By 1900, deciphered hieroglyphs from far-off Egyptia

1
Mysterious Life of Akhnaton Nefertiti
2
Introduction

• By 1900, deciphered hieroglyphs from far-off
  Egyptian borders told of a gentle prophet king
  and his beautiful queen.
• All major modern religions are based upon
  Akhnaton Nefertitis legacy of monotheism.

• For more than 32 centuries, Nefertitis existence
  was buried beneath Egypts sands.

• Akhnaton Nefertiti were erased from the
  history of Egypt and the roster of Kings and
  Queens of Egypt by priests after their deaths.

3
Amenhotep IV

• Second son of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy.
• Appears ignored by family.
• Not in family portraits.
• Not taken to public events.
• May have had Marfan Syndrome
• Ascended to the throne in 1352 BC.
• Became the tenth king of the 18th Dynasty and
  reigned for 16 years.
• He is famous for his religious reforms of
  implementing monotheism over the existing
  polytheism.

4
Amenhotep IV Vision

• Was given a vision of a sun disc between two
  mountains.
• Felt God was guiding him to make a change.
• He was shown the God Aton as the Sun Disk or The
  Light.
• Guided to build a city between two mountains.
• Summarized his belief with repeated expression
  Living in Maat.
• This means the king is the personification of
  truth or justice.

5
Amenhotep IV Vision

• Moved the city to new location and called it
  Akhetaton.
• Shows celebration of new city.

6
Akhetaton the City of Aton

• Ahketaton was the new city dedicated to Aton.
• Used a new architectural style.
• Built with smaller blocks and mud bricks.
• Worship took place in open sanctuaries, not in
  closed buildings.
• Akhetaton was to replace Thebes as the navel of
  Egypt.

7
Akhnatons Vision

• New religion was focused on worshipping Aton
  the sun god.
• Nefertiti changed her name to Neferneferuaten-Nefe
  rtiti.
• Amenhotep IV changes his name to Akhnaton in
  reverence of Aton during the fifth year of his
  reign.

8
Akhnatons vision in Art

• Akhnaton and Nefertiti are always depicted
  together.
• Instituted a new art style.
• More true to life forms are shown.
• Relaxed views of family life are new images to
  Egyptian art
• New art style is called the Amarna Era.

9
Akhnatons vision in Art

• His vision went beyond showing only people.
• Tiles imitated life and the beauty of nature.

10
Unraveling of the Empire

• Their daughter dies during 13th year of reign.
• Shortly after, other family members disappear
  from hieroglyphs
• Akhnatons mother.
• Akhnatons lesser wife, Kiya.
• Nefertiti disappears shortly after.
• Akhnaton dies in 1332 BC.

11
Who was Nefertiti?

• Parentage is unclear and common beliefs are in
  two main lines of thought.
• Her father, Ay, was a general under Ahmenotep
  III, and became pharaoh after Tutenkamen, or
• She was the daughter of Dushratta, the King of
  Mitanni, and thus, close cousin to Akhnaton.
• No clear ideas on who her mother was.
• Tey, Ays chief wife?
• Possibly from Akhim.

12
Who was Nefertiti?

• 1912 a bust of Nefertiti is found at Amarna in
  near-perfect condition.
• Now displayed in Berlin, this bust is how the
  world has come to know her.

13
The Beauty of Nefertiti

• The term nefer is often used in Egypt to depict
  beauty, but also goodness.
• The nefer hieroglyph is depicted by the heart and
  trachea (or esophagus), as is shown on the statue
  of Merytamun (daughter of Rameses II).
• Nefertiti means The Beautiful One Has Arrived.

14
The Power of Nefertiti

• There is much substantial proof that she had
  gained the power of the pharaoh
• Reliefs show her aboard a boat wearing her tall
  crown in a pharaonic pose smitting an enemy.
• She is shown in this pose in four symmetrical
  booths of ancient ships.
• She is shown as a trampling sphinx.
• She is shown in this pose twice.
• She is shown wearing her distinctive crown and
  brandishing a scimitar as a king would.
• She is shown in this pose twice.
• She is shown alone with her two oldest daughters
  officiating at the altars of Aton in a temple
  relief in Karnak.

15
Who shares rule with Akhnaton?

• In the few years before the end of his reign,
  Akhnaton rules with co-regent named Smenkhkara.
• Could this have been Nefertiti in disguise?
• Was it Akhnatons son by a lesser wife?
• Was it Amenhotep IIIs son by a lesser wife?
• The debate still rages on.

16
Nefertitis Mummy

• Mummies of Akhnaton and Nefertiti have never been
  positively identified.
• Two mummies found in tomb of Amenhotep II. Could
  Nefertiti possibly be one of them?
• Younger Lady mummy shows signs of having been
  royalty.
• Comparisons of measurements of mummy and
  Nefertiti bust are identical.

17
Nefertitis Influence in Modern Times

• Nefertiti bust shows red lips, painted eyelids,
  and accentuated eyebrows.
• This has set the standard for women today.
• From 1920s to present day, women wear red
  lipstick, sculpted eyebrows, and eye makeup such
  as eye liner and eye shadow.

18
Conclusion

• Akhnatons legacy has remained in spite of
  efforts to erase all knowledge of his existence
  and reforms to Egyptian life.
• Monotheistic belief with light as the central
  theme.
• Outdoor and open sanctuaries for worship and
  offerings.
• Architectural style of construction
• More true to life images in art inspired by life
  and nature.
• Nefertiti is most known for her timeless beauty.
• She is also known as a loving wife, strong
  partner and worthy successor of Akhnaton.
• She shared Akhnatons vision of monotheism.
• Had the strength to convert their beliefs into
  action.
• Helped manage the movement of the capital to a
  new location.
• Helped build this new city in honor of Aton.
• Her role in the new religion is so central she is
  depicted as a priest.
• It is speculated that she was the originator of
  the cult of Aton.

19
Artwork Inspired by Nefertiti
By Becca Richards
20
Artwork Inspired by Nefertiti
By Michael Bull
21
Artwork Inspired by Nefertiti
By Jeannine Klos
22
Artwork Inspired by Nefertiti
Secrets of the Past By Jeannine Klos
23
Artwork Inspired by Nefertiti
The Beautiful One Has Arrived by Olga Deulofeu
24
Nefertiti Project by
Please click the icon to view full report with
more artwork and images.

• Terry Orlikoski research and group coordinator
• Gabe Moretti research and report editor
• Ronda Mitchell presentation
• Brian Mitchell- presentation technical support
• Laura Lin -- research
• Rebecca Richards original artwork and research
• Olga Deulofeu original artwork and research
• Jeannine Klos original artwork
• Michael Bull original artwork and research