Queen Nefertiti, an influential and beautiful woman in Egypt, held significant power as she ruled alongside her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten. Their aim was to revolutionize Egyptian religion. Although the specifics of Nefertiti’s early life are unknown, it is believed that she was born around 1390 B.C.E. in the royal city of Thebes. Opinions about her heritage differ; some believe she is Egyptian while others suggest she may be a princess from another country.
The name Nefertiti, which means “the beautiful woman has come,” implies her birth into the Egyptian royal court. Evidence suggests that she had a noble Egyptian wet-nurse or governess who supports this belief. Nefertiti’s father, Ay, initially worked as a scribe and keeper of King Amenhotep III’s records. Eventually, he rose to become chief minister, chief architect, and briefly served as pharaoh after King Tut. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain who Nefertiti’s biological mother was.
Opinions among historians differ regarding the relationship between Tey, Ay’s chief wife, and Nefertiti. Some argue that Tey could potentially be Nefertiti’s biological mother, while others believe she simply raised her. According to the source here, it was through her father’s work that Nefertiti formed a friendship with Amenhotep IV, the eldest son of the king. When Nefertiti was eleven years old, it became evident that Amenhotep had strong affection towards her and she would one day ascend to the throne. Following his father’s death, Amenhotep IV assumed kingship at the age of sixteen.
At the time, he then married Nefertiti, who was fifteen, thus becoming Queen Nefertiti. The new king’s focus shifted primarily towards religion rather than state affairs and warfare. He became a religious reformer, replacing Amun-Ra with a new supreme god called Aton, the radiant disk of the sun. Previously a minor god in Thebes, Aton now held sole deity status. In his fifth year as king, Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaten.
Akhenaten faced significant opposition when he closed the temples of other gods. In response, he established a new capital named Akhenaten. According to the information found at http://www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Nefertiti.htm, he decided to move the capital from Thebes to this location because he believed that the sun rising from a dip in the surrounding mountaintops represented Aton overseeing the city. To mark the boundaries of the new capital, Akhenaten placed boundary stelae around the city.
Akhenaten used these markers to exclude any deity other than Aton from the city. Within a year of living in the new capital, he completely forbade the worship of Amun-Ra and commanded that all temples dedicated to this deity be closed. Additionally, the king banned the observance and reverence of Osiris, Isus, Mut, Ptah, and all other major and minor gods. He insisted that only Aton was deserving of worship. Consequently, Akhenaten became known as a ruler who had established a new religion centered around monotheism.
The defilement of Amun-Ra’s statues, papyrus, and temples led to the defilement of his father’s name. Erasing a person’s name also erased a part of who they were, stopping them from being introduced to the Gods and resurrected, which was one of the ancient Egyptian’s biggest fears. Interestingly, Akhenaten appeared unaffected by this, perhaps because he considered Aton to be his father (“Akhenaten, The Heretic King”). Women in the Eighteenth Dynasty had an important role in both the state and religion.
Nefertiti actively supported Akhenaten in his efforts to convert Egypt to monotheism, while still respecting the tradition of believing in multiple gods and goddesses. The hierarchy of these deities held different levels of power and importance, with the worship of higher-ranked gods being a matter of state affairs rather than significant to the general population. Furthermore, each city had its own specific deity, and ordinary individuals worshipped various minor gods and goddesses.
Although most people have a stronger connection with one god than another, the acceptance of all gods is generally acknowledged. However, Akhenaten and Nefertiti defied this tradition by converting Egypt to a monotheistic religion that worshipped Aton, the Sun Disc God. Nefertiti played a crucial role in spreading this new religion and showed great enthusiasm for it. Both the king and queen sincerely believed in their new faith but did not provide a clear explanation for their strong opposition to centuries of polytheism. Nefertiti was equally dedicated as her husband to the religious reformation, participating in religious ceremonies alongside him, attending state events, and even taking part in the killing of enemies of Egypt – something usually reserved for the pharaoh. Despite her involvement in the religious movement, Nefertiti also managed to give birth to six daughters – two of whom later became queens – and possibly a third who may have ruled as pharaoh. As a result, Akhenaten held his wife in high regard; whenever he commissioned immense statues of himself, he would also have equally large statues made in honor of Nefertiti.
Many Ancient Egyptians regarded Nefertiti as a living fertility goddess because of her sexuality, feminine body shape, stunning wardrobe, and her frequent appearance with her six daughters. However, this queen, who was known for her beauty, power, and controversy, mysteriously vanished from Egyptian historical records. The reason for her disappearance remains unknown, leaving historians with mere speculations.
Historians have put forward various theories about what happened to Nefertiti, such as murder, banishment, or death from illness. Some believe she died around the age of thirty. Others think that jealousy or an attempt to change the religious culture from polytheism to monotheism by one of Akhenaten’s wives may have caused her demise. Additionally, there are ideas suggesting that Nefertiti could have actually been a male pharaoh disguising as Neferneferuaten. Despite the many theories surrounding her fate, the truth about what really happened to Nefertiti remains unknown.
Despite her destiny, the Ancient Egyptians will forever recall Nefertiti’s attractiveness and influence. She was widely recognized as “the most beautiful of all.” However, with the passage of time, Nefertiti gradually disappeared from memory until the German-Orient Association unearthed her exquisitely sculpted and painted bust in 1912 while excavating in Amarna.
The bust of Nefertiti is famous in ancient art because of its exceptional preservation and superb craftsmanship. Constructed from a solitary block of limestone, the bust was intricately carved, plastered, and embellished with vibrant paint. Thutmose, an Egyptian sculptor, crafted the bust approximately in 1340 BC and utilized it as a guide for a portrait of the queen. Notable characteristics entail the striking red lips, black outlines on both eyelids and eyebrows, and Nefertiti’s elongated neck that complements her tall flattop crown.
The stunning colors of Queen Nefertiti’s crown provide a striking contrast to her yellow-brown complexion. Despite the imperfection of a broken left ear, her bust remains breathtaking. The survival of this remarkable sculpture is truly astounding and serves as evidence for why she is still regarded as the “most beautiful woman in the world.” (source: http://www.crystalinks.com/nefertiti.html) Alongside her beauty, Nefertiti held significant power and influence. She and Akhenaten jointly ruled over Egypt, making groundbreaking contributions to its history.
Side by side, the power couple endeavored to revolutionize Egyptian religion, attempting to convert Egypt from polytheism to monotheism. Nefertiti had influence in state matters and was given the authority to declare death upon Egyptian enemies – a role usually reserved for the pharaoh. The ultimate destiny of Nefertiti, be it her demise, exile, or revelation as male, remains a mystery. Despite the uncertainties, Nefertiti’s incredible charm and power will always be remembered.
The section containing references to sources used in the text is referred to as the Bibliography.
1. Brondou, Colleen. “Nefertiti, Egyptian Queen.” Findingdulcinea.com. http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/n/nefertiti.html
2. Moran, Michelle. “Nefertiti.” New York: Crown Publishers, 2007. 1st Edition.
3. Redford, Donald B. “Akhenaten, The Heretic King.” Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1984.
4. Tyldesley, Joyce A. “Nefertiti: Egypt’s Sun Queen.” New York: Viking, 1999. 1st American Edition.
5. “Queen Nefertiti.” Crystalinks.com http://www.crystalinks.com/nefertiti.html
6.http://www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Nefertiti.htm
