The Queen Nefertiti held an extremely prominent role in Egyptian royal rule.
Egyptian religious worship greatly reflects her influence in the public
sphere. In the beginning of her royal reign, Nefertiti as part of her
religious conversion changed her name. Nefertiti means "The-beautiful-one -is
come" became Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti or "The-Aten-is -radiant-of-radiance
[because] the-beautiful-one-is come".
She married Akhenaten and while living in Memphis gave birth to six
daughters. She may have also had sons, but there aren't any records to prove
it.
Because it was a practice in Egyptian art not to portray male heirs as
children, it is believed that Tutankaten may have been her best-kept secret;
her son. Nefertiti moved with her husband to Akhetaten and is shown there
participating in all the religious ceremonies. It was only through the
combined royal pair that the god Aten's full blessing could be bestowed.
Nefertiti is displayed with a certain prominance that other Egyptian queens
were not. Her name is enclosed in a royal cartouche, and there are actually
more statues and drawings of her than of her husband, Akhenaten. Some have
even claimed that it was Nefertiti, not Akhenaten, who instigated the
monotheistic religion of Aten.
One of their daughters, Meket-Aten, died. Their mourning has been depicted on
many wall paintings. After the death of their daughter, Nefertiti disappeared
from the court and did not again surface for the public. There is some
evidence that she stayed in 'Amarna, but actually lived in a villa called
Hataten. Eventually, Nefertiti's daughter took over her place as Akhenaten's
Queen. Her body has never been found.
In 1914 her bust was uncovered in Tel el Armana, Egypt. The bust is made of
limestone and painted. Nefertiti's headdress was blue,her face was light tan
with red lips and black eye make up. The necklace she wore was blue,
turquoise,red, green, gold and white. The knot on her headdress is meant to
symbolize her richness.
In 1340 B.C. Queen Nefertiti died. Neither Nefertiti or her husband's tomb
have been found. The actual bust of Nefertiti is in the Berlin Museum.
