Changes

Beginning in Year 15 or 16, a female regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten ruled. The inscriptions for her reign have been grouped into three types. In some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last description suggests that she was Egypt sole ruler, at least for a brief period. In some inscriptions, Meritaten is described as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)<ref name=Allen>Allen, James, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref>

Beginning in Year 15 or 16, a female regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten ruled. The inscriptions for her reign have been grouped into three types. In some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last description suggests that she was Egypt sole ruler, at least for a brief period. In some inscriptions, Meritaten is described as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female pharaoh needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)<ref name=Allen>Allen, James, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref>

Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten was succeeded by Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. It is highly unusual for two pharaohs to use the same prenomen. The practice suggests that Smenkhkare did not recognize the legitimacy of Neferneferuaten's reign. Some writers argue that Neferneferuaten and Smenkhkare were the same person using two different reign names. But Neferneferuaten was female while Smenkhkare was male, so this is unlikely. Meritaten continued to serve as queen. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This suggests that a pharaonic burial was prepared for her, but then denied. The unused burial goods were then repurposed for Tut's tomb. Perhaps unable to accept a female pharaoh, Smenkhkare may have demoted Nefertiti to queen.

Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten was succeeded by Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. It is highly unusual for two pharaohs to use the same prenomen. The practice suggests that Smenkhkare did not recognize the legitimacy of Neferneferuaten's reign. Some writers argue that Neferneferuaten and Smenkhkare were the same person using two different reign names. But Neferneferuaten was female while Smenkhkare was male, so this is unlikely. Meritaten continued to serve as queen. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This suggests that a pharaonic burial was prepared for her, but then denied. The unused burial goods were then repurposed for Tut's tomb. Unable to accept the female pharaoh, Smenkhkare may have demoted Nefertiti to queen.

The bust of Nefertiti, on display at the Egyptian Museum in [[Berlin]] is one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art. Various authors have argued that mummy KV35YL ("The Younger Lady") is Nefertiti. Genetic testing has shown that the Younger Lady is Tut's mother, so this is unlikely. If Tut had been son of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, he would have been Akhenaten's heir.  

The bust of Nefertiti, on display at the Egyptian Museum in [[Berlin]] is one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art. Various authors have argued that mummy KV35YL ("The Younger Lady") is Nefertiti. Genetic testing has shown that the Younger Lady is Tut's mother, so this is unlikely. If Tut had been son of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, he would have been Akhenaten's heir. The Younger Lady, who was most likely the wife and sister of Smenkhkare, died a violent death, perhaps a victim of the Nerfertiti/Smenkhkare succession struggle.

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==References==