Nefertari's Administration and Political Role and Contribution
Queen Nefertari's administration and political role was the other significant role that she had during her lifetime. In many reliefs in tombs, on shrines and on monuments, Nefertari has been depicted accompanying her husband on official royal business or composing correspondence of her own to neighbouring nations in search of an alliance to be made between Egypt the recipients.
At Gebel el-Silsila, Nefertari was called Mistress of the Two Lands, which refers to the union of Upper and Lower Egypt. This title was generally associated with the king, however it implies that Queen Nefertari played an important role in secular affairs. She has also been depicted on monuments as accompanying the pharaoh on royal procession up the Nile River and presiding with him through affairs of the state.
Nefertari's role in politics is also seen through her correspondence with the Hittite queen, Pudukhepa. She wrote many letters to the Pudukhepa with warm wishes and greetings, occasionally sending gifts from Egypt as a way of gaining the Hittite king's trust and allegiance to Egypt during their many years of conflict. These gifts included jewels, dyed materials and royal garments to her 'Sister' (Pudukhepa).
On the occasion of signing the peace treaty in year 21 of Ramesses II's reign, Queen Nefertari wrote to the Hittite queen:
"... with me, your sister, all goes well; with my country all goes well. With you, my sister, may all go well. See now, I have noted that you, my sister, have written to me, to enquire after my well being. And that you have written to me about the new relationship of good peace and brotherhood in which the Great King, the King of Egypt [now stands] with his brother, the Great King, the King of Hatti. May the sun-god [of Egypt] and storm-god [of Hatti] bring you joy... and give good brotherhood to the Great King, the King of Egypt with his brother... King of Hatti, forever. And I am in friendship and sisterly relations with my sister the Great Queen of Hatti, now and forever." (Kitchen, A, Pharaoh Triumphant, pg. 80)
Although international affairs were a new area of life for Nefertari, she still contributed to the signing of the peace treaty by placating the unrest between the Hittites and Egyptians. Another testament to her political importance is the fact that she was present during the signing of the peace treaty, a historic moment in Egyptian history that was depicted on many shrines and monuments. As a result of this, Nefertari has often been regarded as something of diplomat in Ancient Egypt.
Nefertari's involvement in the upholding of maat with Ramesses II greatly benefitted the image of her husband as it portrayed him in an idealised light as the pharaoh who is powerful enough to ensure the placation of the gods' impending anger and to ensure the annual inundation of the Nile River to guarantee the prosperity of crops and plants the grow on the banks of the river. Without this upholding of maat, Egypt would essentially fall to isfet which is the term for chaos, disorder and violence, thus it fell to Ramesses II and Nefertari to prevent this from occurring.
As the Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II, Nefertari had an important role in discussing plans and policies with her husband and possibly contributing to his campaigns against a threatening force to Egypt. She may also have had an impact of the laws and edicts that Ramesses II composed as he would have trusted her counsel due to the fact the he appointed her to such a high and important position in the royal court.
Nefertari's importance and by extension her contribution to Egypt can been seen through the colossal number of times her name is mentioned or her image is depicted on many different monuments and shrines throughout the land, especially at the temples of Karnak and Luxor and in her tomb. It is evident that she was of great significance to Ramesses II as he had statues of her commissioned which were the same size as the statue of himself, indicating that she was his equal and co-ruler and was thus extremely important in Egypt during her lifetime. Another reason for erection of such colossal statues in Nubia would be to remind the Nubians of the pharaoh's power and superiority; therefore, Nefertari was essentially contributing to Ramesses II's propaganda campaign through her efforts as the Chief Royal Wife.
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At Gebel el-Silsila, Nefertari was called Mistress of the Two Lands, which refers to the union of Upper and Lower Egypt. This title was generally associated with the king, however it implies that Queen Nefertari played an important role in secular affairs. She has also been depicted on monuments as accompanying the pharaoh on royal procession up the Nile River and presiding with him through affairs of the state.
Nefertari's role in politics is also seen through her correspondence with the Hittite queen, Pudukhepa. She wrote many letters to the Pudukhepa with warm wishes and greetings, occasionally sending gifts from Egypt as a way of gaining the Hittite king's trust and allegiance to Egypt during their many years of conflict. These gifts included jewels, dyed materials and royal garments to her 'Sister' (Pudukhepa).
On the occasion of signing the peace treaty in year 21 of Ramesses II's reign, Queen Nefertari wrote to the Hittite queen:
"... with me, your sister, all goes well; with my country all goes well. With you, my sister, may all go well. See now, I have noted that you, my sister, have written to me, to enquire after my well being. And that you have written to me about the new relationship of good peace and brotherhood in which the Great King, the King of Egypt [now stands] with his brother, the Great King, the King of Hatti. May the sun-god [of Egypt] and storm-god [of Hatti] bring you joy... and give good brotherhood to the Great King, the King of Egypt with his brother... King of Hatti, forever. And I am in friendship and sisterly relations with my sister the Great Queen of Hatti, now and forever." (Kitchen, A, Pharaoh Triumphant, pg. 80)
Although international affairs were a new area of life for Nefertari, she still contributed to the signing of the peace treaty by placating the unrest between the Hittites and Egyptians. Another testament to her political importance is the fact that she was present during the signing of the peace treaty, a historic moment in Egyptian history that was depicted on many shrines and monuments. As a result of this, Nefertari has often been regarded as something of diplomat in Ancient Egypt.
Nefertari's involvement in the upholding of maat with Ramesses II greatly benefitted the image of her husband as it portrayed him in an idealised light as the pharaoh who is powerful enough to ensure the placation of the gods' impending anger and to ensure the annual inundation of the Nile River to guarantee the prosperity of crops and plants the grow on the banks of the river. Without this upholding of maat, Egypt would essentially fall to isfet which is the term for chaos, disorder and violence, thus it fell to Ramesses II and Nefertari to prevent this from occurring.
As the Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II, Nefertari had an important role in discussing plans and policies with her husband and possibly contributing to his campaigns against a threatening force to Egypt. She may also have had an impact of the laws and edicts that Ramesses II composed as he would have trusted her counsel due to the fact the he appointed her to such a high and important position in the royal court.
Nefertari's importance and by extension her contribution to Egypt can been seen through the colossal number of times her name is mentioned or her image is depicted on many different monuments and shrines throughout the land, especially at the temples of Karnak and Luxor and in her tomb. It is evident that she was of great significance to Ramesses II as he had statues of her commissioned which were the same size as the statue of himself, indicating that she was his equal and co-ruler and was thus extremely important in Egypt during her lifetime. Another reason for erection of such colossal statues in Nubia would be to remind the Nubians of the pharaoh's power and superiority; therefore, Nefertari was essentially contributing to Ramesses II's propaganda campaign through her efforts as the Chief Royal Wife.
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