Who is nefertiti from ancient egypt

Her final depictions reveal a regal but realistic figure. In many cases she is shown in positions of power and authority—leading worship of Aten, driving a chariot or smiting an enemy. After Nefertiti had given birth to six daughters, her husband began taking other wives, including his own sister, with whom he fathered the future King Tut Tutankhamen. Akhenaten was followed as pharaoh by Smenkhkare, who some historians suggest may have been another name for Nefertiti.

This would not have been without precedent: In the 15th century B. On December 6, , a team led by German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt discovered a sculpture buried upside-down in the sandy rubble on the floor of the excavated workshop of the royal sculptor Thutmose in Amarna.

The painted figure featured a slender neck, gracefully proportioned face and a curious blue cylindrical headpiece of a style only seen in images of Nefertiti. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!

Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. King Tutankhamun or Tutankhamen ruled Egypt as pharaoh for 10 years until his death at age 19, around B. Shakespeare wrote a play about her. But Hatshepsut we must resurrect from the ashes of history and investigate why female success is so easily ignored, while female failure is so beautifully aggrandized.

The women were placeholders for a much larger scheme of power that is dependent on masculinity. They were there to make sure the next male in line could step into the power circle. She can only have one, maybe two children a year. Whereas, a man can produce hundreds of children, without all the hormonal changes and the vulnerability it produces.

So, she is there at a moment of crisis to protect the patriarchy when something goes wrong with the succession from man to man. As soon as it can go back to the patriarchal system, she is removed. Five of the six women in this book were called King. Number one: We need to understand that if racism is something that is inherent to our biology, then sexism could be as well. Until we start to verbalize and discuss what form that takes, we will not be able to transcend it.

It is that emotionality that causes women to commit less violent acts, not want to wage war and be more nuanced in their decision-making. It is what pulls the hand away from the red button rather than slamming the fist down upon it. These women ruled in a way that kept the men around them safe and ensured their dynasties continued. These women are whispering to me from the past that we need to do things differently. The thing that pulls me to them the strongest is their protectiveness; their ability to work with others; their interest in nuance; trying to build bridges rather than burn them.

Simon Worrall is a frequent contributor to National Geographic, both the print magazine and online. Follow him on Twitter or at simonworrallauthor. All rights reserved. And killed each other …. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.

This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. Early on, scholars suspected Nefertiti and Neferneferuaten were the same person because Nefertiti used the name Neferneferuaten when she was queen.

However, even if Nefertiti did not reign as a king, she undoubtedly remains one of ancient Egypt's most famous queens. Arnold, Dorothea The royal women of Amarna: images of beauty from ancient Egypt. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cooney, Kara Washington D. Tell Edfu. While studying scans made of Tutankhamun's tomb, he noticed some wall markings that could indicate a hidden doorway. This fact and other structural anomalies suggest that there could be another chamber there, and Reeves has proposed that it could be the long-missing tomb of Nefertiti.

If this proves true, it would be an astounding archaeological discovery and the most significant since Howard Carter 's uncovering of Tutankhamun. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. King Tut was an Egyptian pharaoh famed for his opulent tomb, discovered intact in , with his mask and mummy in his original sarcophagus. As queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the most famous female rulers in history. The stories surrounding Cleopatra's tragic life inspired a Shakespeare play. Hatshepsut was the longest-reigning female pharaoh in Egypt, ruling for 20 years in the 15th century B.

She is considered one of Egypt's most successful pharaohs. During his reign, he reestablished Egyptian rule of Syria and Palestine.