Nefertiti and the co-regency

What is a co-regency?

• It designates when a king and queen rule together.

• A period when two kings jointly rule together.

• When two rulers of different countries have an alliance.

• It designates when a king has two royal wives.

What is the co-regency theory of Akhenaten?

• Between the death of Akhenaten and the succession of Tutankhamun, two kings appear to have ruled. One was originally his co-regent.

• Akhenaten ruled with Nefertiti as his queen.

• Tutankhamun ruled with his father, Akhenaten, before he died.

• Smenkhkare married Nefertiti as her second husband.

What is the estimated gap of years between Akhenaten and Tutankhmun?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Who was Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten?

• • A female ruler who was "beneficial to her husband".

• A male ruler linked to Tutankhamun.

• The Princess Neferneferuaten.

• Tutankhmun's wife.

Who was Smenkhkare?

• Nefertiti

• Tutankhamun

• Nefertiti's son

• A male ruler who married Akhenaten's eldest daughter, Meryetaten

What evidence is there that there was a co-regency?

• Stelae depicting two kings

• Scenes of dual enthronements

• A globular vase from the Tomb of Tutankhamun contains the cartouches of two kings

• A quarry inscription refers to two kings

Which of the following are co-regency theories?

• Akhenaten was initially succeeded by his co-regent, Nefertiti, ruling as Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten.

• Akhenaten was initially succeeded by his female co-regent, Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten, who occupied the throne for about 3 years.

• Akhenaten was succeeded by Smenkhkare, who may have been his co-regent.

  Smenkhkare was then succeeded by Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten

• Nefertiti became Akhenaten’s co-regent towards the end of his reign, then eventually reigned as Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare after her husband’s death.

Which of the following are arguments for Nefertiti being a co-regent?

• The co-regent had the same name as Nefertiti: Neferneferuaten

• Smenkhkare was male.

• A scene from the tomb of Meryre shows both Akhenaten and Nefertiti enthroned and holding hands

• Nefertiti had a daughter called Neferneferuaten so the name was in the family.

What are some arguments against Nefertiti being a co-regent?

• Smenkhkare was married Meryetaten – so he was probably male.

• In KV 55, there is a body of a 19–22-year-old male who appears to be Smenkhkare.

• Nefertiti changed her name to Smenkhare to establish herself as the ultimate ruler.

• The name Neferneferuaten is also shared by two of Nefertiti’s daughters.

What new evidence came to light that seems to void the theory that Nefertiti was a co-regent?

• Quarry inscription referring to Nefertiti as Akhenaten's chief wife in Year 16.

• Nefertiti was still depicted as a female queen in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

• A globular vase containing two cartouches refers to two male rulers.

• Nefetiti disappears from the archaeological record in Year 14.