Queen Nefertari

The most important queen in Egypt. she did not sit on the throne but lived in the heart of her most important king, Ramses II, and for this reason, he built a temple for her. This was the first time in the history of the pharaohs that a queen who did not rule had a temple built for her. In this temple, we see her statues the same size as those of her husband. The name Nefertari means “the most beautiful of all women” (just as Queen Nefertiti’s name means “the beautiful one came,” and she also had a great influence on her husband Akhenaten, that is what beautiful women do throughout the ages). She was originally from Nubia (Nubia means “land of gold”), and this is why the temples of Abu Simbel were built in Nubia. Queen Nefertari was famous for her beauty and wisdom, and Ramses II built the most beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Queens for her, a tomb that is so beautiful with its fresh colors as if it has been built yesterday (Tomb till now 10/2024, is under restoration and we hope it will open soon). She gave birth to many children, the most important of whom was her daughter “Merit Amon”, who was as beautiful as her mother, and so after the death of Nefertari, Ramses II married her.

Statues of Queen Nefertari and her husband, King Ramesses II, on the facade of the small temple of Abu Simbel.

A photo of Queen Nefertari in her tomb. Her name is written in a cartouche for the first time in Egyptian history.

A picture of Queen Nefertari from her tomb, playing a game that now resembles chess.