{"id":1905,"date":"2024-07-16T04:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T04:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/?p=1905"},"modified":"2025-01-25T21:48:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T21:48:28","slug":"temple-of-nefertari-love-and-legacy-etched-in-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/temple-of-nefertari-love-and-legacy-etched-in-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"Temple of Nefertari Love and Legacy Etched in Stone"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-who-was-nefertari\">Who was Nefertari?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-nefertari-a-queen-of-noble-lineage-and-powerful-symbolism\">Nefertari: A Queen of Noble Lineage and Powerful Symbolism<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-nefertari-a-queen-crowned-young-yet-empowered\">Nefertari: A Queen Crowned Young, Yet Empowered<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-temple-of-nefertari-the-small-temple\">Temple of Nefertari (The small temple)<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-temple-of-nefertari-hallway\">Temple of Nefertari Hallway<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-the-inner-sanctum-of-the-temple-of-nefertari\">The Inner Sanctum of the temple of Nefertari<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-a-temple-for-nefertari-queen-who-touched-the-sun\">A Temple for Nefertari, Queen Who Touched the Sun<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-nefertaris-political-significance-in-the-19th-dynasty\">Nefertari&#039;s Political Significance in the 19th Dynasty<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-nefertari-and-the-hittite-treaty\">Nefertari and the Hittite Treaty<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-tomb-of-nefertari-a-queens-eternal-rest\">Tomb of Nefertari| A Queen&#039;s Eternal Rest<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Carved into the very mountainside of Nubia remains a testament to love that transcends time. The Temple of Nefertari, &#8220;excavated in the mountain of eternal workmanship,&#8221; as the inscription proudly declares, is a pharaoh&#8217;s grand gesture of devotion to his queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Here, Ramses II immortalized Nefertari, his &#8220;great wife beloved of Mut, forever and ever, \u2026 Nefertari \u2026 for whom the sun does shine&#8221; not just in breathtaking artwork, but in the very structure itself. The sun may no longer shine upon Nefertari&#8217;s earthly form, but within this temple, her legacy and the love story etched in stone endure for eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.jpeg?resize=696%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Temple of Nefertari Love and Legacy Etched in Stone\" class=\"wp-image-1668 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.jpeg?w=696&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.jpeg?resize=204%2C300&amp;ssl=1 204w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>At Abu Simbel in Nubia, on the Sudanese border, rises the great rock shrine of Rameses II. Beside it is the small temple of Hathor of Ibshak, dedicated to Nefertari. Here the queen is shown making offerings before a local form of the cow-goddess, Hathor, and Mut, Nefertari&#8217;s patron. This in itself is impressive, but even more astonishing are the two enormous statues of the queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On either side of the temple entrance stands a colossus of Nefertari, flanked by colossus of her husband. The two statues of the queen are every bit as large as those of Rameses. In the Egyptian artistic tradition, the scale of an image, whether in two or three dimensions, signifies its relative importance. Kings are made larger than their wives, children, courtiers, subjects, or enemies. For the queen to warrant a statue as large as her husband was an unparalleled honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John K. McDonald<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cvM8ql\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari\">House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">What if Nefertari&#8217;s Tomb, her &#8220;house of eternity,&#8221; hadn&#8217;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 \u2013 a charming young queen, radiating beauty and power. These images leave no doubt that Nefertari was the brilliant wife of Rameses II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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 \u2013 from the grand temples of Karnak and Luxor to her own tomb and even the colossal sandstone temple built for her in faraway Nubia \u2013 all speak volumes of her importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">However, it&#8217;s difficult to say for certain how much of Nefertari&#8217;s prestige stemmed from her personal qualities. It&#8217;s important to remember that she wasn&#8217;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, <a href=\"http:\/\/Hatshepsut and Thutmose iii | Hatshepsut\u2019s Rise and the Shadow Cast on Thutmose III\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Hatshepsut<\/a>, ruling with great authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"496\" height=\"363\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.png?resize=496%2C363&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The facade of the small\nTemple of Hathor at\nAbu Simbel. On either\nside a colossus of\nNefertari is flanked by\ncolossi of Rameses I I.\nNefertari is crowned\nwith the cow horns\nand sun disk symbolic\nof Hathor.\" class=\"wp-image-1634 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.png?w=496&amp;ssl=1 496w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image.png?resize=300%2C220&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The facade of the small<br>Temple of Hathor at<br>Abu Simbel. On either<br>side a colossus of<br>Nefertari is flanked by<br>colossi of Rameses I I.<br>Nefertari is crowned<br>with the cow horns<br>and sun disk symbolic<br>of Hathor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John K. McDonald<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cvM8ql\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari\">House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-who-was-nefertari\">Who was Nefertari?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Nefertari&#8217;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 \u2013 barely a teenager \u2013 to the man who would become Rameses the Great. Together, they had a son, Amenhirwenemefl Amenhirkhepeshef, and a daughter, Meryetamun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Early in Rameses&#8217; reign, Nefertari wasn&#8217;t just a beautiful queen; she was an active participant in her husband&#8217;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 &#8220;long silence&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Sadly, Nefertari&#8217;s life was cut short just three years later. Deeply mourned, she was laid to rest in her final resting place \u2013 a magnificent tomb known as the &#8220;house of eternity&#8221; in the Valley of the Queens. The year was 1255 B.C.E<\/p>\n\n\n<a class=\"wp-block-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/temple-of-nefertari-love-and-legacy-etched-in-stone\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Temple of Nefertari Love and Legacy Etched in Stone<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/osiris-shaft-gizas-elusive-enigma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Osiris Shaft: Giza\u2019s Elusive Enigma<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/quisque-iddiam-velquam-elementum-pulvinar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">King Tutankhamun\u2019s Death Mask<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-nefertari-a-queen-of-noble-lineage-and-powerful-symbolism\">Nefertari: A Queen of Noble Lineage and Powerful Symbolism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The treasures unearthed from Nefertari&#8217;s tomb offer fascinating glimpses into her life. While she wasn&#8217;t of royal blood herself, inscriptions consistently refer to her as &#8220;beloved of Mut,&#8221; a prominent Theban goddess. This association with Mut likely hints at Nefertari&#8217;s own Theban origins, further strengthened by her choice of headdress \u2013 a vulture adorned with double plumes, mirroring that worn by the legendary Theban queen Ahmose-Nefertari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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&#8217;s death, Parameses ascended the throne and adopted the name Rameses, a name carried by eleven subsequent pharaohs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:28% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"465\" height=\"725\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-1.png?resize=465%2C725&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Detail of the colossus of Nefertari at the Temple 0\/ Luxor.\" class=\"wp-image-1657 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-1.png?w=465&amp;ssl=1 465w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-1.png?resize=192%2C300&amp;ssl=1 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Detail of the colossus of Nefertari at the Temple of Luxor.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John K. McDonald<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cvM8ql\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari\">House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-nefertari-a-queen-crowned-young-yet-empowered\">Nefertari: A Queen Crowned Young, Yet Empowered<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The reign of Rameses I, though brief, ushered in a new era for Egypt \u2013 the Nineteenth Dynasty. To solidify his family&#8217;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&#8217;s first divine family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Despite her young age, Nefertari actively participated in both religious and state affairs. Early depictions from Rameses&#8217; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-temple-of-nefertari-the-small-temple\">Temple of Nefertari (The small temple)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Standing proudly beside the grand temple of Ramesses II, roughly 100 meters (330 feet) away, lies a smaller marvel \u2013 the Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. This exquisite structure wasn&#8217;t just dedicated to the goddess Hathor, but also to Ramesses II&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The temple&#8217;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&#8217;t just any statues \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This decision wasn&#8217;t just symbolic. Look closely, and you&#8217;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&#8217;s a powerful image that emphasizes their partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-temple-of-nefertari-hallway\">Temple of Nefertari Hallway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Just like the grand hall in the king&#8217;s temple, the Temple of Nefertari has a large room with a roof supported by columns. Here, however, the columns aren&#8217;t decorated with images of the king. Instead, they&#8217;re adorned with scenes featuring Nefertari herself! We see her playing the \u0441\u0438\u0441\u0442rum (sistrum), an instrument sacred to the goddess Hathor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Other <a href=\"http:\/\/Review of The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">gods and goddesses<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-the-inner-sanctum-of-the-temple-of-nefertari\">The Inner Sanctum of the temple of Nefertari<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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&#8217;s close connection to the goddess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The inscriptions on the temple buttresses reveal the significance of Nefertari. One dedication describes the temple as a monument built for &#8220;the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut,&#8221;. The inscription even poetically states that &#8220;the very sun does shine&#8221; for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-a-temple-for-nefertari-queen-who-touched-the-sun\">A Temple for Nefertari, Queen Who Touched the Sun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Another inscription details how Pharaoh Rameses II, also known as Usermaatre Setepenre, personally ordered the temple&#8217;s construction in Nubia as a lasting tribute to Nefertari, comparing her legacy to the eternal sun god Re.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The sheer scale of the temple further emphasizes Nefertari&#8217;s stature. The two colossal statues of her standing proudly in front of the temple mirror the size of those depicting Rameses II himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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 <a href=\"http:\/\/What are the Elephantine Papyri? History, Significance, and Discoveries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Elephantine <\/a>triad of Khnum, Satis, and Anuket, and offers reverence to both Mut and Hathor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-nefertaris-political-significance-in-the-19th-dynasty\">Nefertari&#8217;s Political Significance in the 19th Dynasty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The reign of Rameses I, though brief, ushered in a new era for Egypt \u2013 the Nineteenth Dynasty. To solidify his family&#8217;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&#8217;s first divine family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Despite her young age, Nefertari actively participated in both religious and state affairs. Early depictions from Rameses&#8217; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-nefertari-and-the-hittite-treaty\">Nefertari and the Hittite Treaty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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&#8217;s reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Nefertari took a surprising yet significant step \u2013 she dispatched a letter all the way to the Hittite capital, Boghazkoy (modern-day Turkey). This letter wasn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"679\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lnb.pgm.mybluehost.me\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-2-679x1024.png?resize=679%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Nefertari and the Hittite Treaty\" class=\"wp-image-1659 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-2.png?resize=679%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 679w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-2.png?resize=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1 199w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-2.png?resize=768%2C1158&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-2.png?w=846&amp;ssl=1 846w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>&#8220;Says Naptera [NefertariJ, the great queen of Egypt to Padukhepa, the great queen of Hatti, my sister, thus. With you, my sister, may all be well, and with your country may all be well. Behold, I have noted that you, my sister, have written me enquiring after my well being. And you have written me about the matter of peace and brotherhood between the great king of Egypt and his brother, the great king of Hatti. May the sun god [of Egypt [ and the storm god [of Haiti] bring you joy and may the sun god cause the peace to be good \u2026. I in friendship and sisterly relation with the great queen [of Haiti] now and forever.&#8221; NeJertari&#8217;s letter to Padukhepn, the Hi\/\/ite queell, expresses her wishes Jor lastillg peace. The Hittites lYere the IlIdoEuropeall illvaders oj the Allatoliall highlallds. They established all empire dllrillg the COllrse oj the secolld mi\/Jellllillm B.C.E. alld cI,a\/Jel\/ged the supremacy oj Egypt ill the Middle East dllrillg the Eighteel1th alld Nilleteellth Dynasties&#8221;.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John K. McDonald<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cvM8ql\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari\">House of Eternity The Tomb of Nefertari<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-tomb-of-nefertari-a-queens-eternal-rest\">Tomb of Nefertari| A Queen&#8217;s Eternal Rest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Missing from the records of the temple&#8217;s consecration ceremonies is Nefertari. Instead, inscriptions depict Rameses with his daughter, Meryetamun, who had assumed the role of queen.&nbsp; While the exact cause of Nefertari&#8217;s death remains a mystery, it is believed to have occurred sometime in her late forties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Transported to the netherworld by the magnificent tomb that Rameses had built for her, she would henceforth dwell in a new domain, a resplendent &#8220;house of eternity.&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carved into the very mountainside of Nubia remains a testament to love that transcends time. The Temple of Nefertari, &#8220;excavated in the mountain of eternal workmanship,&#8221; as the inscription proudly declares, is a pharaoh&#8217;s grand gesture of devotion to his queen. Here, Ramses II immortalized Nefertari, his &#8220;great wife beloved of Mut, forever and ever, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17],"tags":[73,241,242,84,82,244,243,245,246,240,247,92,75,233,235,234,80,86,87,236,238,248,89,71,77,78,85,72,76,65,67,69,66],"class_list":["post-1905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archaeology","tag-abu-simbel-temple-of-nefertari","tag-battle-between-egypt-and-hittites","tag-did-nefertiti-go-to-war","tag-did-ramses-love-nefertari","tag-did-ramses-marry-nefertari","tag-egypt-and-hittite-peace-treaty","tag-egyptian-and-hittite-peace-treaty","tag-egyptian-hittite-peace-treaty","tag-first-treaty-in-history","tag-hittite-and-egyptian-peace-treaty","tag-hittite-treaty-deuteronomy","tag-how-long-to-see-temple-of-ramses-and-nefertari","tag-is-nefertari-ramses-sister","tag-nefertari","tag-nefertari-and-nefertiti","tag-nefertari-and-the-hittite-treaty","tag-nefertari-locations","tag-nefertari-temple","tag-nefertaris-temple","tag-nefertiti-and-hatshepsut","tag-nefertiti-and-three-daughters","tag-queen-nefertiti-history","tag-queen-nefertiti-temple","tag-small-temple-of-hathor-and-nefertari","tag-temple-de-nefertari","tag-temple-de-nefertari-abou-simbel","tag-temple-nefertari","tag-temple-of-hathor-and-nefertari","tag-temple-of-nefertari-abu-simbel","tag-temple-of-nefertari-at-abu-simbel","tag-temple-of-nefertari-facts","tag-temple-of-nefertari-inside","tag-temple-of-nefertari-photos"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/temple-of-nefertari.jpg?fit=2000%2C1341&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1769,"url":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/how-did-king-tuts-wife-die-the-unsolved-mystery-of-ankhesenamun\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":0},"title":"How Did King Tut&#8217;s Wife Die? 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The Unsolved Mystery of Ankhesenamun","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.png?fit=1086%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.png?fit=1086%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.png?fit=1086%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.png?fit=1086%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.png?fit=1086%2C1048&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2224,"url":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/banebdjedet-from-divine-judge-to-lord-of-sexual-pleasure\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":1},"title":"Banebdjedet | From Divine Judge to Lord of Sexual Pleasure","author":"egyptologyhub","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Representations of BanebdjedetBanebdjedet: From Osiris to Greek god PanBanebdjedet | Lord of Sexual Pleasure Representations of Banebdjedet Banebdjedet is mostly depicted either as a squatting ram-headed god with the ankh symbol or as a seated god with the Atef crown; briefly in the 25th Dynasty, he appears as a naked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Gods&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Gods","link":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/category\/religion-mythology\/gods\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prince Mentuherkhepeshef presenting offerings to a mummified depiction of Banebdjedet, KV19, 20th Dynasty (c. 1129\u20131111 BC).","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-35.png?fit=1200%2C887&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-35.png?fit=1200%2C887&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-35.png?fit=1200%2C887&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-35.png?fit=1200%2C887&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-35.png?fit=1200%2C887&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2701,"url":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/khaemwaset-ancient-egypts-first-egyptologist\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":2},"title":"Khaemweset | Ancient Egypt\u2019s First Egyptologist","author":"egyptologyhub","date":"January 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Khaemweset, the fourth son of Ramesses II and second child of his second great royal wife, Isis-Nefert, left a lasting mark on history. Family Background and Lineage of KhaemwesetKhaemweset\u2019s Early Training and Military RoleKhaemweset\u2019s Religious and Restoration ContributionsAdministrative Roles in MemphisThe Cultural Legacy of Khaemweset His contributions to restoring ancient\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Dynasties &amp; rulers&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Dynasties &amp; rulers","link":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/category\/history\/dynasties-rulers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-16.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-16.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-16.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-16.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1720,"url":"https:\/\/egyptologyhub.com\/website_d4a54302\/what-are-the-elephantine-papyri-history-significance-and-discoveries\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":3},"title":"What are the Elephantine Papyri? 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