Nefertiti lived around 1350 BCE, during Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, one of the most powerful and wealthy periods in ancient Egyptian history.

Her name means “The beautiful one has come,” which may suggest she was seen as a gift to the royal bloodline or that she came from outside the royal family.

She was the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, a ruler famous for dramatically changing Egypt’s religion from polytheism to monotheism and for reshaping its artistic style.

Akhenaten abandoned traditional gods and promoted the worship of Aten, the sun disk, creating one of the earliest known forms of monotheism.

Nefertiti was famous for wearing a tall, flat topped blue crown, a symbol of her royal status and unique identity.

She appears in royal artwork almost as often as the king, which was extremely unusual for royal wives at the time.

Many scholars believe she served as a co ruler, meaning she may have shared power and made political decisions.

There is strong evidence she may have ruled Egypt on her own for a short time after Akhenaten’s death.

Her most famous image is the painted limestone bust of Nefertiti, which shows her elegant face and calm expression.

The bust was discovered in 1912 in the ancient city of Amarna, buried in the workshop of a royal sculptor. The discovery was made by a German archaeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt during excavations funded by Germany. The bust is made from limestone covered in plaster and painted, showing the advanced artistry of ancient Egyptian craftsmen. One of the eyes on the bust is missing, likely because it was never completed, giving a rare glimpse into ancient artistic methods. The bust is kept in the Neues Museum in Berlin, where it is one of the museum’s most famous treasures.

Nefertiti lived during the Amarna Period, a time of political, religious, and artistic revolution in Egypt.

She and Akhenaten had six daughters, which were recorded in temple wall carvings and reliefs.

One of her daughters, Ankhesenamun, later became queen by marrying Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut. They were half siblings.

The identity of Nefertiti’s parents is still unknown, adding mystery to her background.

She is shown in art performing religious rituals that were usually reserved for kings or high priests.

Some reliefs depict her striking down enemies with a weapon, a role that symbolized royal power and was almost never shown with queens.

Her formal royal name was Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, meaning “Beautiful are the beauties of Aten, the beautiful one has come.”

Many historians believe she ruled under the royal name Neferneferuaten late in her life.

She disappears from written records around Year 12 of Akhenaten’s reign, which has fueled endless theories about her fate.

No confirmed mummy of Nefertiti has ever been found, making her burial place one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries.

She lived in the purpose built capital city of Amarna, created by Akhenaten as the center of the new religion.

Her palace at Amarna had painted walls, gardens, pools, and open courtyards, showing a more luxurious and open style of royal living.

The art style during her time became more natural and emotional, showing family scenes instead of stiff, formal poses.

Nefertiti is one of the most recognizable women of the ancient world, similar in fame to Cleopatra today.

She used mineral based cosmetics and perfumes, which were both beauty products and protection against infections. Her famous eye makeup also helped protect her eyes from sun glare and flies in the desert climate.