What was Queen Nefertari known for?
Queen Nefertari, the favourite Royal Consort of Pharaoh Ramses II (Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty c. 1250 BC) is famous for her beautifully decorated tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Her burial was plundered in ancient times yet still many objects were found broken in the debris when the tomb was excavated.
She was highly educated and able to both read and write hieroglyphs, a very rare skill at the time. She used these skills in her diplomatic work, corresponding with other prominent royals of the time. Her lavishly decorated tomb, QV66, is one of the largest and most spectacular in the Valley of the Queens.
So, a quick little guide to tell the difference between the two… Nefertiti is the queen with the famous bust resembling Angelina Jolie. Nefertari is the queen in that crappy Ridley Scott Exodus movie.
By Ana De Jesus. She was the Queen who received paramount rewards in the afterlife; a magnificent tomb (QV66 in the Valley of the Queens) to record her greatest achievements.
Missing left eye
Dietrich Wildung proposed that the bust in Berlin was a model for official portraits and was used by the master sculptor for teaching his pupils how to carve the internal structure of the eye, and thus the left iris was not added.
(5 ft. 6 in.) tall—taller than some 84 percent of other women of the period.
At the heart of the exhibition is Queen Nefertari, who was renowned for her beauty and prominence. Called “the one for whom the sun shines,” Nefertari was the favorite wife of pharaoh Ramesses II.
She was the throne princess of Egypt during the reign of Sethi who lusted over the then-prince Moses, seeking to be with him and ensure that he become Pharaoh by any means necessary, including resorting to murder to try and keep the secret of Moses' Hebrew heritage a secret.
Although Nefertiti and Akhenaten governed over Ancient Egypt at a time of unprecedented wealth, their new religion unsettled the empire. As queen, Nefertiti was loved by some for her charisma and grace. However, she was also largely hated because of her active leadership in Akhenaten's sun-oriented religion.
| Nefertiti | |
|---|---|
| Dynasty | 18th of Egypt |
| Father | Ay (possibly) |
| Mother | Iuy? (possibly) |
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian religion |
Why was Nefertiti so powerful?
Although Nefertiti was not born of royal blood, she had grown up close to the royal family. Some evidence suggests that her father was the powerful courtier Ay, advisor to three pharaohs, including Akenhaten, Nefertiti's husband. Like him, Nefertiti would prove to be a key player at court.
Nefertiti's Disappearance
There have been many theories offered to explain her abrupt disappearance and, among these are: She fell out of favor with her husband because she could not produce a male heir and so was replaced by Kiya. She abandoned the religion of Aten and was banished by Akhenaten.
Ramesses was incredibly devoted to Nefertari and was obsessed with her beauty. All of the best Egypt tours will include the story of Ramesses and his admiration for his wife, as this love story is so important to Egyptian history.
His most beloved wife, Nefertari, was not his sister but some sort of distant cousin. His half sister Henutmire was another one of Ramesses's eight wives, but again this was only ceremonial at that time- they had no known offspring.
As queen, Nefertiti was loved by some for her charisma and grace. However, she was also largely hated because of her active leadership in Akhenaten's sun-oriented religion.
Arguably, Nefertiti's greatest legacy is the religious revolution that occurred during her husband's reign. At this time in Egyptian history, the people worshiped several deities. Nefertiti and her husband chose to focus on the god Aten, represented by the sun disc.
Queen Nefertari: “The One for Whom the Sun Shines”
She was the Great Royal Wife, the favorite of pharaoh Ramesses II (reigned from 1279 to 1213 B.C.)—builder of grand monuments, vast tombs and monumental temples.
The Truth About Queen Nefertiti of Ancient Egypt
Queen Nefertiti was a Black African and there is compelling evidence to prove this.
Queen Nefertiti: The Most Beautiful Woman In Ancient Egypt — The Anthrotorian. Like Helen of Troy, the beauty of Queen Nefertiti has been documented throughout history and her likeness has been studied and revered since it's discovery.
