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[[Image:Nefertiti bust.jpg|right|thumb|A bust of Nefertiti]]'''Nefertiti''' (rough translation:  "The beauty that has come") was the wife of the [[Akhenaten]], the "heretic pharaoh" who briefly replaced Egypt's traditional pantheon of gods with a cult of Sun-worship. On the basis of her having worn crowns normally reserved for the pharaoh, it is believed she was the most powerful consort of any pharaoh. Her cap crown was composed of four main colors: red, which shows power; green, which shows fertility and strength; gold, which shows superiority, preciousness and wealth; and blue, which was the main color used by Egyptians to show virtue, faith and truth.

[[Image:Nefertiti bust.jpg|right|thumb|A bust of Nefertiti]]'''Nefertiti''' (rough translation:  "The beauty that has come") was the wife of the [[Akhenaten]], the "heretic pharaoh" who briefly replaced Egypt's traditional pantheon of gods with a cult of Sun-worship. On the basis of her having worn crowns normally reserved for the pharaoh, it is believed she was the most powerful consort of any pharaoh. Her cap crown was composed of four main colors: red, which shows power; green, which shows fertility and strength; gold, which shows superiority, preciousness and wealth; and blue, which was the main color used by Egyptians to show virtue, faith and truth.

Nefertiti had six daughters. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. Nefertiti disappeared from the historical record in Year 14. Beginning in Year 15 or 16, the regent Nerferneferuatan ruled as "effective for her husband." This regent is usually identified as Nefertiti. The fourth daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten was also named Neferneferuaten, so it is possible that this daughter was the regent. In a few late inscriptions, Neferneferuaten is described as "Akhenaten-less." This implies that she continued to rule after Akhenaten's death, at least for a brief period.<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> She was succeeded by Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. Smenkhkare married Meritatan, who would have been his niece. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This implies 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.

Nefertiti had six daughters. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. Nefertiti disappeared from the historical record in Year 14. Beginning in Year 15 or 16, the regent Nerferneferuatan ruled as "effective for her husband." This regent is usually identified as Nefertiti. The fourth daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten was also named Neferneferuaten, so it is possible that this daughter was the regent. In a few late inscriptions, Neferneferuaten is described as "Akhenaten-less" and with Meritaten as queen. This implies that Nefertiti continued to rule after Akhenaten's death, at least for a brief period.<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> She was succeeded by Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten and the father of [[Tutankhamun]]. Smenkhkare also married Meritaten, although she would have been his niece. Burial goods prepared for Neferneferuaten's funeral were found in Tut's tomb. This implies 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.

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.

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.