Ahmose-Nefertari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ahmose-Nefertari |
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| Queen consort of Egypt Great Royal Wife God's Wife of Amun Regent |
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Ahmose Nefertari in deified form in tomb TT359
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| Spouse | Ahmose I | ||||
| Issue | Amenhotep I Ahmose-ankh Siamun Ramose ? Ahmose-Meritamun Mutnofret ? Ahmose-Sitamun |
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| Dynasty | 18th Dynasty | ||||
| Father | Seqenenre Tao | ||||
| Mother | Ahhotep I | ||||
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian religion | ||||
| Ahmose-Nefertari in hieroglyphs | ||||||||||||
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Ahmose Nefertari Jꜥḥ ms Nfr trj Born of Iah, the beautiful companion |
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Ahmose-Nefertari was a very important queen in Ancient Egypt, known as the first Great Royal Wife of the 18th Dynasty. She was the daughter of Seqenenre Tao and Ahhotep I. She was also the sister and wife of Ahmose I, who was the first pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Her son, Amenhotep I, later became pharaoh. Ahmose-Nefertari might have helped rule Egypt when her son was young. After her death, she was honored as a goddess.
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Who Was Ahmose-Nefertari?
Ahmose-Nefertari was the daughter of Seqenenre Tao and Ahhotep I. Her grandparents were Senakhtenre Ahmose and Queen Tetisheri. She was born in Thebes, a major city in ancient Egypt. She had several brothers and sisters, including her future husband, Ahmose I.
She married Ahmose I and became his Great Royal Wife. Together, they had at least three sons. One son, Ahmose-ankh, is shown on a special stone carving from Karnak. Another son, Siamun, was buried in a royal tomb. Their son Amenhotep I became the next pharaoh after his father. Ahmose-Nefertari also had two daughters, Ahmose-Meritamun and Ahmose-Sitamun, who became royal wives.
Life as a Powerful Queen
Ahmose-Nefertari was born during a time when Egypt was fighting against a group called the Hyksos. Her father, Seqenenre Tao, bravely fought against them. After his death, her brother and husband, Ahmose I, became pharaoh. He was very young, so his mother, Queen Ahhotep I, helped rule Egypt for him. Ahmose I successfully reunited Egypt and started the powerful 18th Dynasty.
Important Roles and Titles
Queen Ahmose-Nefertari held many important titles. These included 'hereditary princess,' 'great king's wife,' and 'king's mother.' She was also known as 'God's Wife of Amun.' This was a very powerful religious position. It meant she was in charge of many temple properties and their staff. She was highly respected and seen as a very important woman in Egyptian history.
A Queen's Influence
When her son, Amenhotep I, became pharaoh, he was still young. Ahmose-Nefertari likely served as his regent, meaning she helped him govern until he was old enough to rule alone. Some people believe she might have even started the famous Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were later buried.
Ahmose-Nefertari lived into the early years of the reign of Thutmose I. She is shown in carvings and on objects from that time, indicating her continued importance.
Her Legacy and Deification
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| Major cult center | Deir el-Medina |
| Day | II Shemu, 14 |
| Offspring | Amenhotep I |
Ahmose-Nefertari probably passed away around the fifth or sixth year of Thutmose I's reign. A priest named Nefer recorded her death, saying she "flew to heaven." Her death was so important that an annual holiday was created to remember her. She was likely buried in Dra Abu el-Naga.
After her death, Ahmose-Nefertari was honored as a goddess. She was called "Mistress of the Sky" and "Lady of the West." She became a revered figure in ancient Egyptian religion.
The Mummy of Ahmose-Nefertari
Ahmose-Nefertari's mummy was found in the 19th century in a royal burial place called DB320. It is believed her body was moved there from her original tomb for safekeeping. When her mummy was examined, it showed she lived to be around 70 years old.
In April 2021, Ahmose-Nefertari's mummy was moved to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This was part of a grand event called the Pharaohs' Golden Parade. Her mummy, along with those of 18 other kings and 3 queens, was carefully transported to its new home.
How She Was Depicted
Ahmose-Nefertari was often shown in art and carvings, especially in the area of Deir el-Medina. She appears in many private tombs and on various objects from different time periods.
In some depictions, she wears a special crown ornament with two uraei (cobra symbols). This was an early example of this style for queens.
She was sometimes shown with different skin colors, including light, pink, golden, dark blue, or dark red. Often, especially after she was honored as a goddess, she was depicted with black or blue skin. These colors were symbolic in ancient Egypt. Black represented fertile earth, rebirth, and the underworld. Blue symbolized fertility, birth, and life. These colors showed her important role as a goddess of resurrection and a protector of Egypt.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmose-Nefertari para niños
Gallery
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Ahmose-Nefertari, 18th dynasty, Louvre Museum
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Statuette of Ahmose Nefertari. From Deir el-Medina
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Ahmose-Nefertari 4 depictions from various Tombs
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