Why was the bust of Nefertiti so important?

Her reign was a time of tremendous cultural upheaval, as Akhenaten reoriented Egypt’s religious and political structure around the worship of the sun god Aten. Nefertiti is best known for her painted sandstone bust, which was rediscovered in 1913 and became a global icon of feminine beauty and power.

How to recreate the face of Queen Nefertiti?

Now, Photographer Bas Uterwijk has made a new attempt to recreate the face of Queen Nefertiti.

How is Nefertiti related to the Middle Eastern people?

Nefertiti was a Middle Eastern woman in origin just like the majority of ancient Egyptians. Ancient recreation of Nefertiti looking very Middle Eastern: She was a high-class Egyptian. They were related to other Middle Eastern peoples—light brown, like the Palestinians today.

What did Akhenaten do with his wife Nefertiti?

Her final depictions reveal a regal but realistic figure. On the walls of tombs and temples built during Akhenaten’s reign Nefertiti is depicted alongside her husband with a frequency seen for no other Egyptian queen. In many cases she is shown in positions of power and authority—leading worship of Aten, driving a chariot or smiting an enemy.

Why was Nefertiti important to the Aten culture?

Historians have gleaned that Nefertiti was a major proponent of Akhenaten’s religious and cultural movement. She represented the female aspect of Aten while her husband represented the male—and both acted as a bridge between Aten and the Egyptian people.

Where did Queen Nefertiti come from in Egypt?

Other historians, however, posit that Nefertiti was actually a princess who hailed from the Mittani Kingdom in northern Syria. It was common for ancient Egyptians to favor one god over the other, and Nefertiti was said to favor the Egyptian sun god Aten.