Amarna Period - Royal Women

Royal Women

The royal women of Amarna have more surviving text about them than any other women from ancient Egypt. It is clear that they played a large role in royal and religious functions. These women were frequently portrayed as being very powerful. Many of the king's daughters (Amenhotep) had influences as great if not greater than his wives'. Tiye and Nefertiti were the most influential of his wives, and Nefertiti was said to be the force behind the new monotheist religion. Nefertiti, whose name means "the beautiful one is here", bore six of Amenhotep's daughters. There is a debate whether the relationship between Amenhotep and his daughters was sexual. Although there is much controversy over this topic, there is no evidence that any of them bore his children. Amenhotep gave many of his daughters titles of queen. Tiye, the king's chief wife, came to be known as the "commoner queen" for the lack of "royal blood". Tiye came from a military family, and had influence even after Amenhotep's death.