Temple of Nefertari Love and Legacy Etched in Stone

Carved into the very mountainside of Nubia remains a testament to love that transcends time. The Temple of Nefertari, “excavated in the mountain of eternal workmanship,” as the inscription proudly declares, is a pharaoh’s grand gesture of devotion to his queen.

Here, Ramses II immortalized Nefertari, his “great wife beloved of Mut, forever and ever, … Nefertari … for whom the sun does shine” not just in breathtaking artwork, but in the very structure itself. The sun may no longer shine upon Nefertari’s earthly form, but within this temple, her legacy and the love story etched in stone endure for eternity.

What if Nefertari’s Tomb, her “house of eternity,” hadn’t survived. Scholars might still recognize her name, but could they truly picture the woman herself? The vibrant paintings adorning her tomb still Nefertari alive – a charming young queen, radiating beauty and power. These images leave no doubt that Nefertari was the brilliant wife of Rameses II.

But who was the real woman behind this great image? Historical records reveal that Nefertari played a significant role in both religious and state affairs. Her titles and the numerous depictions of her on monuments across Egypt – from the grand temples of Karnak and Luxor to her own tomb and even the colossal sandstone temple built for her in faraway Nubia – all speak volumes of her importance.

However, it’s difficult to say for certain how much of Nefertari’s prestige stemmed from her personal qualities. It’s important to remember that she wasn’t alone in her power. Egyptian history boasts other powerful queens before her, like Ahmes-Nefertari and Nefertiti, wife of Akhenaten. The 18th Dynasty even witnessed a female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, ruling with great authority.

Who was Nefertari?

Nefertari’s life story, though shrouded in some mystery, offers a glimpse into the remarkable world of ancient Egypt. Born into nobility, possibly in the Theban region, she married young – barely a teenager – to the man who would become Rameses the Great. Together, they had a son, Amenhirwenemefl Amenhirkhepeshef, and a daughter, Meryetamun.

Early in Rameses’ reign, Nefertari wasn’t just a beautiful queen; she was an active participant in her husband’s rule. Records show her involvement in ceremonies and religious events at Abydos, Thebes, and Gebel el-Silsila. However, for a significant period, her public presence seems to vanish. This “long silence” ends abruptly in Year Twenty-one, when Nefertari reappears on the world stage, playing a key role in the signing of a historic peace treaty with Hatti, a major power of the time.

Sadly, Nefertari’s life was cut short just three years later. Deeply mourned, she was laid to rest in her final resting place – a magnificent tomb known as the “house of eternity” in the Valley of the Queens. The year was 1255 B.C.E

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Nefertari: A Queen of Noble Lineage and Powerful Symbolism

The treasures unearthed from Nefertari’s tomb offer fascinating glimpses into her life. While she wasn’t of royal blood herself, inscriptions consistently refer to her as “beloved of Mut,” a prominent Theban goddess. This association with Mut likely hints at Nefertari’s own Theban origins, further strengthened by her choice of headdress – a vulture adorned with double plumes, mirroring that worn by the legendary Theban queen Ahmose-Nefertari.

Marrying Nefertari, the daughter of a Theban nobleman, proved to be a politically astute move for Rameses. Hailing from the Delta region, his family lacked royal connections. Their rise to power stemmed from military service under Pharaoh Horemheb, who, having no heir, designated his right-hand man, Parameses, as his successor. Upon the old king’s death, Parameses ascended the throne and adopted the name Rameses, a name carried by eleven subsequent pharaohs.

Nefertari: A Queen Crowned Young, Yet Empowered

The reign of Rameses I, though brief, ushered in a new era for Egypt – the Nineteenth Dynasty. To solidify his family’s claim to the throne, his grandson, Rameses the Great, likely sought a bride from the prestigious city of Thebes. Her name, Nefertari, echoed a glorious chapter in Egyptian history, while her title referenced the Temple of Karnak, home to Egypt’s first divine family.

Married in her early teens, Nefertari quickly became a mother, bearing Rameses II a son. Images from the very first year of his reign depict both king and son together in the rock shrine of Beit el Wali, Nubia. Sadly, historians believe this firstborn child did not live long.

Despite her young age, Nefertari actively participated in both religious and state affairs. Early depictions from Rameses’ reign show her officiating alongside the king at the investiture of the new Chief Prophet of Amun, Nebwenenef. This ceremony held such significance that Nebwenenef had it immortalized on the walls of his own tomb.

Temple of Nefertari (The small temple)

Standing proudly beside the grand temple of Ramesses II, roughly 100 meters (330 feet) away, lies a smaller marvel – the Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. This exquisite structure wasn’t just dedicated to the goddess Hathor, but also to Ramesses II’s beloved queen, Nefertari. This act marked a significant moment in Egyptian history, as it was only the second time a temple was built in honor of a queen. The first such honor belonged to Nefertiti, wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten.

The temple’s facade is a breathtaking sight. Two colossal statues, each towering over 10 meters (33 feet) tall, stand guard on either side of the main entrance. These aren’t just any statues – they depict Ramesses II himself and his magnificent queen, Nefertari. Notably, the statues of Nefertari are equal in size to those of the king. This defied tradition, where queens were usually depicted much smaller than their pharaohs. This unique decision speaks volumes about the high esteem in which Nefertari was held.

Something truly special sets the Temple of Nefertari apart: the statues of the king and queen are the same size! This breaks a long-standing tradition in Egyptian art, where queens were always depicted much smaller than the pharaoh. Here, Ramesses II defied the norm by placing himself side-by-side with Nefertari, showing her equal importance.

This decision wasn’t just symbolic. Look closely, and you’ll see that on either side of the entrance stand two colossal statues of the king, one wearing the crown of Upper Egypt and the other the double crown. Flanking them are equally impressive statues of Nefertari. It’s a powerful image that emphasizes their partnership.

The layout of the smaller temple mirrors the larger one dedicated to the king, but in a simpler form. Interestingly, there are also small statues of the royal children positioned next to their parents. These figures are arranged symmetrically, with princes and princesses listed on both the south and north sides of the entrance.

Temple of Nefertari Hallway

Just like the grand hall in the king’s temple, the Temple of Nefertari has a large room with a roof supported by columns. Here, however, the columns aren’t decorated with images of the king. Instead, they’re adorned with scenes featuring Nefertari herself! We see her playing the систrum (sistrum), an instrument sacred to the goddess Hathor.

Other gods and goddesses are also depicted on these columns, including Horus, Khnum, Khonsu, Thoth, Hathor (again!), Isis, Maat, Mut, Satis, Taweret, and even Ramesses II himself, sometimes offering flowers or burning incense.

Leaving the main hall, you enter a vestibule with three large doors. Graceful carvings adorn the north and south walls of this space. Here, the king and queen stand together, presenting papyrus plants to Hathor, who appears as a cow sailing a boat through a thicket of reeds. On the western wall, Ramesses II and Nefertari are depicted making offerings once more, this time to the god Horus and the deities of the Cataracts: Satis, Anubis, and Khnum.

The Inner Sanctum of the temple of Nefertari

Deep within the temple, a small sanctuary connects to a wide hallway with rooms on either side. All these spaces are aligned with the main entrance. The walls of the sanctuary are decorated with reliefs showing the Pharaoh and the Queen making offerings to various deities.

On the westernmost wall, tucked into a niche, appears a unique image. Here, the goddess Hathor, depicted as a sacred cow, emerges from the mountain itself. This placement positions Hathor as the protector of the entire temple, dedicated not only to her but also to Queen Nefertari. The artwork emphasizes the Queen’s close connection to the goddess.

The inscriptions on the temple buttresses reveal the significance of Nefertari. One dedication describes the temple as a monument built for “the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut,”. The inscription even poetically states that “the very sun does shine” for her.

A Temple for Nefertari, Queen Who Touched the Sun

Another inscription details how Pharaoh Rameses II, also known as Usermaatre Setepenre, personally ordered the temple’s construction in Nubia as a lasting tribute to Nefertari, comparing her legacy to the eternal sun god Re.

The sheer scale of the temple further emphasizes Nefertari’s stature. The two colossal statues of her standing proudly in front of the temple mirror the size of those depicting Rameses II himself.

This breaks with tradition, where queens were typically portrayed much smaller than their pharaoh husbands. Dressed in a long gown and adorned with a wig, Hathoric cow horns, a solar disk, and tall feathers, Nefertari exudes regality and a connection to the divine.

Inside the temple, vibrant scenes depict Nefertari engaged in various acts of devotion. We see her presenting offerings to Hathor, the cow goddess, amidst a thicket of papyrus reeds. In other scenes, she stands before the Elephantine triad of Khnum, Satis, and Anuket, and offers reverence to both Mut and Hathor.

Nefertari’s Political Significance in the 19th Dynasty

The reign of Rameses I, though brief, ushered in a new era for Egypt – the Nineteenth Dynasty. To solidify his family’s claim to the throne, his grandson, Rameses the Great, likely sought a bride from the prestigious city of Thebes. Her name, Nefertari, echoed a glorious chapter in Egyptian history, while her title referenced the Temple of Karnak, home to Egypt’s first divine family.

Married in her early teens, Nefertari quickly became a mother, bearing Rameses a son. Images from the very first year of his reign depict both king and son together in the rock shrine of Beit el Wali, Nubia. Sadly, historians believe this firstborn child did not live long.

Despite her young age, Nefertari actively participated in both religious and state affairs. Early depictions from Rameses’ reign show her officiating alongside the king at the investiture of the new Chief Prophet of Amun, Nebwenenef. This ceremony held such significance that Nebwenenef had it immortalized on the walls of his own tomb.

Nefertari and the Hittite Treaty

For a period after her prominent depiction alongside Rameses on the Luxor Temple pylon, historical references to Nefertari seemingly vanished. This silence, however, dramatically ended in Year Twenty-one of her husband’s reign.

Nefertari took a surprising yet significant step – she dispatched a letter all the way to the Hittite capital, Boghazkoy (modern-day Turkey). This letter wasn’t a mere formality. Filled with warmth and goodwill, Nefertari extended her wishes for lasting peace to Queen Padukhepa. This exchange coincided with the signing of a vital treaty between Rameses II and the Hittite king, Hattushilis III. This treaty marked the end of two decades of tension between the two powerful nations.

Tomb of Nefertari| A Queen’s Eternal Rest

The grand temple complex at Abu Simbel was a glorious testament to the reign of Rameses II. Dedicated three years after the peace treaty with the Hittites, in the 24th year of his rule, the complex stands as a symbol of power and prosperity. However, a poignant detail suggests that by this time, Nefertari, the beloved queen who stood beside him for much of his reign, was likely no longer alive.

Missing from the records of the temple’s consecration ceremonies is Nefertari. Instead, inscriptions depict Rameses with his daughter, Meryetamun, who had assumed the role of queen.  While the exact cause of Nefertari’s death remains a mystery, it is believed to have occurred sometime in her late forties.

We cannot say how Nefertari died. All that is known is that, sometime toward the end of her fourth decade, she began her journey to the hereafter.

Transported to the netherworld by the magnificent tomb that Rameses had built for her, she would henceforth dwell in a new domain, a resplendent “house of eternity.” For Rameses, it would be another forty years before he would pass through the portals of his own tomb, perhaps anticipating renewed union with the blessed spirit of his beauteous, beloved wife.