Monday, November 8, 2010

Nefertiti Queen of Dynasty XVIII

Life within Akhenaten’s reign was far from being peaceful for the queen and king.Her beauty has captivated many artists, and is best portrayed in the famous bust shown above, found in the workshop of the sculptor named Thutmose.Similarly, speculation exists as to whether she was the obscure pharaoh Nefernefuaten.Within the reign of Akhenaten, religious reform took place, which changed the scheme of Egyptian religion drastically.The mystery of Nefertiti’s origins remain a large topic of debate.

Egyptologists have assumed that this was either due to banishment or her .Similarly, debate still remains as to whether or not Nefertiti was in fact the actual mother of Akhenaten,

and his wife at the same time.Little has been written about Nefertiti’s role with the king, however, from scribe texts, it is certain that she bore Akhenaten 6 daughters and no sons, and shared a near co-rulership with the king.As a result, Akhenaten appointed an heir outside of the line.Nefertiti is perhaps one of the best known queens of Egypt who is depicted in more sculpture and artwork than even the King Akhenaten.Nefertiti was the Wife of Akhenaten during the Eighteenth Dynasty.However, 

little evidence suggests that she actually died.Evidence suggests she was wed to Akhenaten as the daughter of a high official during Amenhotep III’s reign, or of Amenhotep himself.Fifteen years after her appointment to the position of Queen of Memphis, and the Eighteenth Dynasty, Nefertiti mysteriously disappeared.

Some scholars have contemplated Nefertiti’s role in the religious reform of Egypt, contemplating if it was Nefertiti who urged her husband toward the religious reform or if he did so under his own volition.Unfortunately,

the lack of male sons left Akhenaten with no male royal heir to the throne.Leaving behind the old gods, and orienting the religious life of Egypt toward a triple theological structure, has made many Egyptologists consider the reign of Akhenaten the reign of heresy.Little is known about the early years of Nefertiti’s life, and scholars have contemplated whether she truly was of royal lineage.

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