Nefertari's Familial Role
Queen Nefertari was just one of the women in Ramesses II's harem, however she was given the role of Great Royal Wife and was therefore the most important woman in the pharaoh's life. The duties of the Great Royal wife encompassed accompanying her husband on important royal business, appearing beside him in statue form to show their united front and playing important roles in the religious and political aspects of life.
Aside from these duties, Nefertari was also a mother. She bore Ramesses II's first son, the Crown Prince Amenkirkhopshef and at least three other sons and two daughters. As a result of Amenkirkhopshef, she earned the title Mother of the King. However as her son died young, he never saw the throne and the next in line became a son of Ramesses II's principal wife after Nefertari died in his 24th year of reigning. Nefertari and Ramesses II had approximately nine children together; the sons Amun-her-khepeshef, Pareherwenemef, Meryatum, and Merire, and the daughters Meritamen, Henuttawy, Bak(et)mut, Nefertari, and Nebettawy.
In a temple at Luxor, there is a relief of Queen Nefertari with her royal children and an inscription to accompany it:
"Playing the sistra for her father Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, for Mut the mighty, Lady of Asheru, [and for] Khons Neferhotep - [so] the Hereditary Princess, greatly favoured, possessing charm, sweet of love, [Mistress of] the South and the North, [? bright of] hands, [...], wielding the sistra while propitiating her father Amun."
This quote demonstrates the merging of Nefertari's roles as both God's Wife of Amun and a mother as she is entertaining the Hereditary Princess, her daughter and "propitiating her father Amun" which means that she was gaining favour with him through playing the sistra in order to preserve the well-being of Egypt.
Aside from these duties, Nefertari was also a mother. She bore Ramesses II's first son, the Crown Prince Amenkirkhopshef and at least three other sons and two daughters. As a result of Amenkirkhopshef, she earned the title Mother of the King. However as her son died young, he never saw the throne and the next in line became a son of Ramesses II's principal wife after Nefertari died in his 24th year of reigning. Nefertari and Ramesses II had approximately nine children together; the sons Amun-her-khepeshef, Pareherwenemef, Meryatum, and Merire, and the daughters Meritamen, Henuttawy, Bak(et)mut, Nefertari, and Nebettawy.
In a temple at Luxor, there is a relief of Queen Nefertari with her royal children and an inscription to accompany it:
"Playing the sistra for her father Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, for Mut the mighty, Lady of Asheru, [and for] Khons Neferhotep - [so] the Hereditary Princess, greatly favoured, possessing charm, sweet of love, [Mistress of] the South and the North, [? bright of] hands, [...], wielding the sistra while propitiating her father Amun."
This quote demonstrates the merging of Nefertari's roles as both God's Wife of Amun and a mother as she is entertaining the Hereditary Princess, her daughter and "propitiating her father Amun" which means that she was gaining favour with him through playing the sistra in order to preserve the well-being of Egypt.
The outside of the Great Temple of Ramesses II has four colossal statues of the king and around his feet are members or the royal family: the King's Mother - Queen Tuya, The Chief Wife - Queen Nefertari and some of their children.
The fact that outside his temple, Ramesses II still wanted to honour and depict his family thus making Queen Nefertari's role as Chief Wife/Great Royal Wife extremely significant. Even though she is depicted on a much smaller scale to that of her husband, she was still important enough a person in his life to have the honour of being depicted at her husband's feet. For more primary sources:
For more secondary sources:
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