Nefertari's Military Role
Queen Nefertari did not have a particularly large role in the military aspect of New Kingdom Egypt in the Nineteenth Dynasty. This was considered to be the "norm" for Egyptian queens as their talents and contributions lay in other areas of their lives such as administration or religion.
In the Great Temple at Abu Simbel, dedicated to Nefertari by her husband Ramesses II (Ramesses the Great), there is a scene which depicts her smiting the enemy with her husband to defend the Egyptian nation. It has been suggested by many historians that during battle, Ramesses II would be accompanied by members of his family and the theory that Nefertari actually accompanied her husband to battles appeared as a result. Some historians believe that Nefertari was even present at the Battle of Kadesh in the fifth year of Ramesses II's reign. There is no conclusive evidence to support this theory; it is mere speculation on behalf of historians.
As Nefertari was considered more of a conservative queen compared to the likes of Nefertiti, there is no real evidence to suggest that she had a significant role in the life of the military aside from the aforementioned. It is of the opinion that Queen Nefertari was in actual fact reverting back to the ways of queen in the Old Kingdom who had a significant role in religion and perhaps politics, but never in warfare.
In the Great Temple at Abu Simbel, dedicated to Nefertari by her husband Ramesses II (Ramesses the Great), there is a scene which depicts her smiting the enemy with her husband to defend the Egyptian nation. It has been suggested by many historians that during battle, Ramesses II would be accompanied by members of his family and the theory that Nefertari actually accompanied her husband to battles appeared as a result. Some historians believe that Nefertari was even present at the Battle of Kadesh in the fifth year of Ramesses II's reign. There is no conclusive evidence to support this theory; it is mere speculation on behalf of historians.
As Nefertari was considered more of a conservative queen compared to the likes of Nefertiti, there is no real evidence to suggest that she had a significant role in the life of the military aside from the aforementioned. It is of the opinion that Queen Nefertari was in actual fact reverting back to the ways of queen in the Old Kingdom who had a significant role in religion and perhaps politics, but never in warfare.