Egyptian passions: Nefertiti and Akhenaten

Myths are a natural seasoning in the history of love, which happened almost 3,300 years ago under the sharp eye of the solar god Aton. They only emphasize the taste of the classic dish: passion, love triangle, betrayal and revenge…

The beautiful is coming

So, in the XVI-XI centuries. BC. Egypt ruled Amenhotep III. Like every self-respecting pharaoh, Amenhotep was in possession of a harem, in which only the indecent number of young maidens of all colors and suits was luxuriant.

Were in the harem and their pearls. For example, the 12-year-old daughter of the royal noble Eyé with the whiteworthy name Nefertiti – “the beauty is coming.” The girl was really charming, but somehow escaped the look of the aged Pharaoh.

But his son, Amenhotep IV, who ascended the throne, noticed Nefertiti among hundreds of girlish faces. The almond-shaped eyes, thinly outlined nose and lips, the noble expression of serene rest and the proportional elegant figure of Nefertiti really made one pay attention to himself.

Having ascended the throne, the young pharaoh brought the beauty to himself and soon made her “the great royal wife.” The era of Nefertiti rule began…

Family Idyll

Who was Amenhotep? A harmful, effeminate and unattractive man. But his wife loved him – judging by the numerous frescoes and sculptures made to order. Nowhere and never has love been revealed as intimately as in these images of the family idyll: Pharaoh, his wife and their daughters are on a walk, in the garden, praying to the god of the Sun.

Daughters of the royal family had six. But the crown princes – not one. And Pharaoh was worried. Although, while his beautiful wife was nearby, he tried not to indulge in sad thoughts. You will think: we shall give out daughters in marriage – here and sons, and grandsons, and governors! In the meantime, it is necessary to deal with state affairs. They were worth it!

Historians are increasingly inclined to the idea that it was Nefertiti who told Pharaoh to produce an unheard of religious upheaval: to strengthen peace between Egypt and other states, Amenhotep IV decided to abolish many gods. But they were so closely intertwined in ancient Egyptian mythology that it did not make sense to remove only a few. And Amenhotep killed everyone!

There was only one god – Sunny Aton. He was ordered to worship a pharaoh heretic. He called himself Ehnaton – “pleasing to Aton”, his wife – Nefer-Nefer-Aton – “a face like Aton”, and to the priests who immediately did not fail to curse him, and did not look – insects!

Every morning Pharaoh and his faithful associate Nefertiti greeted Aton, rising in the sky, with solemn hymns.

Even signing important contracts, Akhenaton swore by the god of the Sun and necessarily – his love for his wife.

Pharaoh’s reformist activity as monotheism did not end. Akhenaten decided to build a new capital – Ahetaton. And for some 10 years in the sands really rose garden city: with painted palaces, quaintly laid out pavements, swimming pools with clear water, rustling groves and birds ringing in them.

At the 12th year of his reign, Akhenaten gathered royal possessions and moved to a new capital. But Nefertiti stayed in Thebes.

Apple of discord

A sacred animal – a cat – has already run through the spouses more than once. The aging Pharaoh became more and more obsessed with the thought of the heir. For the sake of the good, he married his own senior daughter, Meritaton – there was such a practice among the rulers of Ancient Egypt.

Accelerating, by the way, according to historians, their degeneration. Nefertiti did not approve of the decision of the spouse, but obeyed: she taught her daughter the refined caresses that her husband liked so much.

But – that’s the irony! – daughter also gave birth to a pharaoh daughter! Aton persistently did not want to present his deputy on earth with masculine offspring. And then there was the death of one of the older daughters, Macketton, and Akhenaton openly began to shy away from Nefertiti. The last drop was missing…

The rival of the most beautiful

Love accidentally raises – and devilly tapping into the rib. Among the concubines, Pharaoh’s gaze suddenly lingered on a swarthy, daring face. It was with such passion and heat that it blew out these features that Akhenaton lost his head instantly.

Beauty called Kiyya. In the harem she came in as a gift, and before that she was known as the Mittanian princess Taduheppa. For several years Kiyyah was in concubines, but that the cracks in the marriage life for the wife of Pharaoh, then for her young rival – the path to the state heart.

Kiya gave birth to a son to Pharaoh. And then one more. Akhnaton was in the seventh heaven! Not having the right to call his beloved “the great wife” at the helpless first, Akhenaten made her “the younger Pharaoh”, planted next to him on the throne and presented a blue crown – a sign of royal power.

The name of the humiliated queen Nefertiti, silently experiencing his disgrace in Thebes, Pharaoh chose to forget and, if possible, erase all the plaques, walls, sculptures and frescoes. Next to his name was now the name of a new lover.

Akhnaton generously showered the young wife with presents and built palaces in honor of her – one more beautiful than the other. The top of these architectural confessions of love was the luxurious palace Maru Aton, where the couple moved.

Kiya, soaring so high, terrified to fear a terrible fall. The influence of Nefertiti on the Egyptian people was enormous, about her jealous and vindictive nature legends were composed, and Kiyu was tormented by quite explainable insomnia.

And, meanwhile, Pharaoh really began to cool to her. It is not known whether Kiya died before the moment of complete alienation came, or had time to feel the fate of Queen Nefertiti, but in the 16th year of Akhenaten’s rule she disappeared from his life.

Cruel revenge

Akhenaten could not calmly feel himself without a faithful spousal support. After hesitating, he offered Nefertiti to forget his grievances and return. The queen did not forgive.

The “great wife” of Pharaoh was again her eldest daughter, Meritaton. And she tried to get revenge for her mother – the mention of the upstart Kiya was erased from all the stone carriers.

For every Egyptian this was like the most terrible curse: as the name disappeared from the memory of the descendants, the soul was deprived of peace and prosperity in the afterlife.

Poor Kiya – for tsar’s happiness she paid the same huge price. However, the names of both Akhenaten and Nefertiti after their death returned the polytheistic priests tried to consign to oblivion.

Did not work out. Too tenacious tales of the rulers-rebels and their beautiful unearthly beauty wives.