Who was Queen Nefertiti?

Nefertiti was the consort of Akhenaten, a pharaoh known for his radical religious reforms and the establishment of the Aten cult, centered around the sun disk. The couple ruled from their newly established capital, Amarna (Akhetaton), where they enforced strict control over their subjects. The police force known as the medjay quelled any dissent, and Amarna earned the grim nickname "the bloody city." Recent studies reveal that many slaves died during the construction of this city.

Similar to her husband, Nefertiti was no stranger to harshness. In one of the surviving artworks, she is depicted wielding a mace, poised to strike down a kneeling slave. The name "Nefertiti" translates to "the beautiful one has come," and some scholars suggest she may have been a foreigner, possibly brought to Egypt by Amenhotep III, Akhenaten's father.

Mysterious Women in the Tomb

Scholars generally concur that Nefertiti's marriage to Akhenaten flourished initially. However, during his 17-year reign, the pharaoh began favoring a harem woman named Kiya, who was granted the privilege of participating in Aten ceremonies, a role previously exclusive to the royal couple. Kiya's sudden disappearance from Amarna spurred speculation about her fate.

This mystery took a possible turn 3,000 years later with the discovery of two female mummies in Tutankhamun's tomb, likely linked to the royal lineage from Amarna. The elder woman, identified as Queen Tiye, Akhenaten's mother, was found alongside a miniature sarcophagus and a lock of hair. Egyptian radiologists Ashraf Selim and Hany Amer conducted examinations that confirmed her identity.

The younger woman, adorned with a diadem and double-pierced ears, also seemed to belong to the royal household. Egyptologist Professor Joann Fletcher posited that these remains could be Nefertiti's. The younger woman's estimated age at death, between 22 and 40, supported this hypothesis, as did her royal posture and clenched fist that appeared to grasp a symbol of authority.

Nonetheless, skeptics raised doubts about Fletcher's claim. The woman's arm length and skull deformation did not align with Nefertiti's known characteristics. Subsequent DNA testing in 2010 confirmed that the younger individual was Tutankhamun's mother, not Nefertiti, but rather a sister of Akhenaten, indicating that Kiya was not simply a harem member but part of the royal family.

Palace Intrigue and Possible Murder

While Kiya’s true identity remains unclear, it is plausible that she fell victim to foul play within the palace. Her mummy exhibited a damaged upper jaw, and tomographic scans revealed she had been struck by a blunt object, likely a mace. Bone fragments and teeth were found embedded in her nasal cavity, and resin was used to fill the wound before mummification. Signs of bleeding suggest she was still alive when assaulted, with a noticeable injury near her heart.

Various theories speculate on the circumstances surrounding her demise. Nefertiti, who competed with Kiya for her husband's affection, might have incited the attack. In Akhenaten's 14th year of reign, Nefertiti vanished from the royal court, possibly due to a plague or other reasons. Additionally, Queen Tiye could have persuaded Akhenaten to dispose of Nefertiti. Following Akhenaten's death in his 17th year, Tutankhamun ascended the throne, departing Amarna to restore the worship of traditional deities and changing his name. Horemheb, who subsequently ruled, eradicated all traces of Akhenaten and his lineage.