Egyptian queen. Egyptian pharaohs: names, dynasties, historical facts

ANCIENT EGYPT, an ancient state in North East Africa, in the lower reaches of the Nile River. The territory of Egypt is one of the oldest centers of civilization. History Ancient Egypt It is customary to divide into the periods of the Ancient (late 4-3 thousand BC), Middle (before ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

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- (Hebrew מלכת שְׁבָא‎, Malkat Sheva) “Holy Makeda, Queen of Sheba” modern icon Gender: Female ... Wikipedia

Queen of Sheba (Hebrew: מלכת שְׁבָא‎, Malkat Sheva) “Holy Makeda, Queen of Sheba” modern icon Gender: Female. Period of life: 10th century BC. e. Name in other languages... Wikipedia

Second after Mesopotamia in terms of time of origin, the great world civilization. Neolithic Egyptian cultures, familiar with agriculture, irrigation, and a sedentary rural lifestyle, developed ca. 5000 BC Probably around 3500 BC... ... Collier's Encyclopedia

EGYPT ANCIENT- the oldest state in the river valley. Nile, its territory extended from the Mediterranean in the north to the 1st cataract of the Nile in the south. The territory of the country was originally divided into 2 parts: Lower E. the Nile Delta and Upper E. a narrow fertile river valley, limited... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia

ANCIENT ROME- Roman Forum Roman Forum ancient civilization in Italy and the Mediterranean with its center in Rome. It was based on the urban community (lat. civitas) of Rome, which gradually extended its power, and then its right, to the entire Mediterranean. Being... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia

NEFERTITY(1351 BC - 1334 BC)

Egyptian queen Nefertiti has become a real symbol female beauty and power. Neither the rulers of the past nor the tyrants of the present could resist it. Even Adolf Hitler fell under her spell. After all, it was he who in 1935 forbade the export of the famous bust of the queen from Germany back to Egypt. Although such agreements have already been reached. There are many mysteries associated with this ancient beauty. Even her name itself is a mystery. Some historians argue about her origin, while other researchers are surprised how a woman three thousand years ago could be equal in status to the pharaoh, and maybe even rule in his place.

Nefertiti was the main wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The ancient Egyptian legend about her says that never before has a girl of such amazing beauty been born on the banks of the Nile. The courtiers called her “Perfect”, and statues of her were installed in temples throughout the country. True, some historians doubt the Egyptian origin of the queen. Her name itself literally translates as “The Beauty has come.” Does this mean that Nefertiti was a foreigner? Researchers have put forward a theory that she could be a princess from Mitanni, in the territory of modern Syria. And even as a child, she and her sister ended up in Egypt as a guarantee of peace between the two states.

Nefertiti married Akhenaten, this pharaoh is considered a religious reformer, he is called a heretic. He abandoned the old pantheon of Egyptian gods and created a new faith where everyone had to worship only one god, the sun god Aten. And he made his beloved wife, Nefertiti, the main priestess.

Artists depicted Nefertiti on a par with Akhenaten. According to researchers, this is a unique example in the history of ancient Egypt. The figures of the wives were always several times smaller than their crowned spouses. But what could this be connected with? Some historians find a simple answer. Akhenaten loved Nefertiti very much. The pharaoh and queen were often depicted together with their children in an idyllic family scene.

But could Nefertiti not only be a beloved wife and chief priestess, but also have political power? Some experts are sure of this. Scientists have already proven that Akhenaten had a co-ruler, a certain Neferneferuaten. Historians believe that Neferneferuaten and Nefertiti are one and the same person. So does this mean that the queen ruled the country? But how could this happen? Many Egyptologists suggest that Akhenaten was seriously ill. If you look at his statues, it may seem that his face seems to be deformed, and his figure is too reminiscent of a woman’s. Some experts believe these are signs of illness. There is an opinion that the ruler was practically blind and consulted his wife on everything. This made Nefertiti the most powerful woman of the era.

But at one point all information about Nefertiti disappeared; to this day scientists do not even know where her burial is located. But the whole world admires the tomb of another great Egyptian queen.

NEFERTARI(1290 BC – 1255 BC)

Nefertari was the main wife of the great Ramses the Second. The pharaoh built her a real palace for the afterlife. Modern scientists are amazed by the beauty and brightness of wall paintings and bas-reliefs, which are made with amazing skill. Of all the ancient Egyptian tombs found, this is considered the most luxurious.

The name Nefertari translates as “beautiful.” And during her lifetime she was the most desirable woman in Egypt. Historians admire her art of seduction, which she mastered to perfection. The fact is that 20 wives of the ruler and another thousand concubines competed for the title of the main wife of the pharaoh. Nefertari needed to stand out from all these women. According to researchers, to attract the attention of her husband, the queen used cosmetics more than others. Dark eyeliner, bright eye shadow, lipstick and blush - all this was in her arsenal. She also applied flower oils to her body and wigs. Archaeologists note that Nefertari is almost always depicted in translucent clothes through which her skin is visible.

Ramses II built two sanctuaries at Abu Simbel, for himself and for his main wife Nefertari. Modern architects and archaeologists are amazed not only by the size of the buildings with 20-meter statues and huge halls carved into the rock, but also by the fact that on the facade of the Nefertari temple there are statues of the queen of the same height as the images of the pharaoh. This is real proof of Ramses II's love for his wife.

HATSHEPSUT(1490/1489-1468 BC, 1479-1458 BC or 1504-1482 BC)

Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut, this woman is considered one of the greatest rulers of the land of the pyramids. In the Valley of the Dead, she built a complex - the mortuary temple of Deir el-Bahri. Majestic columns, giant terraces, geometric harmony - all this amazes even now. And thousands of years ago, gardens with fountains were spread around the complex, and an alley of sphinxes led to the main entrance. Hatshepsut liked this afterlife palace so much that she ordered the execution of the architect so that he could no longer repeat his masterpiece. By the way, his tomb is located here.

Hatshepsut was the daughter of a king, the wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II, but this was not enough for her. And after the death of her husband, with the help of a conspiracy of priests, she became the regent of her stepson, the young heir, and then completely expelled the boy from the capital. It is known that the queen officially accepted the male title of pharaoh, wore men's clothing and a false beard, and sculptors mostly depicted her as a king.

Hatshepsut went down in history as the queen builder. No pharaoh had ever built so much before it. Her legacy can only be compared to the exploits of Ramses the Great.

The obelisks installed in the center have survived to this day. temple complex Karnaca. Their height is 30 meters, the size of a modern 10-story building, and they weigh 120 tons. Hatshepsut built sanctuaries throughout the country. She also personally led one of the two military campaigns into Nubia. The queen controlled the Sinai Peninsula, the Phoenician coast, southern Syria and Palestine. In addition, under her, the first expedition to the country of Punt was organized and trade relations were established. Before this, Egypt had not traded with anyone.

Hatshepsut ruled before Nefertiti and Nefertari and was the first female ruler of ancient Egypt. And the last queen of the land of the pyramids was Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA(69-30 BC)

Probably the most famous Egyptian queen is Cleopatra. She was a goddess for her subjects, generals gave her entire countries, and her husbands were the most powerful men of antiquity. For 2 thousand years now, legends about the beauty, power and intelligence of Cleopatra have captured the imagination.

In modern Turkey, the ruins of the ancient ancient city of Hieropolis have been preserved. Thousands of tourists come here every year to admire the preserved relics. But many people go to these places not to admire the amphitheaters and mausoleums, but to swim in Cleopatra’s pool.

Its water is mineral and rises up from a crack in the rock. It is believed that if you swim in this pool every day, you can rejuvenate and acquire the beauty of the famous Egyptian queen. But this is just a legend. In fact, Cleopatra never visited these places, and modern scientists are increasingly inclined to believe that the appearance of the Princess of the Nile was far from ideal, and it was impossible to call her a classic beauty.

True, there are no lifetime images of Cleopatra left. Her appearance can be judged by the coins she issued. Each of them has her profile. The images vary, but researchers highlight common features: these are large eyes, a very prominent nose with a hump, a strong-willed chin. This woman cannot be called a beauty. Then how was Cleopatra able to charm Caesar himself? Many experts are inclined to believe that the queen conquered the dictator with the help of her intelligence and determination. She received an excellent education, spoke 9 languages ​​and could argue with any philosopher.

At the age of 21, with the help of Caesar, Cleopatra was able to overthrow her younger brother and take the throne. According to historians, she was a literate queen and tried to win the love of the people. Few people know that Cleopatra was a foreigner. Her Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt for only 300 years and had Greek roots. The inhabitants of the land of the pyramids considered her a foreigner. To remedy this, young Cleopatra learned the Egyptian language, the first of her kind, by the way, and also took part in the most important religious rituals.

After Caesar's death, a power struggle began in Rome between Caesar's nephew Octavian and the military leader Mark Antony. The latter turned to Cleopatra for support and also could not resist her charm. Experts note that the queen this time improved her system of seduction. This was an accurate calculation, because she herself needed the protection of the Roman commander. According to researchers, Cleopatra deliberately demonstrated her wealth and arranged luxurious receptions for Anthony on the ship. Exotic dishes, wine, musicians and dancers - all this could turn a man’s head. But historians believe that the main criterion could be the origin of the hostess herself. The Romans, like the Egyptians, believed in pagan gods, and Cleopatra for the Egyptians was a real goddess of a mysterious country even then with a thousand-year history. So, perhaps, Mark Antony really could not refuse the possession of the goddess.

Antony and Cleopatra began to rule Egypt together, but could not resist Octavian's Roman army for long and were defeated. According to some historians, Cleopatra tried to seduce Octavian, but he remained indifferent to her. At that time, the queen was already 38 years old, and she was the mother of 4 children. According to legend, the famous ruler committed suicide by putting her hand in a basket with a viper. But modern researchers suggest that Cleopatra took poison. Thus ended the thousand-year history of the famous Egyptian queens, who ruled equally with men, and whose names will forever be associated with deceit, beauty and power.

She can, without any doubt, be called one of the most famous women of antiquity. Her image, along with the pyramids and the smile of young Tutankhamun, became one of the permanent symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization. She, revered as a living goddess by her contemporaries, cursed and forgotten by her descendants, again “reigns” in our world, recalling man’s endless struggle with time and proclaiming the unchanging ideal of beauty. Her name was Nefertiti.

It is assumed that the queen was from Mitanni and came from a fairly noble family. Born 1370 BC. e. Her real name is Taduchela and at the age of 12 she was sent by her father to the harem of Amenhotep III for a significant amount of gold and jewelry. Soon the pharaoh died and, according to the traditions established at that time, all the wives were inherited by his successor Amenhotep IV. The beauty of Nefertiti attracted the attention of Amenhotep IV, who later received the name Akhenaten. At the same time, a marriage was concluded, and the hostage of the harem became a co-ruler of Ancient Egypt.

Queen Nefertiti is perhaps more famous than her husband, the heretic king Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV). He said that even in the ancient world, her beauty was known, and her famous statue, found in the sculptor's workshop, is not only one of the most recognizable icons of ancient Egypt, but also the subject of some modern-day controversies. She was more than beautiful face however, it appears to have reached a previously unheard of level of importance during the Amarna period of Egypt's 18th dynasty. In the work of art, her status is obvious and means that she had almost as much influence as her husband. For example, she is depicted almost twice as often in reliefs as her husband, at least during the first five years of his reign.

The appearance of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti can be imagined from preserved sculptures and images. According to these data, the woman had a petite and slender figure until the end of her life, and even the birth of six children did not affect her grace. Nefertiti had a clear facial contour and a strong-willed chin, which was not at all typical for the indigenous people of Egypt. Her black arched eyebrows, full lips and expressive eyes could be the envy of many women, even today.

During the entire period of marriage, Nefertiti gave birth to six daughters, but, unfortunately, the wife did not receive an heir. It is with this that historians associate Akhenaten’s remarriage with a young commoner named Kiya, who later bore him a son, known in history as Tutankhamun. Nefertiti became an exile and was given the care of her husband's son, but a year later she was returned by her husband.

The union of Akhenaten and Nefertiti was restored, but soon after, the pharaoh was killed and the Egyptian beauty, at the age of 35, became the sole ruler, under the name of Smenkhkare. Her reign lasted no more than 5 years, which ended with the tragic death of the female pharaoh at the hands of the exiled priests. The body was mutilated, and her tomb was destroyed and plundered by vandals. Perhaps if the death had occurred under different circumstances, it would have been easier for historians to reconstruct the image of this woman.

Regarding psychological portrait Nefertiti, then it is formed very vaguely. According to some sources, the beauty was distinguished by her rebellious disposition and cruelty, and according to others, submissive and faithful wife, who supported her husband in everything. Perhaps the combination of absolutely opposite characters is the unique personality of the unique ancient Egyptian queen. Modern psychologists, analyzing data about Nefertiti, have suggested the possibility that the woman possessed certain qualities considered masculine at that time. In addition, assumptions about the high education of the queen, which was very rare for Ancient Egypt and was characteristic mainly only of men, were confirmed.

There are also various guesses about what attracted Akhenaten more to her: Nefertiti’s beauty, her inquisitive mind and wisdom, or mastery in the art of love. Indeed, throughout the entire marriage, even with the advent of a new young wife, the pharaoh did not let his ex-wife out of his life.

It is unknown how Nefertiti herself ended her days. Her mummy has not been found. One of the archaeologists, who led excavations in Akhetaton for a number of years, writes that among local residents there is a story that at the end of the 19th century a group of people came down from the mountains carrying a golden coffin; soon after this, several gold objects with the name Nefertiti appeared among antique dealers. This information could not be verified. Still it is unknown whether the burial of the great queen of antiquity was actually found.

We present to your attention another post on the same topic.

One can only marvel at the unusual historical fate of Queen Nefertiti. For thirty-three centuries her name was forgotten, and when the brilliant French scientist F. Champollion deciphered ancient Egyptian writings at the beginning of the last century, she was mentioned quite rarely and only in special academic works.
The 20th century, as if demonstrating the quirkiness of human memory, raised Nefertiti to the pinnacle of fame. On the eve of the First World War, the German expedition, having completed excavations in Egypt, as usual, presented its finds for verification to inspectors of the Antiquities Service. (“The Antiquities Service” is an agency founded in 1858 to supervise archaeological expeditions and protect monuments of the past.) Among the objects allocated for German museums was an unremarkable plastered stone block.
When he was brought to Berlin, he turned into the head of Nefertiti. They say that archaeologists, who did not want to part with a wonderful work of art, wrapped the bust in silver paper and then covered it with plaster, correctly calculating that the inconspicuous architectural detail would not attract attention. When this was discovered, a scandal erupted. It was only extinguished by the outbreak of the war, after which German Egyptologists were deprived for some time of the right to conduct excavations in Egypt.
However, the priceless artistic merit of the bust was worth even these sacrifices. Nefertiti's star was rising so rapidly, as if this woman was not an ancient Egyptian queen, but a modern movie star. It was as if her beauty had been waiting for recognition for many centuries, and finally the times came whose aesthetic taste elevated Nefertiti to the pinnacle of success.

If you look at Egypt from a bird's eye view, then almost in the very center of the country, 300 kilometers south of Cairo, you can see a small Arab village called el-Amarna. It is here that the time-eaten rocks, coming close to the river, then begin to retreat, forming an almost regular semicircle. Sands, the remains of the foundations of ancient buildings and the greenery of palm groves - this is what the once luxurious ancient Egyptian city of Akhetaten looks like now, where one of the famous women peace.
Nefertiti, whose name in translation means "The Beauty Who Came", was not the sister of her husband, Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, although for some reason this version became very widespread. The beautiful Egyptian woman came from a family of relatives of Queen Tiu - she was the daughter of a provincial priest. And although at that time Nefertiti received an excellent education in a special school, such a relationship irritated the proud queen and mother of Nefertiti in many official documents was called her nurse.
But the rare beauty of a provincial girl melted the heart of the heir to the throne, and Nefertiti became his wife.

For one of the “Sun Pharaoh” holidays, Amenhotep III gave his wife a truly royal gift: a summer residence, stunning in its beauty and wealth, the Malkatta Palace, next to which there was a huge artificial lake planted with lotuses, with a boat for the queen to walk around.

Naked Nefertiti sat in a chair with lion paws near a round golden mirror. Almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, neck like a lotus stem. There was not a drop of foreign blood in her veins, as evidenced by the darkish tint of her skin and the warm, fresh, even blush, intermediate between golden yellow and brownish bronze. “Beauty, mistress of joy, full of praise... filled with beauties,” this is how poets wrote about her. But the thirty-year-old queen was not happy with her reflection as before. Fatigue and sorrow broke her, a fold of wrinkles lay down from her wings beautiful nose to bold lips, like a seal.

A maid, a dark-skinned Nubian, entered with a large jug of aromatic water for ablution.
Nefertiti stood up, as if awakening from her memories. But trusting in the skillful hands of Tadukippa, she again went into her thoughts.

How happy they were with Amenhotep on their wedding day. He is 16 years old, she is 15. They accepted power over the most powerful and rich country peace. The thirty years of the reign of the previous pharaoh were not marred by disasters or wars. Syria and Palestine tremble before Egypt, Mitanni sends flattering letters, mountains of gold and incense are regularly sent from the mines of Kush.
The most important thing is that they love each other. The son of King Amenhotep III and Queen Tiu is not very handsome: thin, narrow-shouldered. But when he looked at her, obsessed with love, and the poems written for her came out of his big lips, she laughed with happiness. The future pharaoh ran after the young princess under the dark arches of the Theban palace, and she laughed and hid behind the columns.

The maid laid out the necessary accessories on the richly decorated dressing table: gold boxes with ointments, spoons for rubbing, eye antimony, lipstick and other cosmetics, manicure tools and nail paint. Deftly grabbing a bronze razor, she began to carefully and respectfully shave the queen's head.

Nefertiti indifferently ran her finger over the golden scarab on a jar of rice powder and recalled how once, even before the wedding, Amenhotep revealed his secret to her at sunset.
He stroked her thin fingers and, looking somewhere into the distance with sparkling eyes, he said that the day before in a dream Aten himself, the god of the solar disk, appeared to him and spoke to him as to a brother:
-You see, Nefertiti. I see, I know that everything in the world is not as we are all used to seeing. The world is bright. It was created by Aton for happiness and joy. Why make sacrifices to all these numerous gods? Why worship beetles, hippos, birds, crocodiles, if they themselves, like us, are children of the Sun. Aten is the only true god!
Amenhotep's voice rang. He said how beautiful and wonderful the world created by Aton was, and the prince himself was beautiful at that moment. Nefertiti listened to every word of her beloved and accepted his faith with all her heart.

Having received the title of pharaoh, the first thing Amenhotep IV did was change his name. "Amenhotep" means "Amon is pleased." He began to call himself “Akhenaton”, i.e. “Pleasing to Aten.”
How happy they were! People can't be that happy. Almost immediately, Akhenaten decided to build a new capital - Akhetaten, which means “horizon of Aten.” This was supposed to be best city on the ground. Everything will be different there. New happy life. Not like in gloomy Thebes. And the people there will all be happy, because they will live in truth and beauty.

The heir's wife spent her youth in Thebes - the brilliant capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom era (XVI-XI centuries BC). Grandiose temples of the gods coexisted here with luxurious palaces, houses of the nobility, gardens of rare trees and artificial lakes. The gilded needles of obelisks, the tops of painted pylon towers and colossal statues of kings pierced the sky. Through the lush greenery of tamarisks, sycamores and date palms, the alleys of sphinxes lined with turquoise-green faience tiles and connecting temples were visible.
Egypt was at the apogee of its heyday. The conquered peoples brought here, to Thebes, countless vessels with wine, leather, lapis lazuli, so beloved by the Egyptians, and all sorts of rare wonders. From the distant regions of Africa came caravans loaded with ivory, ebony, incense and countless gold, for which Egypt was so famous in ancient times. In everyday life there were the finest fabrics made of corrugated linen, lush wigs stunning in their variety, rich jewelry and expensive anointings...

All Egyptian pharaohs had several wives and countless concubines - the East was the East even then. But the “harem” in our understanding never existed in Egypt: the younger queens lived in separate residences next to the palace, and no one was particularly concerned with the comforts of the concubines. Those whom the texts call “The Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt,” “the great royal consort,” “the wife of God,” “the king’s adornment,” were primarily high priestesses who, together with the king, participated in temple services and rituals and supported by their actions Maat - world harmony.
For the ancient Egyptians, every new morning is a repetition of the original moment of the creation of the universe by God. The task of the queen participating in the divine service is to pacify and appease the deity with the beauty of her voice, the unique charm of her appearance, the sound of the sistrum - a sacred musical instrument. Unattainable for most mortal women, the status of the “great royal wife”, who had great political power, was based precisely on religious foundations. The birth of children was a secondary matter; the younger queens and concubines handled it very well.
Theia was an exception - she was so close to her husband that she shared a bed with him for many years and bore him several children. True, only the eldest son lived to adulthood, but the priests saw the providence of Heaven in this too. They became aware of how incorrectly they interpreted this fishery much later.
Amenhotep IV ascended the throne in 1424 BC. And... he started a religious reform - a change of gods, an unheard of thing in Egypt.

The universally revered god Amon, whose worship increasingly strengthened the power of the priests, was, by the will of the pharaoh, replaced by another god, the sun god - Aten. Aten - “visible solar disk”, was depicted in the form of a solar disk with palm rays that bestow benefits on people. The pharaoh's reforms were successful, at least for the period of his reign. A new capital was founded, many new temples and palaces were erected. Along with the ancient religious foundations, the canonical rules of ancient Egyptian art also disappeared. Having gone through years of exaggerated realism, the art of the time of Akhenaten and Nefertiti gave birth to those masterpieces that were discovered by archaeologists millennia later...

In the winter of 1912, German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt began excavating the remains of another house in the destroyed settlement. It soon became clear to archaeologists that they had discovered a sculpture workshop. Unfinished statues, plaster masks and accumulations of stones of various types - all this clearly determined the profession of the owner of the vast estate. And among the finds was a life-size bust of a woman made of limestone and painted.
Flesh-colored nape, red ribbons running down the neck, blue headdress. A gentle oval face, a beautifully outlined small mouth, a straight nose, beautiful almond-shaped eyes, slightly covered with wide, heavy eyelids. The right eye retains a rock crystal insert with an ebony pupil. The tall blue wig is entwined with a gold bandage decorated with gems...
The enlightened world gasped - a beauty appeared to the world, having spent three thousand years in the darkness of oblivion. Nefertiti's beauty turned out to be immortal. Millions of women envied her, millions of men dreamed of her. Alas, they did not know that they pay for immortality during their lifetime, and sometimes pay an exorbitant price.
Together with her husband, Nefertiti ruled Egypt for about 20 years. Those same two decades that were marked by a religious revolution unprecedented for the entire ancient Eastern culture, which shook the foundations of the ancient Egyptian sacred tradition and left a very ambiguous mark on the history of the country.
Nefertiti played an important role in the events of her time. She was the living embodiment of the life-giving power of the sun, giving life. In the large temples of the god Aten in Thebes, prayers were offered to her; none of the temple actions could take place without her - the guarantee of fertility and prosperity of the entire country “She sends Aten to rest with a sweet voice and beautiful hands with sisters,- it is said about her in the inscriptions of the tombs of noblemen of her contemporaries - At the sound of her voice, everyone rejoices.”

Having banned the cults of traditional gods and, above all, the universal Amun - the ruler of Thebes, Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten ("Effective Spirit of Aten"), and Nefertiti founded their new capital - Akhetaten. The volume of work was enormous. At the same time, temples, palaces, buildings of official institutions, warehouses, houses of the nobility, homes and workshops were erected. Holes dug in the rocky ground were filled with soil, and then specially brought trees were planted in them - there was no time to wait for them to grow here. As if by magic gardens grew among the rocks and sand, water splashed in ponds and lakes, the walls of the royal palace rose high in obedience to the royal order. Nefertiti lived here.
Both parts of the grandiose palace were surrounded by a brick wall and connected by a monumental covered bridge spanning the road. The residential buildings of the royal family were adjacent to a large garden with a lake and pavilions. The walls were decorated with paintings of bunches of lotuses and papyrus, swamp birds flying out of ponds, scenes of the life of Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their six daughters. The floor painting imitated ponds with swimming fish and birds fluttering around. Gilding and inlay with faience tiles and semi-precious stones were widely used.
Never before in Egyptian art have there appeared works that so vividly demonstrate the feelings of royal spouses. Nefertiti and her husband are sitting with their children, Nefertiti is swinging her legs, climbing on her husband’s lap, and holding her little daughter with her hand. On every stage there is always the presence of Aten - the solar disk with numerous hands holding out symbols of eternal life to the royal couple
Along with intimate scenes in the palace gardens, other episodes have been preserved in the tombs of the nobles of Akhetaten family life king and queen - unique images of royal lunches and dinners. Akhenaten and Nefertiti sit on chairs with lion paws, next to them is the dowager queen-mother Teye, who arrived on a visit. Near the feasters there are tables decorated with lotus flowers with dishes, vessels with wine. The feasters are entertained by a female choir and musicians, the servants are bustling about. The three eldest daughters - Meritaten, Maketaten and Ankhesenpa-aten - are present at the celebration.

Nefertiti treasured the pictures of those happy years in her heart.

They were building a city. The best craftsmen and artists of Egypt gathered in Akhetaten. The king preached among them his ideas of a new art. From now on, it was supposed to reflect the true beauty of the world, and not copy ancient frozen forms. Portraits should have the features of real people, and the compositions should be lifelike.
One after another, their daughters were born. Akhenaten adored them all. He spent a long time fiddling with the girls in front of happy Nefertiti. He pampered them and extolled them.
And in the evenings they rode a chariot along the palm alleys of the city. He rode the horses, and she hugged him and cheerfully joked about the fact that he had acquired a large belly. Or we rode in a boat along the surface of the Nile, among thickets of reeds and papyrus.
Their family dinners were full of carefree fun, when Akhenaten would portray the angry Sobek, the crocodile god, with a piece of chop in his teeth, and the girls and Nefertiti would roar with laughter.
They held services in the Temple of Aten. The deity was depicted in the sanctuary in the form of a golden disk stretching out thousands of arms to people. The pharaoh was himself the high priest. And Nefertiti is the high priestess. Her voice and divine beauty bowed the people before the shining face of the true God.

While the maid anointed the queen’s body with precious oil, which spread the scent of myrrh, juniper and cinnamon, Nefertiti recalled what a holiday there was in the city when Tiu, Akhenaten’s mother, came to visit her children and granddaughters in Akhetaten. The girls jumped around her and vying with each other to amuse her with their games and dances. She smiled and didn't know which one to listen to.

Akhenaten proudly showed his mother his new capital: palaces for the nobility, houses of artisans, warehouses, workshops and the main pride - the Temple of Aten, which was supposed to surpass all existing in the world in size, pomp and splendor, were built.
- There will be not one altar, but several. And there will be no roof at all, so that the sacred rays of Aten fill it with their grace,” he enthusiastically told his mother. Silently she listened to her only son. Tiu's intelligent, penetrating eyes looked sad. How could she explain that his efforts to make everyone happy were of no use to anyone. That he is not loved or respected as a sovereign, and only curses come from everywhere. The beautiful city of the sun emptied the royal treasury within a few years. Yes, the city is beautiful and delightful, but it eats up all the income. But Akhenaten did not want to hear about saving.
And in the evenings, Tiu had long conversations with her daughter-in-law, hoping to at least influence her son through her.
Oh, why, why, then she didn’t listen to the words of the wise Tiu!

But the couple's personal happiness did not last long...
Everything began to fall apart the year their eight-year-old daughter, the cheerful and sweet Meketaten, died. She went to Osiris so suddenly that it seemed as if the sun had stopped shining.
Remembering how she and her husband gave orders to the gravediggers and embalmers, restrained for a long time sobs burst out in a stream of tears. The maid with a jar of eyebrow dye stopped in confusion. After a minute, the Great Queen controlled herself and, swallowing her sobs, exhaled and straightened up: "Continue."

With the death of Meketaten, happiness ended in their palace. Disasters and grief followed in an endless series, as if the curses of the overthrown gods fell on their heads. Soon after the little princess Tiu went to the kingdom of the dead, the only person at the court that supported Akhenaten. With her death, there was no one left in Thebes except her enemies. The widow of the powerful Amenhotep III alone restrained with her authority the rage of the offended priests of Amon. With her, they did not dare to openly attack Akhenaten and Nefertiti.

Nefertiti squeezed her temples with her fingers and shook her head. If only she and her husband had been more careful, more political, more cunning then. If then Akhenaten had not expelled the priests from the old temples and had not forbidden people to pray to their gods... If only... But then it would not have been Akhenaten. Compromises are not in his nature. All or nothing. He destroyed everything old obsessively and mercilessly. He was confident that he was right and that he would win. He had no doubt that they would follow him... But no one came. A bunch of philosophers, artists and craftsmen - that’s his whole company.
She tried, tried repeatedly to talk to him, to open her eyes to the real essence things. He only became angry and withdrawn into himself, spending more and more time with architects and sculptors.
IN once again, when she approached him to talk about the fate of the dynasty, he shouted at her: “Rather than meddle in my affairs, it would be better if she gave birth to a son!”
Nefertiti gave birth to six daughters to Akhenaten in twelve years. She was always by his side. His affairs and problems were always her affairs and problems. At all services in the temples of Aten, she always stood next to him wearing a crown, ringing the sacred sistrums. And she did not expect such an insult. She was pierced to the very heart. Nefertiti came out silently and, rustling her pleated skirt, retired to her chambers...

The cat Bast entered the room with silent steps. Around the neck of the graceful animal was a gold necklace. Approaching the owner, Bast jumped onto her knees and began to rub herself against her hands. Nefertiti smiled sadly. Warm, cozy animal. She impulsively pressed her to herself. Bast, with some instinct, always guessed when the mistress was feeling bad and came to console her. Neferiti ran her hand over the soft light gray fur. Amber eyes with vertical pupils looked at the man wisely and condescendingly. “Everything will pass,” she seemed to say.
“You really are a goddess, Bast,” smiled the reassured Nefertiti. And the cat, majestically raising its tail, left the room, showing with its appearance that it had more important things to do.

The death of Maketaten appears to have been a turning point in Nefertiti's life. The one whom contemporaries called "beautiful, beautiful in a diadem with two feathers, mistress of joy, full of praises and filled with beauty", a rival appeared. And not just a temporary whim of the ruler, but a woman who really ousted his wife from his heart - Kiya.
All of Akhenaten's attention was focused on her. While his father was still alive, he went to Egypt as collateral political stability In interstate relations, the Mitanni princess Taduheppa arrived. It was for her, who, according to tradition, accepted Egyptian name, Akhenaten built the luxurious country palace complex Maru-Aten. But most importantly, she gave birth to two sons to the pharaoh, who later married their older half-sisters.
However, the triumph of Kiya, who bore sons to the king, was short-lived. She disappeared in the 16th year of her husband's reign. Having come to power, Nefertiti's eldest daughter, Meritaten, destroyed not only the images, but also almost all references to her mother's hated rival, replacing them with her own images and names. From the point of view of the ancient Egyptian tradition, such an act was the most terrible curse that could be carried out: not only the name of the deceased was erased from the memory of descendants, but also his soul was deprived of well-being in the afterlife.

Nefertiti was already finishing her vestments. The maid dressed her in white dress made of the finest transparent white linen, she fastened a wide chest decoration studded with gems. She put a fluffy wig curled in small waves on her head. In her favorite blue headdress with red ribbons and a golden uraeus, she had not gone out for a long time.
Aye, an old dignitary and former scribe at the court of Amenhotep III, entered. He was a "fan bearer" right hand the king, the chief of the king’s friends” and “the father of God,” as he was called in letters. Akhenaten and Nefertiti grew up in the palace before his eyes. He taught Akhenaten to read and write. His wife was at one time the princess's nurse. And Nefertiti was like his own daughter.
At the sight of Nefertiti, Aye’s wrinkled face broke into a gentle smile:
- Hello, my girl! How are you
- Don't ask, Aye. Good is not enough. You heard that Akhenaten gave this upstart Kiya, a concubine from Mitanni, the palace of Maru-Aten. She appears everywhere with her. This creature already dares to wear a crown.
Aye frowned and sighed. The girl from the harem gave birth to two sons for the king. Everyone just whispered about the crown princes Smenkhkare and Tutankhaten, not embarrassed by Nefertiti.
The princes were still small children, but their fate was already decided: they would become the husbands of Akhenaten’s eldest daughters. The royal line must continue. The blood of the pharaohs of the 18th dynasty from the great Ahmes himself flowed in their veins.
-Well, what's new in Thebes? What do they write from the provinces? - The queen courageously prepared to listen to the difficult news.
- Nothing good, queen. Thebes buzzes like a swarm of bees. The priests ensured that the name of Akhenaten was cursed on every corner. There's still this drought here. All to one. King Dushratta of Mitanni demands gold again. They are asking the northern provinces to send troops to protect them from the nomads. And the king ordered everyone to refuse.” Eye shrugged. “It’s a shame to watch.” With such difficulty we achieved influence in these lands, and now we are losing them so easily. There is discontent everywhere. I told Akhenaten about this, but he doesn’t want to hear anything about the war. He is only annoyed that the delivery deadlines for marble and ebony are missed. And also, queen, beware of Horemheb. He very quickly finds a common language with your influential enemies, he knows who to be friends with.

After Ey left, the queen sat alone for a long time. The sun went down. Nifertiti went out onto the balcony of the palace. The huge cloudless dome of the sky on the horizon glowed with white flames surrounding a fiery disk. Warm rays painted the ocher mountain peaks on the horizon soft orange and reflected in the waters of the Nile. Evening birds sang in the lush greenery of tamarisks, sycamores and date palms that surrounded the palace. The evening coolness and anxiety came from the desert.

It is not known how long Nefertiti lived after this decline. The date of her death has not been revealed by historians and the queen’s grave has not been found. In essence it doesn't matter. Her love and happiness - her whole life - went into oblivion along with her hopes and dreams of the New World.
Prince Smekhkara did not live long at all and died under Akhenaten. After the death of the reformer pharaoh, ten-year-old Tutankhaten assumed power. Under pressure from the priests of Amun, the boy pharaoh left the city of the Sun and changed his name. Tutankhaten (“Living Likeness of Aten”) henceforth began to be called Tutankhamun (“Living Likeness of Amun”), but did not live long. There are no continuers of Akhenaten’s work, his spiritual and cultural revolution. The capital returned to Thebes.
The new king Horemheb did everything to erase even the memory of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. The city of their dreams was completely destroyed. Their names were carefully erased from all records, in tombs, on all columns and walls. And from now on it was written everywhere that after Amenhotep III power passed to Horemheb. Only here and there, by chance, were reminders of the “criminal from Akhetaten” left. A hundred years later, everyone forgot about the king and his wife, who 1369 years before the birth of Jesus Christ preached faith in one God.

For three thousand four hundred years, sand rushed over the place where there was once a beautiful city, until one day residents of a neighboring village began to find beautiful shards and fragments. Lovers of antiquity showed them to specialists, and they read on them the names of a king and queen unknown in the history of Egypt. Some time later, a cache of rotten chests filled with clay letters was discovered. The history of the tragedy that befell Akhetaten gradually became clearer. The figures of the pharaoh and his beautiful wife emerged from the darkness. Archaeological expeditions flocked to Amarna (as this place was now called).

On December 6, 1912, in the ruins of the workshop of the ancient sculptor Thutmes, the trembling hands of Professor Ludwig Borchard brought to light an almost intact bust of Nefertiti. He was so beautiful and perfect that it seemed that the queen’s Ka (soul), exhausted by suffering, returned to the world to tell about herself.
For a long, long time the elderly professor, the leader of the German expedition, looked at this beauty, which was so unreal for hundreds and thousands of years, and thought a lot, but the only thing he could write down in his diary: “There is no point in describing, just look!”

Cleopatra VII Philopator is an Egyptian queen whose biography is still discussed to this day. Not being attractive in appearance, Cleopatra managed to gain the attention of two great Roman commanders - and. This love triangle has found its echoes in many books and films: directors make films, and writers talk about the image of this femme fatale on the pages of their works.

Childhood and youth

Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. The true place of birth still remains a mystery, but it is generally accepted that her homeland is the cultural center of the ancient world, Alexandria. Contrary to popular belief, the queen did not have a drop of Egyptian blood and came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by the Diadochi Ptolemy I, and therefore had Greek roots.

Almost nothing is known about Cleopatra’s childhood and youth. But it is worth assuming that the future ruler voraciously read books in the Library of Alexandria and studied music, since she knew how to reason philosophically, think logically, played various instruments and knew eight foreign languages.

This is surprising because in those days the Greeks did not care about the education of children, especially girls. For example, her sister Berenice was of a completely opposite nature: she loved entertainment, was quite lazy and thoughtless. In 58-55 BC. Cleopatra had to watch as her father Ptolemy XII Auletes was expelled from the country, and power was concentrated in the hands of his daughter Berenice (the ancient Greek historian Strabo noted that Berenice was the only legitimate daughter Ptolemy XII Auletes, so there is an opinion that Cleopatra was born from a concubine).

Later, by the forces of the Romans under the leadership of Aulus Gabinius, the king again ascended the throne of Egypt. However, he could not skillfully use power, so repression, delinquent behavior in society and brutal murders spread under him. Thus, Ptolemy subsequently became a puppet controlled by Roman governors. Of course, these events left an imprint on Cleopatra’s mind: later the girl recalled the reckless reign of her father, who remained in her memory as the person whose mistakes she needed to learn from.

Rule of Egypt

After Ptolemy XII Auletes returned what was rightfully his, the heiress Berenice was beheaded. After the death of the king, according to tradition, which called for preserving the divine blood of the royal families, 17 (18) year old Cleopatra married her 9 (10) year old brother Ptolemy XIII and began to rule Egypt. True, formally, since she could only have full power cyclically: in ancient times, girls were destined for a secondary role. She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, meaning "goddess, loving father».

It is worth saying that Egypt was desired by the Romans, despite the fact that 96% of the territory in this country is occupied by deserts. But the valleys - the treasure troves of the Nile civilization - are famous for their exceptional fertility. Therefore, during the reign of Cleopatra, one of the most powerful empires - the Roman - laid claim to the territory of Egypt: some of the outer regions of Ta-kemet belonged to the Romans, but the country itself was not completely conquered. Therefore, Egypt (also due to financial debts) turned into a dependent state.

The first years of her reign turned out to be difficult for Cleopatra, because there was not enough food in the country: an insufficient flood of the Nile provoked a two-year crop failure. In addition, the battle for the throne began - internecine wars between brother and sister. Initially, the queen removed her husband and ruled the country alone, but, becoming older, Ptolemy XIII did not accept the arbitrariness of his relative and, relying on his tutor Pothin, who was also the regent and de facto ruler, organized a rebellion against Cleopatra. The people were told that the girl had stopped obeying the ruling trio of Pothinus, Theodatus and Achilles and wanted to overthrow her younger brother.

The queen fled to Syria and thus remained alive. Being an uninvited guest in the Middle East, the girl dreamed of returning full power. Around the same time, the dictator and ancient Roman commander Gaius Julius Caesar went to Alexandria in order to overtake his sworn enemy Pompey: defeated in the civil war (Battle of Pharsalus), Gnaeus fled to Egypt. However, Julius was unable to get even with his enemy personally, because when the emperor arrived in the Nile Valley, Pompey had already been killed.

Caesar had to stay in Alexandria due to unfavorable conditions for the long journey weather conditions, therefore, the ruler of Rome did not miss the opportunity to collect the accumulated debts of Ptolemy XII Auletes from his successor (ten million denarii). So Julius took part in the conflict between the comrades of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, hoping to benefit both himself and the Romans.

In turn, the queen needed to win Caesar’s trust, so, according to a beautiful legend, in order to win the commander over to her side, the resourceful girl secretly entered the Alexandria Palace: she wrapped herself in a carpet (or in a bed bag) and ordered her faithful slave to deliver a generous gift . Julius, fascinated by the beauty of the young queen, took her side.

But it is worth noting that the commander came to Egypt with a small army (3,200 warriors and 800 horsemen). Ptolemy XIII took advantage of this circumstance. Society supported the ruler, so Julius had to hide in the royal quarter, putting his life in danger. In winter, Julius Caesar again invaded Egypt and defeated the army of supporters of Ptolemy XIII, who drowned in the Nile. Therefore, Cleopatra again ascended the throne and ruled together with the young Ptolemy XIV.

Personal life

Legends are still made about Cleopatra's personal life. Thanks to the cinema, this ambitious girl was seen in the performances of (“Cleopatra” (1963)), (“Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002)) and other film actresses who played the ruler. Therefore, many believe that Cleopatra is a fatal beauty who seduced men with just one look. But, contrary to popular belief, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was rather mediocre.

What Cleopatra looked like is not known for certain. But one can judge from some statues and a bust from Cherchell in Algeria (there is an opinion that this bust belongs to Cleopatra’s daughter Selene II), as well as from the face depicted on coins, that the queen had quite a big nose and a narrow chin. But women's charms and intelligence helped Cleopatra make her faithful admirers out of men. She was not a noble person; sometimes cruelty could be traced in her character. For example, the queen often tested poisons on prisoners and watched them die in order to test the effect of a dangerous potion on the body.

It was rumored that Cleopatra was a loving girl. In fact, promiscuity between a man and a woman was not condemned in Rome and Ancient Egypt; kings and queens had several lovers and concubines. According to legend, madmen paid with their lives to share a bed with the Siren of the Nile: after a night with Cleopatra, their heads became trophies and were exhibited in the palace.

Beautiful legends are still made up about the relationship between the Egyptian queen and the Roman commander Julius Caesar. Indeed, it was love at first sight. For the sake of 21-year-old Cleopatra, the emperor forgot his mistress Servilia.

After defeating Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra and Caesar set off on a pleasure trip along the Nile, accompanied by 400 ships. June 23, 47 BC The lovers had a son, Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion). It can be said that because of his alliance with Cleopatra, Caesar brought disaster upon himself. The Egyptian queen, her brother and son arrived in Rome, surrounded by a large retinue. The girl was disliked because of her arrogance, so she was called the queen without adding a name (“I hate the queen,” Cicero wrote in his manuscript).

Those close to Caesar were sure that the dictator wanted to become the new pharaoh and make Alexandria the capital of Rome. The Romans did not like this turn of events, and for this and other reasons a conspiracy arose against Julius. March 15, 44 BC Caesar was killed. After the death of Julius, a conflict began between the Romans. civil war, in which Cleopatra did not interfere. Mark Antony was proclaimed ruler eastern territory Rome.

The commander was going to accuse the queen of assisting against Caesar, but Cleopatra, knowing about Mark’s amorousness and vanity, acted with feminine cunning. She arrived on a gilded ship full of treasures dressed as Aphrodite and charmed the ancient Roman commander. Thus began a romance that lasted about ten years. In 40 BC. The lovers gave birth to twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In the autumn of 36 BC. The third child, Ptolemy Philadelphus, was born.

Death

There are many fictions about the death of Cleopatra, so it is almost impossible to reconstruct this event with the greatest accuracy. The generally accepted version is the story that was presented. True, his version was later interpreted in their own way by writers, because Cleopatra’s biography provided background for romantic works. So, others wrote poems about the queen.

Octavian Augustus, the legitimate heir to the Roman throne, arrived in Rome in the spring. Local residents welcomed young man, however, the active army and admirers of Caesar stood on the side of Mark Antony. The Mutino War soon followed, from which Octavian emerged victorious. When Augustus moved towards Alexandria, Mark Antony was given false news about the death of the queen. Mark could not withstand such a tragedy, so he threw himself on his own sword. At that moment, Cleopatra and her maids locked themselves in the tomb; The wounded lover of the Egyptian seductress was taken there.

Mark died in the arms of a crying girl. The queen wanted to demonstratively stab herself with a dagger, but began negotiations with Octavian’s subject. The Siren of the Nile hoped to bribe Augustus with her charms in order to restore the state, but all attempts were in vain. After the death of her beloved, Cleopatra fell into depression, starved herself and did not get out of bed. Cornelius Dolabella informed the widow that she would be exiled to Rome for Octavian's triumph.

According to ancient Roman custom, Augustus, in honor of the victory over Egypt, was going to lead Cleopatra behind the triumphal chariot, chained like a slave. But the queen managed to avoid shame: in a pot of figs, which was delivered to the palace at the behest of Cleopatra, a snake was hidden - its bite gave the woman a quiet and painless death. Where Cleopatra’s mummy is located is still unknown, but most likely, the queen and her lover Mark Antony are buried under the necropolis temple near Taposiris Magna (modern Abusir).

• Ancient alchemists believed that Cleopatra was the owner of the philosopher's stone and could turn any metal into gold.
• According to legend, the queen met with Mark Antony on Cleopatra Island, famous for its golden sand, which was brought there especially for the Egyptian seductress.

• Cleopatra was fond of cosmetology. According to rumors, the queen bathed in a bath with milk and honey. She also made creams from a mixture of herbs and lard.
• According to another version, Cleopatra was killed by poison, which she stored in a hollow head pin.

Memory

Movies:

• Cleopatra (1934)
• Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
• Two Nights with Cleopatra (1954)
• Legions of Cleopatra (1959)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• Discovery: Queens of Ancient Egypt (TV) (2000)
• Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer (TV) (2009)

Books:

• The Diaries of Cleopatra. Book 1: The Rise of a Queen (Margaret George)
• Cleopatra (Karin Essex)
• Cleopatra. The Last of the Ptolemies (Michael Grant)
• Cleopatra's last passion. New novel about the Queen of Love (Natalia Pavlishcheva)