Queen Nefertari: Beloved of Mut and Favourite of Ramses II
Queen Nefertari, “beloved of Mut,” lived during the 19th dynasty in the 13th century B.C. and was a Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramses II. She was most likely his favourite and the most powerful of them all. Nefertari was showered with numerous honorific titles, including Great Royal Wife, Wife of God, Mother of Pharaoh, Hereditary Noblewoman, and Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt. However, one title, She for Whom the Sun Shines, points directly to Ramses’ special love for Nefertari.
Queen Nefertari: The Splendour of Ta Set Neferu
Because of this profound devotion, he built a magnificent tomb for her in the necropolis at the Valley of the Queens, or Ta Set Neferu (“the place of the beauties”) as the ancient Egyptians called it. The site is located just south of the Valley of the Kings, and the layout is characteristic of tombs from the time of the New Kingdom. It was meticulously excavated out of the rocky mountainside and is organized in a series of descending corridors and chambers leading to the deepest chamber, where her royal sarcophagus was originally placed.
Queen Nefertari: Relics of a Luxurious Trousseau
Although Queen Nefertari’s tomb was looted in antiquity, the few remaining goods left behind hint at how luxurious her royal trousseau once was. The surviving pieces of fine fabric, royal sandals, exquisite jewellery, fragments of delicate statuettes, and storage boxes are all crafted to the absolute highest quality. These remnants offer modern visitors a tangible glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of a 19th-dynasty queen.
Queen Nefertari: A Masterpiece of Ancient Wall Painting
However, the true treasure of this subterranean masterpiece is the beautifully executed and magnificently preserved painting adorning the tomb walls. Unlike many other archaeological sites, an astonishing 5,200 square feet of painted surface are still in remarkably good condition around 3,300 years after its creation. The vibrant colours and intricate details transport every visitor straight back to the golden age of ancient Egypt.
Queen Nefertari: Experiencing the Place of the Beauties Today
Stepping into the Valley of the Queens and gazing upon the legacy of She for Whom the Sun Shines is an unforgettable highlight of any Egyptian adventure. From the grandeur of the descending rock-cut chambers to the peerless artistry of the wall paintings, it stands as a timeless testament to royal devotion and ancient craftsmanship.
Queen Nefertari: Abu Simbel, great temple
Nefertari appears twice as one of the royal women represented beside the colossal statues of Ramesses II that stand before the temple. To the left of the doorway, Nefertari, Queen-Mother Tuya and the king’s son Amun-her-khepeshef (still called Amunhirwenemef here) flank the colossal statue of the king. To the right of the doorway, Nefertari, Baketmut and the king’s son Ramesses are shown with the Pharaoh. Inside the temple, Nefertari is depicted on one of the pillars in the great pillared hall worshipping Hathor of Ibshek.On the wall of the inner pillared hall, Nefertari appears behind Ramesses II. They stand before the barque of Amun, and Nefertari is shown playing the sistra. Elsewhere, Nefertari and Ramesses II are shown before a barque dedicated to a deified Ramesses II. Nefertari is shown twice accompanying her husband in Triumph scenes.
The small temple at Abu Simbel was dedicated to Nefertari and Hathor of Ibshek. The dedication text on one of the buttresses states: “A temple of great and Mighty monuments, for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, for whose sake the (very) sun does shine, given life and beloved”
While on other buttresses it says:
“King of South and North Egypt, Usermaatre Setepenre; he has made a Temple by excavation in the mountain, of eternal work(manship) in Nubia, which the King of South and North Egypt, Usermaatre Setepenre has made for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, in Nubia, like Re forever and ever” (Kitchen).
The two colossal standing statues of Nefertari in front of the small temple are equal in size to those of Ramesses II. Nefertari is shown holding a sistrum. She wears a long sheet dress, and she is depicted with a long wig, Hathoric cow horns, the solar disk, and tall feathers mounted on a modius.
In the interior of the temple, Nefertari appears in a variety of scenes. She is shown, for instance, offering to a cow (Hathor) in a papyrus thicket, offering before Khnum, Satis, and Anuket, the triad of Elephantine, and offering to Mut and Hathor.
Ready to uncover the secrets of ancient Egypt’s greatest queens? Contact Global Vision Holiday Travel Agency today to book your exclusive, expert-guided tour of Luxor and the Valley of the Queens!
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