
the new kingdom Queen who played the largest and most significant role in
religious and political areas of life.
Nefertiti was known as many different things "Ruler of the Nile", "Daughter of Gods", "and Empress of the Mediterranean" and many others all that highlight her as being a powerful women in Egypt’s history. She is believed to have been the possible daughter of Ay a later Pharaoh of Egypt, but she may also have been a foreign women perhaps intended for Amenhotep III her exact origins are unknown. She had six daughters with Akhenaten but no sons many family portraits have survived and all show a remarkable amount of affection as this would have been a loving, closely knit family this love only overshadowed by the lack of a son and heir to the throne.
Nefertiti was known as many different things "Ruler of the Nile", "Daughter of Gods", "and Empress of the Mediterranean" and many others all that highlight her as being a powerful women in Egypt’s history. She is believed to have been the possible daughter of Ay a later Pharaoh of Egypt, but she may also have been a foreign women perhaps intended for Amenhotep III her exact origins are unknown. She had six daughters with Akhenaten but no sons many family portraits have survived and all show a remarkable amount of affection as this would have been a loving, closely knit family this love only overshadowed by the lack of a son and heir to the throne.
Akhenaten and Nefertiti.
Nefertiti
was Akhenaten’s partner in all that he did; she supported his religious mission
when he began to promote the worship of one God above all others. Nefertiti and
Akhenaten were said to have been very much in love and were often inseparable. Akhenaten’s
love for Nefertiti is known as being one of the greatest loves in Ancient Egyptian
history, he wrote poems and love letters to her in which he described her as
being
"...The Heiress, Great in Favour, Lady of Grace, Sweet of Love, Mistress of
the South and North, Fair of Face, Gay with two Plumes, Beloved of the Living
Aten (the king), the Chief Wife of the King whom he Loves, Lady of the two
Lands, Great of love, Nefertiti, Living Forever and Ever…"
As was customary in Egypt Akhenaten took other wives in order to ensure an heir to the throne although Nefertiti remained his chief wife. In year 14 of Akhenaten’s reign Nefertiti disappeared and no more is known of her after this point. It is thought that perhaps the couple had a falling out and Akhenaten banished her in disgrace or perhaps she became Akhenaten’s co-ruler Smenkhkare.
Nefertiti made many contributions as an Egyptian royal which have allowed her to be known as the great and honoured queen she is regarded as today.
(Above- Nefertiti and Husband Akhenaten)
"...The Heiress, Great in Favour, Lady of Grace, Sweet of Love, Mistress of
the South and North, Fair of Face, Gay with two Plumes, Beloved of the Living
Aten (the king), the Chief Wife of the King whom he Loves, Lady of the two
Lands, Great of love, Nefertiti, Living Forever and Ever…"
As was customary in Egypt Akhenaten took other wives in order to ensure an heir to the throne although Nefertiti remained his chief wife. In year 14 of Akhenaten’s reign Nefertiti disappeared and no more is known of her after this point. It is thought that perhaps the couple had a falling out and Akhenaten banished her in disgrace or perhaps she became Akhenaten’s co-ruler Smenkhkare.
Nefertiti made many contributions as an Egyptian royal which have allowed her to be known as the great and honoured queen she is regarded as today.
(Above- Nefertiti and Husband Akhenaten)