tour 2 of 10
A Queens Tour
Queen Ahmose-Nefertari
Queen Ahmose-Nefertari was the mother of King Amenhotep I. She
probably ruled for him as his regent when he was a young boy. This
portrait of her was painted on a tomb wall 400 years after she
died, when she was being worshipped as a god in the local area of
Thebes. Her skin has been painted black because black skin meant
new life to the Egyptians.
For parents
There was no word for 'Queen' in ancient Egypt, as female rulers
were so unusual; instead they were known as "king's wife". Both
Ahmose-Nefertari and Amenhotep were made into goddesses after their
deaths, an unusual occurrence at the time, and one that showed
Ahmose-Nefertari's importance. The cobra on Ahmose-Nefertari's
crown and the flail in her hand indicate her royal status.