Queen
Nefertari Meryetmut
Grey-granite statue of Nefertari bearing a standard.
Titles:
Great of Praises (wrt-hzwt)
Sweet of Love (bnrt-mrwt)
Lady of Grace (nbt-im3t)
Great King’s Wife (hmt-niswt-wrt)
Great King’s Wife, his beloved (hmt-niswt-wrt meryt.f)
Lady of The Two Lands (nbt-t3wy)
Lady of all Lands (hnwt-t3w-nbw)
Wife of the Strong Bull (hmt-k3-nxt)
God’s Wife (hmt-ntr)
Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt (hnwt-Shm’w-mhw)
Nefertari is the most famous Queen of the
time of Ramesses II. She is mentioned throughout the country but she
seems to have played a particularly important role in Upper Egypt. She
is well attested in Thebes (Karnak, Luxor and the West Bank) and in Abu
Simbel.
Family:
It is not known who Nefertari's parents
were, but the fact that she never claims the title King's Daughter, but
does use the title iryt-pat implies that she must have been a daughter
of a noble. She must have married Ramesses II before he even came to
the throne.
She was the mother of at least six children:
Sons:
- Prince
Amenhirkhepeshef. Depicted with his parents in a statue now in Turin.
Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in Abu Simbel.
- Prince
Prehirwenemef. Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in Abu
Simbel.
- Prince
Meryre. Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in Abu Simbel.
- Prince
Mery-Atum. Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in Abu Simbel.
Also mentioned as Nefertari's son in an inscription in the Temple of
Mut in Karnak.
- ?Prince Sethhirkhepeshef? If this person is not the same as
Prince Amenhirkhepeshef, then he may be another son of Nefertari.
- ?Prince Sety? An ostracon exists mentioning a Sety, son of
Nefertari, but some assume this prince is the son of
Amenhirkhepeshef/Sethhirkhepeshef and Princess Nefertari (II) and hence
a grandson of Queen Nefertari.
Daughters:
- Merytamen. Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in
Abu Simbel.
- Henuttawy. Depicted on the facade of Nefertari's temple in
Abu Simbel.
- ?Princess Baketmut? This princess is number two in the list
of daughters of Ramesses II. She is depicted next to one of the colossi
before the Abu Simbel temple. She is depicted same size as Queen Tuya
and Queen Nefertari and wears a modius with uraei. She is depicted as
an adult. Her mother is never clearly identified anywhere.
- ?Princess/Queen Nebettawy? She is depicted next to one of
the colossi before the Abu Simbel temple. She is depicted as an adult
with a cap wig, a vulture cap and double plumes. She became more
prominent at the end of Ramesses' reign. She may have been a daughter
of Nefertari, or a daughter of Queen Isetnofret. This is speculative as
Nebettawy is never specifically linked to either Nefertari or
Isetnofret.
Nefertari
on depicted on monuments:
Nefertari first appears in an inscription in
year one when she accompanies Ramesses II to Abydos to elevate
Nebwenenef to the position of High Priest of Amun. In the same year she
also appears on a stela in Silsila.
Nefertari is omnipresent in Karnak and
Luxor. She appears in a scene for the festival of Amun-Min-Kamephis.
She is shown dancing at this festival. She also appears as the Queen
next to the great statues of Ramesses II throughout the temples.
Princess-Queens Merytamen and Bint-anath also appear as royal consorts,
but by far the great majority of the images of royal ladies belong to
Nefertari.
Nefertari followed in the footsteps of Queen
Tiye, Amenhotep III's Great Royal Wife, by having a Nubian temple
deicated in her honor. Ramesses had a temple dedicated to Hathor and
Nefertari built at Abu Simbel, in close proximity of the great rock
temple. Nefertari's presence in these two temples is rather
unprecedented. In the great temple Nefertari is shown on the facade of
the temple with other royal family members. Inside the temple we see
Nefertari accompanying her husband in smiting scenes. This is quite
unusual for a Queen.
The smaller temple of Hathor is also dedicated to Queen Nefertari. She
is depicted on the facade at equal size to her husband. Her two
Colossal statues are flanked by her daughters Merytamen and Henuttawy.
Inside the temple we see Neferatri being crowned by Hathor and Isis.
Nefertari may have held her exalted position
due to the fact that she gace birth to the heir to the throne, prince
Amenhirkhepeshef. She is beyond a doubt the highest ranking royal lady
in Egypt during the first 20 years of the reign of Ramesses II. She is
known to have corresponded with Queen Puduheba of the Hittites as a
letter by Nefertari was found in the royal archives in Bogazkoy in
Hatti.
Her health may have deteriorated by ca year
25. A stela by the viceroy Heqanakht shows Ramesses accompanied by his
daughter-wife Merytamen making offerings at the temple at Abu Simbel.
In a lower register the viceroy is shown adoring Queen Nefertari. Soon
after Nefertari disappears from the scene altogether.
Queen Nefertari was buried in QV66 in the
Valley of the Queens. The decorations in her tomb are considered some
of the most beautiful of the entire necropolis. The tomb was robbed in
antiquity, but some items (shabtis etc) were found by Schiaparelli.
The tomb was the focus of major restoration work done by the Getty
foundation. Much damage had been done to the once beautiful decorations
by seeping water and salt. The tomb is now closed to the public.
A fragment of one of Nefertari's canopic
jars is in the collection of the Petrie Museum - UC16418
Nefertari's monuments and
inscriptions can be found in several places throughout egypt.
Below is a table with some short-cuts in case one knows what one is
interested in.
| Luxor
- statuary and scenes on a pylon, etc. |
Abu
Simbel - A statue at the Great Temple, and many inacriptions at
the Smaller Temple |
| Karnak
- Statues, etc. |
Silsila
- a stela. |
| West
Thebes - Deir el-Medina, Valley of the Queens (pictures of the
tomb), etc |
Other.
This includes some scarabs, and some inscriptions from private
monuments. |
| Heliopolis
-
a statue |
|
Luxor
Luxor Temple, Queen before the Royal
Children
Playing the sistra for
her father Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, for Mut the
mighty, Lady of Asheru, (and for) Khons Neferhotep - (so) the
Hereditary Princess, greatly favoured, possessing charm, sweet of love,
[Mistress of] the South and the North, [? bright of] hands, [...],
wielding the sistra while propitiating her father Amun.
Rich in
love, wearing the circlet-diadem, singer fair of face, beautiful
with the tall twin plumes, Chief of the Harim of Horus, Lord of the
Palace; one is pleased with what(ever) comes forth concerning her;
who was (only to) say anything, and it is done for her - every good
thing at her wish(?); her every word, how pleasing on the ear(?) - one
lives at just hearing her voice, (even) the Great Royal Wife, his
beloved,
Wife of the Strong Bull, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Luxor Pylon III: Inaugural (?) Festival
of Mast of Amun-Min-Kamephis
Scene I: King and Queen worship in new Temple
King: <text omitted>
Solar Disk: The Behdedite, great
of varicolored plumage, [Lord of Heaven]
Queen, her action: Playing the sistrum
(be)for(e) your fair face - the Chantress [that] is your preference.
Queen, her speech: Words spoken by the Great Royal Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, to her father
Min-[Amen-Re]-Kamephis: "Beautiful is your repose, O Lord of the Gods,
in your Temple of
Millions of years! I play the sistra (be)for(e) your fair face, I
please you because of your goodness - may
you safeguard your beloved son, with whom you are pleased, the Lord
of Both Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre,
given life like Re forever."
Scene III: King and Queen oversee
Erection of Mast before Amen-Re attended by standard bearers.
Epithetes of King: The Good god, Usermaatre Setepenre, Son of Re, Ramesses II Meriamun, given life
like
Re forever,
Act of the Queen: Playing the sistra
for
her father.
Queen, her speech: Words spoken by the Great King's Wife, his beloved, Nefertari Meryetmut, to her father
Min-Amun, chief over his sanctuary: "Your beloved son, the Lord of Both
Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre,
has come to see you in your beautiful manifestation. He has erected for
you the mast of the (pavilion)-framework. May you grant him eternity as
King, and victory over those rebellious (against) His Majesty, L.P.H."
Standard Bearers: <Two rows of
seven
standard bearers>
Main Text over Erection of Mast: <text omitted>
Officials on Ropes:
Left (4 above / 4 below) Right (4 above / 4 below): King's Aquaintance.
Amen-Re-Kamephis: <text omitted>
Speech of Amen-Re: <text omitted>
Nefertari (two different views)
Luxor Temple, Statuary: Before Pylon
East Colossus
Names on Shoulder: Right:
Usermaatre Setepenre, Ruler
of the Two Lands.
Left: Ramesses II, Ruler of the Two Lands.
Dorsal Pillar, rebus: Usermaatre Setepenre, Beloved of Amun, Ruler of the Two Lands
Dorsal Pillar: <text omitted>
Queen, left: Hereditary Princess,
Greatly favored, Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live
forever.
Prince, right: Fanbearer on the
King's Right Hand, Hereditary Prince, King's Son whom he loves, Amenhirkhopshef.
Luxor Temple, Statuary: In Forecourt
A. Seated Colossus (statue "D"), East side of South Doorway
Names on Shoulder: Right:
Usermaatre Setepenre, Beloved
of Amun.
Left: Ramesses II, Beloved of Amun.
Queen:
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Topographical List: <text omitted>
B. Seated Colossus (statue "E"),
West side of South Doorway
Names on Shoulder: Right:
Usermaatre Setepenre, Sun
of Rulers.
Left: Ramesses II, Sun of Rulers.
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife,
his
beloved, Lady of Both Lands, [Nefertari
Mery-en-]Mut, [may she live].
Throne: Usermaatre Setepenre, Sun
of Rulers.
Dorsal Pillar, Main Text: <text omitted>
Dorsal Pillar, Left: <text omitted>
Dorsal Pillar, Right: <text omitted>
Topographical List: <text omitted>
C. East Colonnade, Southern Statue.
Dorsal Pillar, Main Text: <text omitted>
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife,
Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live forever.
D. South Colonnade, Western Statue.
Dorsal Pillar, Main Text: <text omitted>
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife,
Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, [may she live].
E. South Colonnade, Eastern Statue.
Dorsal Pillar, Main Text: <text omitted>
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife,
Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, living forever.
F. South Colonnade, Western Statue.
Dorsal Pillar, Main Text: <text omitted>
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife, Nefertari [Mery-en-]Mut, living
for[ever].
G. West Colonnade, Northern Statue.
Queen, left: Great Royal Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live
[Note: The other Queens present in the
Forecourt are Princess-Queens Bintanath - twice: east and west
colonnade - and Merytamun - once: north colonnade].
Karnak
Statue group of Queen and Prince from the
Karnak Cachette.
i. Front, Queen: Great Royal Wife,
his
beloved, Lady of both Lands, [...]
ii. Front, Prince: Bodily king's Son,
[...]
iii. Rear Surface: [... in] the Palace,
fair of face, beautiful with the tall twin plumes, Mistress of all
Lands, bright of hands, [...] while propitiating her father Amun, Great
Royal Wife, his beloved, Lady of [Both Lands], [Nefertari Meryetmut].
The hereditary Prince and Count, a magnate great in the King's House,
greatest of the grandees in [... ? praised in] the Palace, so great is
his effectiveness; having access ("master of steps") to
[...]; Fanbearer on the King's Right Hand, Bodily King's Son, [...].
Karnak: Royal Statuary
A. Schist statue CGC 42,140
Belt: Usermaatre, Image of
Re.
Kilt's front: Good God, Lord of
Both
Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre,
Bodily Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Ramesses
II, forever.
Front of knee: Usermaatre
Rear: <text omitted>
Throne right: The Hereditary
Princess, greatly [favored, sweet of lo]ve, Mistress of the South and
North, fair of face, beauteous with the Twin Plumes, Mistress of all
lands, Great Royal Wife, his beloved, Lady of the Two Lands, great in
love, Nefertari Meryetmut,
may
she live.
Throne left: Hereditary Prince,
Fanbearer on the King's Right Hand, Real King's Scribe, his beloved,
divine seed that came forth from the Strong Bull, bodily King's Son,
dear
to him, Generalissimo, Usermaatre,
justified. <some of the text added later?>
B. Limestone Colossus,
Usurped, Pylon X, East Side
Belt: Ramesses II
Queen: Great Royal Wife,
Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Dorsal pillar: <text omitted>
C. Limestone Colossus, Usurped, Pylon X, West Side
Belt: Ramesses II
Queen:
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Dorsal pillar: <text omitted>
Black Granite Seated Statue, Turin 1380
Belt: The good god Usermaatre Setepenre
Front: <text omitted>
Shoulders: Usermaatre
Setepenre, Ramesses II
Dorsal Pillar: <text omitted>
Queen:
Great Royal Wife, his beloved, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Prince: Fanbearer on the
King's Right Hand, Hereditary Prince, King's Son whom he loves, Amenhirkhopshef.
Karnak, Temple of Mut
<text omitted> [...? Text made by the King's Son,
Ra]messes-Meryatum, born of Queen Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live forever.
West Thebes
Western Thebes, Fragments
A. Statue group (fragment) from the Mentuhotep Temple at Deir el-Bahari
i. Royal names below [heads]
Usermaatre Stepenre,
Beloved of Sokar. Nefertari
ii. Text below names:
< x lines lost> in/from [...] father of(?) [...]
chantress of [...] mother of [...]
iii. Text at right:
I speak <to> you, (I?) cause that [you?] offer [...]. I am one
favored, pronounced [is my name? ...] pleasing on account of [...]
B. Deir el-Medina, Stela fragment with Queen
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut
C. Deir el-Medina Two cryptographic blocks
i. Cairo JdE 72015
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
ii. Cairo JdE 72016
Mother of the God/Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Mistress of
South and North
Valley of the Queens, Tomb 66
A. Outer Hall, N&W walls, Text on
Edge of Bench
Words spoken by Osiris Chief of the West, [Wenen]nufer
Lord of the Sacred Territory, Great god, King of the living, Lord
of the Silent Land:
"I have come to you, my dear Daughter, Lady of Both Lands, Great Royal
Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, may
she live.
I grant you a place at the head of the Silent Land, as
you appear in heaven like father Re; you shall assume your place
in the Sacred Territory; your heart shall rejoice in the Place of
Truth, (for) the Great Conclave of Gods has welcomed ("joined with")
you, O Osiris Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut, justified.
B. Outer Hall, Titles of Queen in text of
BD17 " the
Osiris,
Great Royal Wife, God's Wife, Nefertari
Meryetmut, justified..."
C. Outer Side-Room, W. wall (N), Titles of Queen before Ptah.
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Mistress of All Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut, justified
before Osiris Chief of the West, the Great God.
D. East Annexe, S. Wall, Titles of the Queen before Anubis.
The Osiris, Great Royal Wife, God's Wife, Mistress of the North and
South, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut
E. Lid of Sacophagus, Turin (Sup.5153)
Text No.2. Words spoken b[y the Osiris,
Great Royal Wife,...] Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari
Meryetmut, justified:
"Come down, O (my) mother Nut, and spread (yourself) over me, and may
you place me among the imperishable Starts that are within you, so that
I sall not die" - (even ) the Osiris,
Royal Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, as
one strong in her body.
Text No.4. [Words spoken by Nut: "...]; I give
you the sweet breeze of the North Wind, ..., by our gift, (even) it
with everything strong and mighty, forever."
Text No.3.
Words spoken by Nut the mighty: "I have stretched myself over this my
Daughter, the Osiris, Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both
Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut,
justified, in this my name of Nut. Re himself has purified me. Your
mother Nut arises and rejoices, (to) lead you to the road to the
horizon(-god), (O) one justified before the Great god.
Nefertari playing Senet, and Nefertari
with her Ba.
Close-up
of the Queen, a goddess, and Nefertari with the goddess Hathor
 
Anubis on the left, and the god Ptah.
 
Scene from the Book of the Dead (?). On
the right Ra (with the ram's head) and the goddesses Nephtys and Isis.
Nefertari before the god Thoth.
Photos from
egyptarchive:
 
Nefertari offering before the goddess
Hathor.
 
Nefertari before Thoth (see above for
color close-up, and Nefertari accompanied by Isis.
Abu Simbel
A. Great Temple Facade, North of Doorway
(Buttressed) Colossus.
Cartouches and epithets on shoulder:
i. Right Shoulder: Usermaatre Setepenre, ÔBeloved
of Amun'
ii. Left Shoulder: [...lost...]
Queen Nefertari and Prince Ramesses
i. Queen Nefertari: King's Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live.
ii. Prince: Royal Scribe and
first
Generalissimo of His Majesty, Bodily King's Son [Whom he loves], Ramesses.
Text, Buttress under Statue's right arm: Horus-Falcon, Strong
Bull, beloved of Maat; the Good god, Usermaatre
Setepenre, Son of Re, Ramesses
II; for his father - what he has made. May he give all valor
and victory; beloved of Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of Both Lands -
may he give all life and dominion.
B. Great Temple, Great Pillared Hall
Pillar 1, East side, Lower Scene: Queen Nefertari worships Hathor of
Ibshek
i. Queen: King's Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut
ii. Act of Queen: Playing sistra.
iii. Hathor: Hathor, Lady of
Ibshek.
C. Great Temple, Inner Pillared Hall
I. South Wall: King and Queen before Barque of Amen
i. King: <text omitted>
ii. Act of King: Presenting incense
to
his father Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of Both Lands, may he attain
Ôgiven life'.
iii. Queen: Hereditary Princess,
Great Royal Wife, Nefertari
Meryetmut, richly favored, Mistress of South and North,
possessing charm and one sweet of love.
iv. Act of Queen: Playing the sistra.
v. Barque of Amen: Words spoken by
Amen-Re, Lord of heaven: "I grant you the flat lands and foreign hilly
countries."
II. North Wall: King and
Queen before Barque of Deified Ramesses II.
i. Act of King: Presenting incense.
ii. Text above King: <text omitted>
iii. Queen: Hereditary Princess
and Great Royal Wife, [Nefertari]
Meryetmut, possessing charm and one sweet of love, Mistress
of South and <North>.
iv. Barque: Words spoken by Ramesses II, residing in the House
of Ramesses II.
v. Vulture Goddess: Udjo, Lady of Heaven.
Abu Simbel, Small temple: Triumph Scenes in Hall
A. North Side Scene
Rhetorical Text and Royal Epithets: The Good god, mighty
in renown, victorious lion, Lord of the sword, who rounds up rebellious
lands. Libya (Tjehenu) is fallen to your sword, and the nine bows
are slain under your sandals, Like Re forever, O King of S&N Egypt,
Usermaatre Setepenre,
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, beloved of Maat.
The Queen: The Hereditary
Princess, greatly praised, enjoying favor, sweet of love, Queen Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live.
Speech of Horus of Meha: <text omitted>
B. South Side Scene:
Rhetorical Text and Royal Epithets: The Good god, who
tramples down the tribes folk (of Nubia), who destroys the land of
nubia,
smiting the Soutehrners and ravaging the Northerners,
King of S&N Egypt, Usermaatre
Setepenre, Son of Re,
Ramesses II, given life like Re forever.
King of S&N Egypt, Horus the strong-armed, Lord of
the sword, Lord who performs the rituals.
The Queen: The Hereditary
Princess, greatly praised, enjoying favor, sweet of love, Mistress of
the
South and North, beloved of the King and united with the sovereign,
Great Royal Wife, his beloved Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live.
Speech of Amun: <text omitted>
Abu Simbel, Lesser Temple Facade: 2 large statues of
Nefertari
Dedications on Buttresses
On the Two Southernmost Buttresses
A temple of great and Mighty monuments, for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, for whose sake
the (very) sun does shine, given life and beloved;
On the Three Northern Buttresses,
King of S & N Egypt, Usermaatre
Setepenre; - he has made a Temple by excavation in the
mountain, of eternal work(manship) in Nubia, which the King of S
& N Egypt, Usermaatre Setepenre
has made for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut, in Nubia, like Re forever and ever.
Main Doorway,
Outer thickness text
(a) S. Side: King of S & N
Egypt, Usermaatre Setepenre,
and his beloved King's Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut, the beloved of Hathor and given life.
(b) N. Side: Son of Re, Ramesses II, and his [beloved]
King's
Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, the
beloved
of Isis and given life.
Main Thickness, Queen offers to Isis
i. Queen:
Hereditary Princess, richly favored, King's Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live
like Re forever.
ii. Isis:
Isis the Mother of the God, Lady of heaven, Mistress of the Gods.
Pillared Hall
A. South Architrave
(Long) live the Good god, who tramples down the Nubian
natives, who destroys the land of Nubia (Nehsi), who strikes down
the Southerners and who lays waste to the Northerners, the King of
S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Usermaatre
Setepenre, Bodily Son of Re, beloved of him, Lord of Crowns,
Ramesses II, and his
beloved, the
Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut,
- for whom is made a Temple in the Pure Mountain - and given Life
<forever>.
B. North Architrave
(Long) live the Good god, mighty in renown, victorious
lion, Lord of the Sword, who closes in on ("contains") the rebellious
lands, the King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre, Bodily Son of
Re, beloved of him, Lord of Crowns, Ramesses
II, and his beloved, the Great Royal Wife Nefertari Meryetmut, - for whom is
made a Temple in the Pure Mountain - and given Life forever.
Ceiling Dedication
<text omitted> King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre,
Son of Re, Ramesses II; he has
made (this) monument for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut, namely a Temple
by excavation in the Pure Mountain in Nubia (Ta-Seti), of fine, white
sandstone, of eternal work(manship), even the beloved of Amen-Re.
Vestibule
A. South Wall Panel Queen offers to Cow in Barque, in papyrus thicket
i. Cow: Hathor, Lady of
Ibshek, Lady of heaven.
ii Queen: the Great Royal Wife
Nefertari Meryetmut
B. West wall (upper) panel: Queen offers flowers to Triad of Elephantine
i. Deities: Words spoken by
Khnum: I grant to her all life and prosperity.
Satis, Lady of heaven. Anuqet.
ii. Queen:
the Great Royal Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut, given life like Re.
Sanctuary
A. Doorway, Outer Lintel, S. half King, Queen and Hathor
i. King: The Good god, Lord of
Both Lands, Usermaatre Setepenre,
Ramesses II, given life.
ii. Queen: the Great Royal Wife
Nefertari Meryetmut, may she live like Re.
iii. Around Hathor: Words spoken by
Hathor, Lady of Ibshek: "I give to you [=King!] all life, stability and
domination for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live."
B. Interior, S. Wall Queen offers to Mut
and Hathor
i. Goddesses:
Mut, Lady of heaven, Mistress of the Gods
Hathor, Lady of Heliopolis, Mistress of Both Lands.
ii. Queen: Hereditary Princess,
richly favored, King's Wife Nefertari
Meryetmut.
C. Interior, N Wall King offers to
King and Queen
i. King:
The good god , Usermaatre Setepenre,
Son of Re, Ramesses II, given
life.
ii. Royal Couple: King of S & N
Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Lord who performs the rituals, Lord of
Crowns like Re, Usermaatre
Setepenre, Ramesses II,
given life.
King's Wife Nefertari Meryetmut.
[Rear wall mentions King only]
Note: Some Abu Simbel pictures were adapted
from
http://alain.guilleux.free.fr/abou_simbel/temples_abou_simbel.html
Check this site for many more pictures of the interior.
Heliopolis
A statue and its base from Heliopolis
(Bahtim)
i. Top of Base: Great Royal Wife,
Lady of Both La[nds], [Mistress of] South and North, Nefertari Meryetmut, [may] she live.
ii. Statue's front/left side: Great Royal Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut - good mother,
greatly favoured, Mistress of maidens of the [Pal]ace, Great Royal
Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, may
she live, [...] forever like Re.
iii. Statue's Front/Right side: Great Royal Wife, Nefertari Meryetmut, [...] great in
(the) love of Horakhti, Great Royal Wife, Nefertari
Meryetmut, may she live forever, [...] may she live forever
like Re
Silsila
West Silsila, Scene next to Year 1 Stela.
i. Over Queen (before Taweret, Thoth and Nut)
Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, who propitiates the Gods, Queen Nefertari, may she live forever,
[playing] the sistra for the Lady of the Two Lands.
ii. Taweret
Taweret, <residing in> the Pure Water which is in the primordial
waters (Nun); Mistress of the Gods.
iii. Thoth
Thoth, Lord of Hermopolis, true scribe of the Conclave
of Gods, Great god residing at the Pure Water: "I grant to you all
life, stability and dominion".
iv. Nut (Wearing Disc within horns):
Nut residing at the Pure Water, Ruler <of ...>
Other
Statue, Brussels (E.2459)
Dorsal pillar: Hereditary Princess,
greatly favored, possessing charm, sweet of love, Mistress of the South
and North, lovely of hands (when) wielding the sistra, [sweet?] of
voice in singing; - the Great Royal Wife, his beloved; Wife of the
Strong Bull, Nefertari Meryetmut,
may she live [forever].
Prince Meryatum (at left side): [... Fanbearer] at
the
King's Right hand, First (surviving) King's Son of His Majesty, LPH, Meryatum, justified.
Link
to page of Global Egyptian Museum showing statue with inscriptions.
Quote:
This limestone statue represents Nefertari, Great Royal
Wife of Ramesses II. The head has not been preserved and the torso is
badly
deteriorated. The left hand of the queen, which probably holds a
menat necklace, is folded across the chest. The inscription engraved on
the dorsal pillar carries a hymn to the queen who was assimilated to
the
goddess Hathor. On the left side of the base of the statue one finds a
representation
of her son Mery-Atum, carrying a flabellum.
Minor
Objects
a. Jewelry, Boston Museum of Fine Arts
i. Gilded lotus earring or
pendant of Nefertari (BMFA 04.1956)
Lotus earing or pendant of bronze(?) covered with gold foil. Discolored
and worn.
ii. Part
of a gold bracelet of Nefertari (BMFA 04.1954)
the Osiris, Great Royal Wife, his beloved, Nefertari
Meryetmut, Mistress of the South [and North ...]
Thin gold plate with incised cartouche; border on either side of lapis
lazuli, carnelian and beryl set in gold. Part missing.
iii. Part of a gold
bracelet of Nefertari (BMFA 04.1955)
Silver, overlaid with gold foil and set with carnelian, lapis lazuli
and beryl. Much discolored and damaged by fire.
b. Black steatite shabti figure (Cairo CGC 48486)
Queen Nefertari Meryetmut,
justified; (as for) any [work] in the necropolis, to plant the fields,
and to wather the riverbanks, and to transport sand.
c. Shabti Figure (wood) (Cairo CGC 48546)
Illuminate the Osiris, Great Royal Wife, his beloved, Nefertari Meryetmut: She says: (Book
of Dead, Chapter VI - causing the shabti to do work)
d. Shabti Figures (wood) (BMFA
04.1768, 04.1769)
Wooden shabti coated with bitumen. The shabtis depict a mummiform
figure wearing a tripartite wig. Three horizontal bands of hieroglyphic
text with dividing lines also appear on the legs, painted in yellow
that has largely faded. The text includes the cartouche of Queen
Nefertari.
e. Shabti Figures (wood) (BMFA 04.1766,
04.1767)
Wooden shabti coated with bitumen. The shabtis depict a mummiform
figure wearing a tripartite wig. Four horizontal bands of hieroglyphic
text with dividing lines also appear on the legs, painted in yellow
that has largely faded. The text includes the cartouche of Queen
Nefertari.
Scarabs and Plaques
a. Lapis Lazuli plaque (BM 35410) of lady Inuhai.
b. Scarab (Cairo CGC 36290)
c, d, e: Scarabs (Louvre, UCL, BM41926)
f,g,h: Scarabs (UCL)
i,j,k: Scarabs (2 UCL, BM 40867)
<omitted details>
(From Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside
Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated, Translations, Volume III,
Blackwell Publishers,
1996.
Abu Simbel Rockstela of the Viceroy of Nubia, Heqanakht.
The upper register shows Ramesses II and Princess Merytamen worship Deities.
The lower register depicts the Viceroy adoring Queen
Nefertari before offerings:
i. Cartouches of Queen: Great Royal Wife and
Mother of the God, Nefertari
Meryetmut.
ii. Viceroy: <..text
omitted..>
Stela of Yuy, High Steward in Queen
Nefertari's Temple: (Berlin 2080)
Queen Nefertari's name only appears as part of the title of Yuy.
The stela depicts two men before Osiris and a steated woman (Yuy's
mother Neferiru) with 4 men and 4 women adoring before her.
Theban Tomb 157, Tomb of Nebwenenef, High
Priest
of Amen.
In a scene from year 1, Nefertari is shown behind Ramesses II in the
Window of Appearances.
A letter from Nefertari to Queen Puduhepa
of the
Hittites:
This text was found in Bogazkoy (Hattusa).
The great Queen Naptera of the land of Egypt speaks
thus: Speak
to my sister Puduhepa, the Great Queen of the Hatti land. I, your
sister, (also) be well!! May your country be well. Now, I have learned
that you, my sister, have written to me asking after my health. ...
You have written to me because of the good friendship and brotherly
relationship between your brother, the king of Egypt, The Great and
the Storm God will bring about peace, and he will make the brotherly
relationship between the Egptian king, the Great King, and his brother,
the Hatti King, the Great King, last for ever... See, I have sent
you a gift, in order to greet you, my sister... for your neck (a
necklace)
of pure gold, composed of 12 bands and weighing 88 shekels,
coloured linen maklalu-material, for one royal dress for the king...
A total of 12 linen garments.
Link
to original text on the internet
Links to images on Insecula:
Colossal
statue of Nefertari on facade of the Hathor temple at Abu Simbel.
Ring with names of Nefertari and Ramesses II
Statue of
a seated woman, possibly Queen Nefertari.
Temple of
Hathor at Abu Simbel
All the quotes are taken directly from:
Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside
Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated,
Translations, Volume II, Blackwell Publishers, 1996
Sometimes part of the text was omitted and for any further information
one should of course consult above mentioned publication.
Last edited: November 2007
|
|
