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Nefertiti

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Nefertiti was a powerful queen from ancient Egypt.

Heads of Akhenaten and Nefertiti
Heads of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

She lived during the 18th Dynasty as the great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Together, they changed how people practiced religion. They promoted a new way of worship centered on the sun disc called the Aten. This new religion was very different from the old ways. It focused on the connection between the sun and the royal family. This was a very wealthy time in Egyptian history.

Queen Nefertiti, Limestone relief
Queen Nefertiti, Limestone relief

Nefertiti held many important titles. One title was "Lady of All Women." She was also called "Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt." Her name likely meant "the beautiful one has come." She and Akhenaten had at least six daughters. These included Meritaten and Meketaten. One daughter, Ankhesenpaaten, later married King Tutankhamun. Some people once thought Nefertiti was Tutankhamun's mother. However, studies of mummies suggest this is not true.

Nefertiti was a very visible leader. In many carvings, she appears just as often as her husband. She is shown doing things usually only kings did. For example, art shows her smiting enemies to protect the land.

Nefertiti Standing-striding Berlin
Nefertiti Standing-striding Berlin

In the fourth year of Akhenaten's reign, they moved the capital. They moved to a new city called Akhetaten. This city is known today as Amarna. The royal family lived in the Great Royal Palace there. An official named Meryre II helped run her household.

Some scholars believe Nefertiti became a pharaoh herself. This might have happened after Akhenaten died. She may have used the throne name Neferneferuaten. If she ruled, she might have helped Tutankhamun. She may have helped move the capital back to Memphis. This would have helped bring back the old religion. There is still a lot of debate about this part of her life. Her name disappears from records after a certain time. We do not know for sure if she died or just stopped ruling.

In the 20th century, a famous treasure was found.

Unfinished portrait head of queen Nefertiti with sketches 01
Unfinished portrait head of queen Nefertiti with sketches 01

Archaeologists found a beautiful bust of her face. It was found in the studio of a sculptor named Thutmose. This bust is now kept in the Neues Museum in Berlin. It is one of the most copied pieces of Egyptian art. This discovery made Nefertiti famous all over the world. Her face helps us see the art of her time.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Nefertiti Standing-striding Berlin.jpg
Nefertiti Standing-striding Berlin.jpg
File:Limestone column fragment showing a cartouche of Nefertiti. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg
Limestone column fragment showing a...
File:Queen Nefertiti, Limestone relief.jpg
Queen Nefertiti, Limestone relief.jpg
File:Fragment with cartouche of Akhenaten, which is followed by epithet Great in his Lifespan and the title of Nefertiti Great King's Wife. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg
Fragment with cartouche of Akhenaten,...
File:Unfinished portrait head of queen Nefertiti with sketches 01.jpg
Unfinished portrait head of queen...
File:Heads of Akhenaten and Nefertiti.jpg
Heads of Akhenaten and Nefertiti.jpg
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