Nefertiti
Nefertiti was the queen of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten and is known for her beauty and the famous bust that bears her name. She was one of the most powerful women of the ancient Egypt.
Early Life and Marriage
Nefertiti was born in about 1370 BC. The identity of her parents is not certain and the scholars have proposed several theories.
She married the pharaoh Akhenaten and became the great royal wife. The couple had six daughters.
She was depicted with her husband in the reliefs and the statuary. The works show the couple in the intimate domestic scenes.
The Religious Revolution
Akhenaten introduced the worship of the sun disk Aten and the new religion. He moved the capital to the new city of Akhetaten, which is now Amarna.
Nefertiti supported the reforms and was depicted in the religious ceremonies. She was depicted as the co-regent and the equal of the king.
The art of the period is characterised by the naturalistic and the expressive style. The artworks depict the royal family with the elongated forms and the intimate gestures.
The reforms were reversed after the death of Akhenaten. The old religion was restored and the new city was abandoned.
The Role and the Influence
Nefertiti was one of the most influential of the queens. She was depicted in the office and the status that were unusual for a woman.
She may have ruled as the co-regent or the pharaoh after the death of Akhenaten. The theory is based on the inscriptions and the artworks.
The bust of Nefertiti was discovered in 1912 at Amarna by the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt. The bust is now in the Neues Museum in Berlin.
The bust is one of the most famous of the ancient artworks. The debate over its ownership continues between Egypt and Germany.
The Legacy
Nefertiti is remembered for her beauty and for the bust that bears her name. The image has become a symbol of the ancient Egypt.
She is regarded as one of the most powerful women of the ancient world. The queen who presided over the religious revolution.
The study of her life continues and the scholars debate the details of her reign. The tomb and the mummy have not been conclusively identified.
The name Nefertiti means the beautiful one has come. She is commemorated by the bust and the artworks of the Amarna period.
The Amarna Art and the Religion
The art of the Amarna period is characterised by the naturalistic and the expressive style. The figures are depicted with the elongated forms and the curved lines.
The artworks depict the royal family with the intimate gestures. The reliefs show the couple with their daughters in the domestic scenes.
The religion of the Aten was the worship of the sun disk. The hymns to the Aten are among the most beautiful of the Egyptian literature.
The Discovery of the Bust
The bust of Nefertiti was discovered in 1912 at Amarna. The German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt found it in the workshop of the sculptor Thutmose.
The bust was taken to Germany and is now in the Neues Museum in Berlin. The Egyptian government has sought the return of the bust.
The bust is one of the most famous of the ancient artworks. It has become a symbol of the beauty of the ancient Egypt.
The Family and the Court
Nefertiti was the great royal wife of Akhenaten. She had six daughters and the family is depicted in the artworks.
She was the mother-in-law of Tutankhamun. The boy king married one of the daughters of the royal couple.
She was depicted with her husband in the religious ceremonies. The works show the couple as the equals in the worship of the Aten.
The Theories and the Debate
The scholars have proposed several theories about the later life of Nefertiti. She may have ruled as the co-regent or the pharaoh after the death of her husband.
Some have identified her with the ruler known as Smenkhkare. The theory is based on the inscriptions and the artworks.
The tomb and the mummy have not been conclusively identified. The search for the burial of Nefertiti continues.
The Beauty and the Symbol
Nefertiti is remembered for her beauty and for the bust that bears her name. The image has become a symbol of the ancient Egypt.
The name Nefertiti means the beautiful one has come. The queen who presided over the religious revolution.
She is one of the most famous of the ancient women. The study of her life continues to attract the scholars and the public.
The Religious Role
Nefertiti played a central role in the worship of the Aten. She was depicted in the ceremonies and the rituals.
She was shown as the equal of the king in the religious scenes. The works reflect the importance of her position.
She may have been the high priestess of the Aten. The religion gave the queen an unusual prominence.
See also
- Akhenaten
- Amarna period
- Ancient Egypt
- Bust of Nefertiti
References
- ↑ Tyldesley, Joyce. Nefertiti: Egypt's Sun Queen. London: Viking, 1998.
- ↑ Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet. London: Thames and Hudson, 2001.
- ↑ Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
- ↑ Freed, Rita E. and others. Pharaohs of the Sun. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1999.