Queen Nefertari was the first of the royal wives of King Ramses II. Her name means “The Beautiful Campaign”. She had also another name Nefertari Meritmut, which means “The Beloved of the Goddess of Mut”. Nefertari is considered a great Egyptian Queen just like Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and Hatshepsut as she had a great impact on the ancient civilization of Egypt. She was a very educated queen and could both read and write hieroglyphics. She used these unique skills in diplomatic works. Her tomb in Valley of the Queens is considered the largest and most spectacular. She has also a temple of hers constructed by Ramsses II at Abu Simbel next to his colossal monument. Here all information about Queen Nefertari:
Queen Nefertari
The Life of Queen Nefertari
There isn’t much information about the childhood of Nefertari, there is an inscription in her tomb, which links her to pharaoh Ay but Nefertari can’t be the daughter of Ay. There is also no evidence to link Queen Nefertari to the Royal family of the 18th century. She married Ramsses II when she was only 13 years old and he was 15 years. She was a noblewoman but not a member of the Royal Family. Ramsses II married about seven different queens and Nefertari was the first of them. He ruled Egypt for sixty-seven years, lived for ninety years, and had at least forty daughters and forty-five sons.
Nefertari was Ramsses’ wife for about 24 years. Ramsses really loved Nefertari as he honored her with tombs and temples. There are statues of the Queen Nefertari at the foot of giant statues of King Ramses II in Luxor. Nefertari had a great importance in the capital city of the Hittites as Ramsses II had a war with the Hittites but a treaty was signed in his reign with them. Nefertari bought some gifts of the king and the queen of the Hittites including a golden necklace and some letters.
The Titles of Nefertari
There are many titles of Queen Nefertari includes Great of Praises, Sweet of Love, Lady of Grace, Great King’s Wife, his beloved, Lady of The Two Lands, Lady of all Lands, Wife of the Strong Bull, God’s Wife, Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt and she was also called “The one for whom the sun shines” by Ramsses II.
The Tomb of Nefertari
Ramsses II loved Nefertari so much that he built her a very beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Queens. It is the largest one in the valley. Thieves stole all things that were in the tomb including the mummy of Nefertari and her grave goods. Some of the paintings inside the tomb depict Nefertari wearing a crown, which is associated with the goddess Isis and Hathor. The paintings inside the tomb show Nefertari honors her goddess so that they help her in her journey in the afterlife. The ceiling of the tomb has a blue color with some stars.
Nearly all paintings on the walls of the tomb were preserved and Egyptologists did their best to protect those decorations and the Egyptian government tries to limit the number of visitors to the cave. Inside the tomb, there are some messages from the book of the dead plus some Hieroglyphics. The tomb of Nefertari is considered a key cultural image for two reasons: first, it tells scholars about the beauty and the color of the ancient Royal tombs. Second, it shows the building expertise of artisans who lived during the reign of Ramses II.
The Temple of Queen Nefertari
Ramses II has built the temple of Abu Simbel in Nubia. There are some images of Queen Nefertari and her royal children inside the great temple of Ramsses. The temples of Abu Simbel have been moved in 1960, as the Egyptian government was afraid from the flooding that was caused by Aswan High Dam.
The small Temple of Abu Simbel was dedicated to Nefertari and goddess Hathor by Ramsses. In front of the temple, there are two colossal statues of the queen and four of Ramses II in addition to some small statues of the Royal children next to the colossal statues. There is also a huge hypostyle hall inside the temple that includes; columns that have tops carved in the shape of Hathor’s head. There is also a sanctuary that is located on the opposite side of the entrance. It is believed that Queen Nefertari died after a short period from the construction of Abu Simbel.
Interesting Facts about Queen Nefertari
- Nefertari was Ramesses II’s first wife.
- She ruled for twenty-four years.
- The tomb of Queen Nefertari is the most beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Queens.
- Love poetry has been found inside her tomb that was written by Ramsses II.
- A small temple was dedicated to Nefertari and Hathor by Ramsses II.
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FAQ
What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?
You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?
You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?
Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.
Why book Trips in Egypt?
We have experience in vacation planning for more than 10 years & our staff consists of the most professional operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort create the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time advisors to fit your every possible need during your time in egypt. we always keep in mind that your safety & comfort are our main priority until you return home.
Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to egypt, You will feel secure in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is very peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt and construct an entire environment dedicated for ensuring the lives of all tourists.
What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?
They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.
What is the Weather is Like?
The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 23 ¡ÆC in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 32 ¡ÆC in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?
It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.
Should I Give Tips in Egypt?
It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.
Can I Enter the Pyramids?
Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.
How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?
Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.
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