Nefertari was one of the most famous and influential queens of ancient Egypt. She was the first and most beloved wife of Ramesses II, the great pharaoh who ruled for 66 years and expanded the Egyptian empire to its peak. She was also a diplomat, a scholar, and a patron of the arts. She was revered by her husband, her people, and even her enemies. But what happened to this remarkable woman? How did she die and where was she buried? These are some of the questions that have puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries.
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The Life and Achievements of Nefertari
Nefertari’s origins are shrouded in mystery. Her name means “the most beautiful of them” or “the most beautiful of the women”. Some scholars have suggested that she was related to the previous dynasty of the 18th, which included famous rulers such as Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamun. Others have argued that she was a commoner who rose to prominence by her beauty and intelligence. According to Historicaleve, she may have been the daughter or granddaughter of Ay, the last pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, or the daughter of Tanedyemy, a mysterious queen who may have been the wife of Seti I, the father of Ramesses II.
Whatever her background, Nefertari married Ramesses II when they were both teenagers, and became his great royal wife, the highest rank among his many consorts. She bore him at least six children, four sons and two daughters, some of whom became prominent figures in the royal court. She also accompanied him on his military campaigns and diplomatic missions, and acted as his co-ruler and advisor. She was highly educated and literate, and could read and write hieroglyphs, a rare skill at the time. She used her knowledge and skills to correspond with other powerful rulers, such as Hattusili III, the king of the Hittites, and Puduhepa, his wife and queen. She played a key role in establishing the peace treaty between Egypt and Hatti, the first recorded peace treaty in history.
Nefertari was also a patron of the arts and culture. She supported the construction and decoration of many temples and monuments, especially those dedicated to the goddesses Hathor and Mut, whom she revered. She was depicted in many statues and paintings, showing her beauty, grace, and power. She was often shown wearing elaborate jewelry and costumes, and holding symbols of royalty and divinity. She was also portrayed as the equal of her husband, participating in religious ceremonies and offering gifts to the gods. She was even worshipped as a goddess herself, and given the titles of “the one for whom the sun shines” and “sweet of love”.
The Death and Burial of Nefertari
Nefertari’s life was full of glory and honor, but also of hardship and sorrow. She witnessed the death of some of her children, and suffered from illnesses and injuries. She may have contracted a plague that swept through the region, or suffered from arthritis, diabetes, or cancer. She may have also fallen out of favor with her husband, or been replaced by another wife. However, none of these theories have been proven, and the exact cause of her death remains unknown.
What is certain is that Nefertari died around the 24th year of Ramesses II’s reign, when she was in her forties. She was mourned by her husband, who composed a poem in her honor, and by her people, who revered her as a goddess. She was buried in a magnificent tomb in the Valley of the Queens, near the ancient capital of Thebes. Her tomb, known as QV66, is one of the largest and most splendid in the valley. It consists of several chambers and corridors, decorated with colorful paintings and inscriptions. The paintings depict scenes from the Book of the Dead, the ancient Egyptian guide to the afterlife, and show Nefertari being welcomed and guided by various gods and goddesses. The inscriptions praise her beauty, wisdom, and piety, and express the hope that she will enjoy eternal life and happiness.
Nefertari’s tomb was looted and damaged by robbers and natural disasters over the centuries, and was forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1904 by the Italian archaeologist Ernesto Schiaparelli. He excavated and documented the tomb, and recovered some of the artifacts that had survived, such as fragments of her sarcophagus, her mummy, and some of her jewelry and furniture. These items are now displayed in various museums around the world, such as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Museo Egizio in Turin, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The tomb itself was closed to the public for many years, due to its fragile condition and the risk of further deterioration. It was reopened in 2016, after a major restoration project that involved cleaning, repairing, and conserving the paintings and inscriptions. However, only a limited number of visitors are allowed to enter the tomb each day, and only for a short time, to preserve its beauty and integrity.
The Legacy of Nefertari
Nefertari was one of the most remarkable women in history. She was a queen, a diplomat, a scholar, and a goddess. She was loved and respected by her husband, her people, and her enemies. She left behind a legacy of art, culture, and peace. She was a role model for generations of women, and a source of inspiration for artists and writers. She was, and still is, the one for whom the sun shines.
