Ancient Egypt. Queen Nefertiti

Mighty pharaohs, majestic pyramids, the silent Sphinx personify the distant and mysterious Ancient Egypt. Queen Nefertiti is no less mysterious and famous royal beauty of antiquity. Her name, covered with a halo of legends and fictions, has become a symbol of all beauty. Who was the exalted and identified with the goddess Tefnut, the most mysterious and "perfect" woman of Ancient Egypt, the mention of which at one point disappeared, like herself?

The Egyptian Queen Nefertiti rules together with Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, more known in history as Akhenaten, more than three millennia ago. The sands of time absorbed that long period of history, turned everything that surrounded the queen to dust. But the fame of Nefertiti survived the centuries, extracted from non-existence, she again dominates the world.

In 1912, during the archaeological excavations in Egypt, Ludwig Borchardt, a German archeologist, the workshop of the sculptor Tutmes was discovered, as evidence of clusters of rocks of different breeds, gypsum masks, unfinished statues, a fragment of the casket with the name of the sculptor Ahetaton. In one of the rooms was found a limestone bust of a full-sized woman. Borchardt stealthily took him out of Egypt. In 1920, the bust was donated to the Berlin Museum. Secrets and riddles about the life of the queen were tried to reveal with the help of various hypotheses. It can be said that since then her name has been covered with worldwide fame, which has not faded until now. The interest in the fate of the queen also increased. For a long time only isolated references were mentioned about it, not so much information can be found now.

There are many versions about the origin of Nefertiti. The meager information, drawn from the mentionings on the walls of the tombs, inscriptions on the cuneiform tablets of the Amarna archive, has become the ground for the development of many versions about the origin of the queen. "Perfect", as it was called, was an Egyptian, but there are versions that claim that she was a foreign princess. Egyptologists have built several hypotheses about its origin. Some researchers believe that she is the daughter of Tushratta, king of Mitanni. Her real name Taduhippa, she changed, marrying Amenhotep III. Nefertiti became a widow early, and after the death of her husband was declared the wife of his son Amenhotep IV. The young pharaoh Nefertiti conquered with its incredible beauty. It was said that Egypt had not yet created such a beauty . The queen Nefertiti soon became the "chief" wife of the ruler. This kind of confirmed the version of her Egyptian origin, because usually the wife of the pharaoh became Egyptian royal blood. It is likely that this could be the daughter of the pharaoh. It was also assumed that Nefertiti is the daughter of one of the people close to Akhenaten's court.

The queen was amazed not only with her extraordinary beauty, but also with infinite mercy. She gave people pacification, her sunny soul was sung in poems and legends. She was easily given power over people, she was worshiped by Egypt. Queen Nefertiti had a strong will and the ability to inspire awe.

Ancient Egyptian papyri, drawings, bas-reliefs show that her marriage with Amenhotep IV was ideal, was a symbol of respect, love and cooperation. The almighty pharaoh went down in history as a religious reformer. It was an extraordinary man who declared war on the caste of the priests. He called himself Akhenaten, "pleasing to God," moved the capital from Thebes to Ahetaton, raised new temples, crowned them with the sculptural colossi of the new Aton-Ra. In carrying out this policy, the ruler needed a reliable ally, and he became Nefertiti. A clever and strong wife helped Pharaoh break the consciousness of the whole country and win in such a dangerous war with the mysterious ministers of the cult who subdued Egypt. Queen Nefertiti attended diplomatic receptions. Pharaoh consulted with his wife in public. Sometimes she replaced him with high councilors. Nefertiti was worshiped, her majestic statues could be seen in almost every Egyptian city. Most often it was depicted in a headdress, which is a tall blue wig that was wrapped in gold ribbons and urae, symbolically emphasizing its power and connection with the gods.

There were also envy and intrigue. But no one dared to openly oppose the ruler's spouse, rather, on the contrary, the offerings and gifts of petitioners were poured on Nefertiti. However, the wise queen helped only those who, in her opinion, could justify and earn the trust of the pharaoh.

But fate, being the most unrivaled director in a person's life, did not favor endlessly in relation to Nefertiti. The gods did not give her the heir of power. The queen only gave Pharaoh 6 daughters. Here it was not without the help of envious persons that the replacement of the reigning wife was found, the authority over the heart of the pharaoh passed to the beautiful concubine of Kia. She did not manage to hold Pharaoh near him for a long time, and it was difficult for him to choose between two women. From the side of the former tsarina, he was always welcomed with warm welcome, but the ostentatious courtesy did not deceive Pharaoh. The former relations between the strong-willed and proud Nefertiti and Akhenaten were no more. But she managed to retain power over him. There are versions that it was Nefertiti, having demonstrated her state mind, offered Ankhesamon, their joint third daughter, to Akhenaten's wife, according to other versions, this was the eldest daughter of Meritaton.

After the death of Akhenaten, their daughter was married to Tutankhamun, who moved the capital to Thebes. Egypt again began to worship Amon-ra and everything returned to normal. In Achenatone, only Nefertiti remained, faithful to her husband's ideas. In exile she spent the rest of her life. After the death of the queen, at her request, she was buried in the tomb of Akhenaten, but her mummy was never found. And the exact place of her burial is unknown.

However, her name, meaning "Beautiful has come," is still the embodiment of all that is beautiful. Sculptural portrait of Queen Nefertiti, found in Amarna in 1912, as well as other subtle and poetic sketches created by Tutmes, the ancient master of Achenaten, are kept in the museums of Berlin and Cairo. In 1995 in Berlin there was a sensational exhibition that united the Egyptian collection, the center of which was the newly met Nefertiti and Akhenaten.

Nefertiti became one of the most famous characters in the history of art, the personification of grace and tenderness, which opened during the reign of Akhenaten the emotional side of art. The charm of the most beautiful queen gave the artists an incredible opportunity to combine in one image the beauty of art and life.

The queen of Ancient Egypt left behind her many mysteries and secrets related to her life, which someone else has yet to reveal.