Who were Akhenaten and Nefertiti and what did they try to do?
Nefertiti was a queen of Egypt and wife of King Akhenaton, who played a prominent role in changing Egypt’s traditional polytheistic religion to one that was monotheistic, worshipping the sun god known as Aton. An elegant portrait bust of Nefertiti now in Berlin is perhaps one of the most well-known ancient sculptures.
How is Nefertiti related to Akhenaten?
One of the most mysterious and powerful women in ancient Egypt, Nefertiti was queen alongside Pharaoh Akhenaten from 1353 to 1336 B.C. and may have ruled the New Kingdom outright after her husband’s death.
Was Nefertiti equal to Akhenaten?
Nefertiti may have maintained a position of influence even after her husband’s death. Many scholars suggest she even was one of Akhenaten’s successors and reigned under the name Neferneferuaten.
Was Nefertiti black or Egyptian?
Mummy remains, anthropological records and other tests indicate that Egyptians varied greatly in complexion from the light Mediterranean of Nefertiti to the darker brown of upper Egypt to the Nubians, who were distinctly Negroid.
Who was the worst pharaoh?
Akhenaten
| Akhenaten Amenhotep IV | |
|---|---|
| Statue of Akhenaten at the Egyptian Museum | |
| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 1353–1336 BC 1351–1334 BC (18th Dynasty of Egypt) |
| Predecessor | Amenhotep III |
Where are Akhenaten and Nefertiti now?
In a shrine stela now in the Berlin Museum, Akhenaten and Nefertiti are seated facing one another with the Aten shining down above them.
Why did Nefertiti work for the Aten without her husband?
As a result, Nefertiti is frequently shown making offerings to the Aten without her husband, suggesting that she possessed an unusual level of autonomy in the Egyptian court. Images even show Nefertiti smiting the enemies of Egypt – a motif previously reserved only for the pharaoh.
Was Nefertiti a real Pharaoh?
Nefertiti as Queen. Nefertiti may have been the daughter of Ay, a top adviser who would go on to become pharaoh after King Tut’s death in 1323 B.C. An alternate theory suggests she was a princess from the Mittani kingdom in northern Syria.
Did Nefertiti worship the king of Amarna?
This idea is bolstered by the fact this stela was a shrine in a private house, implying that citizens of Amarna were meant to worship the entire royal family and not just the king. Nefertiti may have maintained a position of influence even after her husband’s death.
