Nefertiti mummy 'found in Egypt'

BBC News ^ | 10 June 2003 | BBC staff

[Constitution Day]

Nefertiti mummy 'found in Egypt'

Scientists in Egypt say they may have discovered the mummy of Queen Nefertiti, one of the most famous figures of ancient Egypt.

A group of scientists believe that she is one of three mummies discovered in a secret chamber of a tomb known as KV35 in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

The tomb was originally located and catalogued in 1898, but the mummies were sealed up and apparently forgotten, until scientists drilled through to the room.

"There is a very, very strong possibility that... this in fact is the great female Pharaoh Nefertiti herself," said British mummification expert Dr Joann Fletcher, who led the expedition, which was sponsored by the Discovery Channel.

The whereabouts of the remains of Nefertiti, perhaps the most powerful woman in ancient Egypt, have for many years been one of archaeology's most enduring mysteries.

However, critics say that without DNA evidence to verify the claims, it is unlikely to be the remains of the queen.

'Heretic' couple

Queen Nefertiti, along with her husband the pharaoh Akhenaten, ruled from 1353-1336 BC during the so-called 18th dynasty of ancient Egyptian rulers.

However, virtually all traces of the queen and her "heretic" husband were erased, after his unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the pantheon of Egyptian gods and replace worship of them with the sun god Aton, in one of the earliest known practices of monotheism.

Dr Fletcher said she became interested in the mummy after identifying a wig, which had been found by three mummies catalogued by scientists, as being a Nubian-style wig favoured by royal women in the 18th dynasty.

Further examination of the mummy in the side room revealed the remains of the younger woman had a doubled-pierced ear lobe, shaved head, and the clear impression of the tight-fitting brow-band worn by royalty.

Wishful thinking?

The mummy - which had been defaced and mutilated - also had an arm removed, which was found in its wrappings bent at the elbow, a possible sign that it had originally held a royal sceptre, Dr Fletcher said.

The other two mummies, a teenage boy and an older woman, have not yet been identified.

However, other scientists have expressed doubts that the remains could be that of the famous queen.

"Physical evidence known and published prior to this expedition indicates the unlikelihood of it being the mummy of Nefertiti," Egyptologist Susan James said.

"Without any comparative DNA studies, statements of certainty are merely wishful thinking."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/2978710.stm

Published: 2003/06/10 14:27:57 GMT

© BBC MMIII

[Burkeman1]

I seriously doubt this. Is this an attempt to get a "headline" or what? The "evidence" presented is dreadfully weak. Almost every trace of these heretics were systematically destroyed in Egyptian society right after their deaths. It is exteremely doubtful they would even have bothered to mummify a heretic who tried to destroy their religion much less bury her in tomb.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

"Without any comparative DNA studies, statements of certainty are merely wishful thinking."

Possibly they could check Klintoon for a sample of the Queen's DNA.

[metesky]

IIRC, one of the Cleopatras married her brother, but they weren't really Egyptians, they were Ptolomys (sp?) and thus Greek.

[Nefertiti]

"The Egyptian pharaohs practiced inter-family breeding on a grand scale"

There was also a theory that young Pharaohs-to-be may not have been the products of the married brothers and sisters' unions...it's still gonna be tough.

Very true.. Nefertiti is said to be a foreign queen... their marriage part of a treaty and that before the marriage her name was changed to Nefertiti.. they were under the impression that if she had an Egyptian name it would be easier for the locals to accept her... that is of course until her and Akenaton changed the nations entire religious practices.

Nefertit@-->---

[Nefertiti]

Short history about Nefertit from the Britannica:

posted on 04/30/2003 by Chipata

Nefertiti@-->---

[Nefertiti]

LOL..I'm just going post these last two pictures and then I will go play someplace else ;)

Akhenaten was a lover not a fighter, so you won't find the typical war and hunting scenes glorified in his Amarna pagentry. Amarna chariotry glorified the regular ceremonial parade on the Royal Road between the king's temples and palaces. The Queen Nefertiti is depicted smaller and follows the Pharaoh. Like him, she drives her chariot, drawn by a team of chestnut horses, whip in hand, absent the usual driver. Behind the Queen a retinue of princes in chariots and footmen follow, suitably much smaller than the Queen and Pharaoh proportionate to their status.

Nefertiti, Akhenaton, and three of their daughters, exhibiting the Amarna style of family values, throw golden collars, rings, vessels and other ornaments to the priest Aye and his wife. From the tomb of Ay

Ok.. I'm done

Nefertiti@-->---

[Enough_Deceit]

What a horrible thing to say about the dead! LOL! Actually her skeletal remains are probably much better looking than the Witch of NY. Take care and God bless!

[blam]

"Archaeology ping."

Thanks.

Found: Queen Nefertiti's Mummy

[cubreporter]

You know, I could never understand why Archaeologists think they have the right to "find" mummy's and the like. These people are dead and who are they to "find" or "discover" these people and then plaster photos or take the remains around the country like they did with Tutunkamen (spelled wrong I am sure). It seems wrong to me somehow.

[mrb1960]

Oh god, that's scary!

[j.havenfarm]

Ay, yi, yi!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

what dna would they test against?

King Tut. She was his mummy!

(Or stepmother may be. I never could keep it all straight.)

[El Gato]

Nefertiti: One of the ancient world's most beautiful women

So she hasn't aged well. We'll see what you look like after three thousand years.

[NeoCaveman]

Man, that is harsh! But I'm inclined to agree.

I think Juanita Broderrick would agree too.

[John Locke]

The whereabouts of the remains of Nefertiti, perhaps the most powerful woman in ancient Egypt

Nonsense! This was the most powerful woman in Ancient Egypt:

Seated statue of Pharaoh Hatshepsut.

[xJones]

Egypt then went on to worship a minor moon god from another country in the 7th century AD....

Akhenaten and to a lesser extent Nefertiti might have been wackjobs, but the irony of it just hit me...

If you want to get into modern English vulgarity, the minor moon god now gets "mooned" five times a day by the "faithful" lifting their rumps in prayer.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks blam.

It's strange, I did a search and nothing came up!
Maybe it's because I searched for Nefertiti rather than Nefertiti's.

I appreciate the link, anyhow!

[Constitution Day]

Ye gods!!
The ages have not been well to Hillary! since that photo was taken.

[blam]

"It's strange, I did a search and nothing came up!"

No problem. Happens to me all the time.

[SunkenCiv]

Just adding this to the GGG homepage, not sending a general distribution.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.