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Nefertiti

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Nefertiti

Nefertiti

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Definition: Most people are probably familiar with Nefertiti from pictures of the beautiful Berlin bust of the long-necked queen of Egypt. Nefertiti was queen during the Amarna period of the 18th dynasty of Egypt, when Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) was pharaoh. Akenaten was the pharaoh who is often described as a monotheist. Nefertiti was his Chief Royal wife. She is also thought to have co-ruled with her husband and in art is even depicted as pharaoh. We don't know who her parents were. Nefertiti may have been the daughter of Queen Tiye or of the later pharaoh Ay. Akhenaten and Nefertiti had 6 daughters and probably no sons. Nefertiti disappears from the records at about the age of 30. There are various theories about what happened including one that she was the real Pharaoh Smenkhkare.
Examples:
The Nefertiti bust in Berlin has caused controversy over ownership and authenticity.

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