Nefertiti: A Legendary Leader

Nefertiti's Bust 

Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, the possible child of Ay and Luy, wife of Akhenaten (also known as Amenhotep IV). She is from Thebes, Egypt and worships Aten along with her Husband. Nefertiti has many titles such as Lady of Grace (nbt-im3t), Main King’s Wife, his beloved (Hmt-nswt-‘3t mryt.f), Lady of all women (Hnwt-Hmwt-nbwt)(1), as well as many others. Nefertiti is one of many women in her husband's life, but is treated as the main wife and with more respect. They have six daughters together, Meritaten, Meketaten, Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferuaten, and Setepenre, while also being the step-mother of future King Tut. She is best known for her painted sandstone bust, which signified beauty. Her name even means "The beautiful woman has come"(2).

No one really knows the whole story of Nefertiti, but they sure try to figure it out. Through looking at inscriptions on tomb walls, it is known that both her and her husband, Akhenaten, were famous for creating their own religion worshipping only one god, Aten is the disc of the sun. Most of Ancient Egypt worshipped more than one, each symbolizing a different aspect of life, Nefertiti and Akhenaten went there own way to worship one God. Nefertiti appears in Thebes tombs. "In the damaged tomb (TT188) of the royal butler Parennefer, the new king Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) is accompanied by a royal woman and this lady is thought to be an early depiction of Nefertiti"(3). In scenes found on the Talatat, she appears twice as often as her husband is. With those ideas, one could assume that she was more powerful during her time and she controlled a lot more than what is depicted on the walls. She is shown continuously "smiting the enemy and captive enemies decorate her throne"(4). One structure, The Mansion of Benben (hwt-ben-ben)(5), was even dedicated to Nefertiti during the early years of Thebes. When Nefertiti and her husband went off in their own direction in religion, they both changed their names, Nefertiti to Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti and Amenhotep IV to Akhenaten.  This change showing signs to an increasing importance of the "cult" of Aten. Nefertiti's change of religion changed Egypt's view from a polytheistic to one that many would call monolatry or henotheism(6). Nefertiti is seen on tombs and temples as someone in positions of power and authority(7). Some scholars even believed that she was moved up a title to be seen as an equal ruler(8). On one inscription she is seen mourning the death of her daughter after she gave birth(9).

Akhenaten and Nefertiti worshipping Aten

Eventually, Nefertiti's symbol on tombs and inscriptions disappeared. Some people believed that she had died, some figured with the name change her symbol changed or she began dressing as a man so she was unrecognizable. Obviously, she has been buried at some point, but her tomb is undiscovered. Nefertiti had reigned at a time that was considered the wealthiest time in Ancient Egypt. Nefertiti's bust was rediscovered in 1913 and became her sole reason for being famous. But, the one thing about that bust is that the beauty may only run skin deep. "CT scans revealed that underneath the smooth painted stucco is the sculptor Thudnose's more realistic limestone carving a woman with wrinkled cheeks and a bump on the nose"(10).  They even made discoveries on King Tut's tombstone, noticing that there was a marking that could indicate a hidden doorway. A doorway that could possibly lead to finding Nefertiti's tombstone(11). Nefertiti is an interesting woman, she probably had a very interesting life for a woman in her time. A time where men were rulers, they respected their women but in a way that they only stay by their sides and do their bidding. But as we see it Nefertiti and her husband were different, they ruled together as far as things go and he even saw her as his equal. She was his right-hand man, we could say. Works Cited 1-6: “Nefertiti.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertiti. 7/10: History.com Publisher. “Nefertiti.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 15 June 2010, www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/nefertiti. 8/11: Biography.com Editors. “Nefertiti.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 18 Oct. 2019, www.biography.com/royalty/nefertiti. 9: Mark, Joshua J. “Nefertiti.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 26 Oct. 2019, www.ancient.eu/Nefertiti/.