emthehistorygirl: Ankhesenamun (Born Ankhesenpaaten) was the third daughter of Nefertiti and Ak

emthehistorygirl:Ankhesenamun (Born Ankhesenpaaten) was the third daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten (Born Amenhotep IV a name which he used till approximately four years into his reign).  Her father Akhenaten was ‘The Heretic King’, the tenth Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty and had changed the polytheistic faith which had sustained Egypt for thousands of years, to rely upon one single God; Aten, the sun.Nefertiti featured prominently in her husbands new faith, displayed twice as often as her husband on the walls of sun temples and often shown in relaxed states with her husband and their daughters.  Nefertiti is known to have had six daughters; Meritaten, Meketaten, Ankhesenamun (Ankhesenpaaten), Neferneferure, Neferneferuaten Tasherit and Setepenre.  Nefertiti featured so prominently she is shown in art at the same height as her husband, meaning she was his equal and performing pharaonic tasks like riding chariots and smiting enemies.After Nefertiti’s demise (her death? exile? after year 14 her name ceases to be mentioned) Ankhesenamun gains prominence, after the brief reign of the illusive Smenkhkare and her sister, his wife Meritaten (her fate too is uncertain) marrying her brother, the new Pharaoh, ten/twelve year old Tutankhaten.As a show of their return to polytheism, the Pharaoh and Queen change their names to honour Amun; Ankhesenpaaten became Ankhesenamun and Tutankhaten became Tutankhamun.  With a strong group of officials, namely Horemheb and Aye, the country begins to rebuild, as evident in records such as the restoration stela.Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun appear to have a close relationship, depicted sitting leisurely as she passes him arrows while he hunts or fills his cup for him.  Within the tomb of Tutankhamun are the foetuses of two still born baby girls, presumed to be the children of the Royal pair.Tutankhamun’s death (the cause is hotly debated from chariot ride gone wrong, to illness, to murder) causes crisis, desperate to hold onto her throne Ankhesenamun writes to the rivalling empire Hatti, requesting a Hittite Prince be sent to Egypt to be her husband and the Pharaoh.  Her request was reluctantly granted as can be seen in letters Ankhesenamun sent, but the prince was killed before he set foot in Egypt. The throne passes to her maternal grandfather Aye, then to Horemheb (her uncle by marriage? it is presumed that his wife Mutnodjmet was the half sister of Nefertiti) how her story ends is unknown. -- source link

More pics about