Neferneferuaten Tasherit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neferneferuaten Tasherit in hieroglyphs |
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Neferneferuaten tasherit Nfr nfrw Jtn tꜣšrjt Most Beautiful One of Aten - Younger |
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Neferneferuaten Tasherit, also known as Neferneferuaten the Younger, was an ancient Egyptian princess. She lived in the 14th century BCE. She was the fourth daughter of the famous Pharaoh Akhenaten and his powerful wife, Queen Nefertiti. Her family belonged to the 18th Dynasty, a time when Egypt was very strong and rich.
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Who was Neferneferuaten Tasherit?
Neferneferuaten was born around the 8th or 9th year of her father Akhenaten's rule. She was the fourth of six daughters born to the royal couple. It is believed she was born in Akhetaten, the new capital city her father built.
Her name, Neferneferuaten, means "Beauty of the Beauties of Aten" or "Most Beautiful One of Aten." This name was also used by her mother, Nefertiti, earlier in her reign. The part "Ta-sherit" simply means "the younger," helping to tell her apart from her mother.
Neferneferuaten had three older sisters: Meritaten, Meketaten, and Ankhesenpaaten. Ankhesenpaaten later became known as Ankhesenamun. She also had two younger sisters named Neferneferure and Setepenre.
Where did Neferneferuaten appear?
Princess Neferneferuaten Tasherit is shown in many ancient artworks. These images help us learn about her life.
Early depictions of the princess
One of the first pictures of Neferneferuaten Tasherit is on a wall painting from the King's House in Amarna. This painting shows her sitting on a pillow with her sister Neferneferure. The artwork is from around the 9th year of Akhenaten's reign. It shows the entire royal family, even her baby sister Setepenre.
Neferneferuaten Tasherit also appears in several tombs in Amarna. She is also seen on other monuments. For example, a stone base from Amarna, later moved to Heliopolis, mentions the god Aten and Pharaoh Akhenaten. In the lower part of the stone, princesses Ankhesenpaaten and Neferneferuaten Tasherit are named.
Family scenes in tombs
In the tomb of Huya, who was a high-ranking official for Queen Tiye (Neferneferuaten's grandmother), Neferneferuaten is part of a family scene. This scene shows Akhenaten and Nefertiti with their four oldest daughters on one side. On the other side are Amenhotep III, Queen Tiye, and princess Baketaten.
In another tomb, that of Meryre II, Neferneferuaten Tasherit is shown with four of her sisters. Only her youngest sister, Setepenre, is not in this picture.
Important ceremonies
Neferneferuaten is also shown at a big ceremony called the Durbar in year 12 of Akhenaten's rule. This scene is in the tomb of Meryre II, who was in charge of the royal living areas. Akhenaten and Nefertiti are sitting in a special booth, receiving gifts from other lands. Their daughters are standing behind them. Neferneferuaten is the first daughter in the lower part of the scene. She is holding something that is too damaged to identify. Her sisters Neferneferure and Setepenre are behind her. Neferneferure is holding a pet gazelle, and Setepenre is reaching out to pet it.
Neferneferuaten also appears in a scene where her parents give awards to Panehesy, a servant of the god Aten. She is standing near a window as her parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, honor Panehesy. In another part of this tomb, Neferneferuaten and her three older sisters are with their parents. They are all offering flowers to the god Aten. The four princesses are each holding bouquets of flowers.
Mourning a sister
Sadly, Neferneferuaten Tasherit is shown with her sisters Meritaten and Ankhesenpaaten mourning the death of their sister Meketaten. This sad event happened around year 14 of Akhenaten's reign. This scene is found in the Royal Tomb in Amarna. Her younger sisters Neferneferure and Setepenre are not in this particular scene.
What happened to Neferneferuaten?
We do not know for sure what happened to Neferneferuaten Tasherit. It is thought that she might have died before Tutankhamun and Ankhesenpaaten became rulers. It is possible she was buried in a special chamber in the Royal Tomb in Amarna.
Some historians have wondered if she might have been a co-ruler with Akhenaten for a short time. The identity of this female co-ruler is still debated. Other women suggested for this role include her mother, Queen Nefertiti, and her older sister Meritaten.
Images for kids
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Meketaten under the canopy, on the wall paintings of the Chamber
. In front of her: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Meritaten, Ankhesenpaaten and Neferneferuaten Tasherit.
See also
In Spanish: Neferneferuatón-Tasherit para niños
