Nitocris facts for kids

Nitocris (Greek: Νίτωκρις) was possibly the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt's Sixth Dynasty. Her name appears in old Greek writings. These include Histories by Herodotus and texts by Manetho.

However, historians are not sure if she was a real person. If she did exist, she might have been a queen who ruled for a short time. She could have been the sister of Merenre Nemtyemsaf II. She might also have been the daughter of Pepi II and Queen Neith.

Some experts, like Egyptologist Kim Ryholt, think Nitocris is a legend. They believe her story comes from a real male pharaoh. This pharaoh was named Neitiqerty Siptah. He ruled after Merenre Nemtyemsaf II. His reign was during the change from the Old Kingdom to the First Intermediate Period.

Stories from Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek writers shared interesting tales about Nitocris. Herodotus wrote that Nitocris became queen after her brother, the king, was killed. His own people had put him to death. Nitocris then took the throne.

She wanted to get even for her brother's death. So, she came up with a clever plan. She built a large room underground. She pretended to open it with a big party. She invited everyone she knew was involved in her brother's murder.

While they were celebrating, she secretly let river water into the room. This trapped and defeated many Egyptians. After this, she took her own life to avoid other plotters.

Manetho, another ancient writer, claimed Nitocris built the "third pyramid" at Giza. Today, historians know that Menkaure, a male pharaoh from the Fourth Dynasty, built this pyramid. Manetho likely mixed up the names. Nitocris's throne name, Menkara, sounded similar to Menkaure.

What Egyptian Records Show

Nitocris is not mentioned in any ancient Egyptian writings. This suggests she might not have existed. For a long time, people thought her name, Nitiqreti (nt-ỉqrtỉ), was on a piece of the Turin King List. This list dates back to the Nineteenth Dynasty.

The fragment with this name was believed to be part of the Sixth Dynasty section. This seemed to support the stories from Herodotus and Manetho. However, a close look at the Turin King List showed something different. The fragment was put in the wrong place when the broken text was put back together.

The name Nitiqreti is likely a mistake. It was probably a wrong way of writing the throne name of a male king. This king was Netjerkare Siptah I. He is listed on the Abydos King List as the ruler after the Sixth Dynasty king Nemtyemsaf II. On the Abydos King List, Netjerkare Siptah is in the same spot as Neitiqerty Siptah on the Turin King List.

Nitocris in Modern Stories

Nitocris has appeared in many books, plays, and games. Even if she wasn't a real person, her legend has inspired many tales.

• In Bolesław Prus's 1895 historical novel Pharaoh, her name is "Nikotris." She is the mother of the main character, Pharaoh "Ramses XIII."
• The Queen's Enemies is a play by Lord Dunsany. It is based on Herodotus's story of Nitocris's revenge.
• H. P. Lovecraft mentions Nitocris in his stories "The Outsider" and "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs". She is shown as an evil queen ruling over scary creatures.
• Tennessee Williams wrote his first story, "The Vengeance of Nitocris," in 1928. It tells about the queen's careful plan for revenge against those who killed her brother.
• In Le Basalte Bleu by John Knittel, the main character travels through time. He falls in love with the ancient queen. Knittel suggests that the Cinderella fairy tale might come from Nitocris's marriage. She supposedly lost her golden sandal, and the pharaoh later found it.
• Nitocris La Dame de Memphis is a book by Pierre Montlaur.
• "The Mirror of Nitocris" is a short story by Brian Lumley. It features a mirror that belonged to Nitocris. This mirror brings evil forces to its owners.
• Nitocris is Queen to Merenra II in the novel Rhodopis of Nubia by Naguib Mahfouz.
• Karl Sanders has a song called "Slavery Unto Nitokris." It is on his album Saurian Exorcisms.
• "By Scarab and Scorpion" is a short story featuring the Green Hornet by Mark Ellis. It involves an Egyptian museum show about Queen Nitocris.
• The song "Morbid Tales" from Celtic Frost's 1985 album is based on the legend of Nitocris.
• Nitocris appears in The Mummy and Miss Nitocris by George Griffith. She is the namesake of an Egyptologist's daughter. In the story, the queen is reborn in the daughter.
• Nitocris appears in Fate/Grand Order. She is a powerful "Servant" character. Her powers are based on the stories by Lovecraft and Lumley. She uses the mirror from Lumley's story as her weapon.
• A character named Nitocris is in the Assassin's Creed Origins tie-in novel, Desert Oath. She is a priestess at Karnak temple. Her death leads her daughter, Isidora, to use a powerful artifact. This brings undead wrath upon the city of Thebes.

See also

In Spanish: Nitocris para niños