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Valley of the Queens, Luxor, Egypt. Dynasty XIX, 1270 B.C.
The tomb of Nefertari, from which this wall fragment comes, is the
largest architectural and decorative enterprise ever dedicated to a
Pharaoh’s wife. Nefertari was the chief Queen and favorite wife of
Ramses II. The name Nefertari means “the most beautiful of them”. Ramses
II devoted the minor temple of Abu Simbel to the Goddess Hathor and
dedicated it to Nefertari. There,identified with the Goddess, Nefertari
intensely participated in the divine cult. Nefertari gave Ramses II his
firstborn son as well as three other sons and two daughters. Nefertari
died in her forties. Nefertari is standing with arms raised in signal
of adoration towards an altar where Osiris is seated and Anubis is
standing. The Queen, dressed in white ceremonial garb, wears the crown
with the vulture headdress of Nekhbet, the protective Goddess of Upper
Egypt.
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