Nefertari: Egypt’s Legendary Queen

Nefertari is the subject of this audio documentary about one of ancient Egypt’s best-known queens. The episode considers her life and royal legacy, placing the woman behind the celebrated name within the world of Egyptian kingship.

Historical background

Nefertari was the Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II during Egypt’s Nineteenth Dynasty. Her richly decorated tomb in the Valley of the Queens preserves scenes of the queen’s journey through the afterlife. Her prominence in royal monuments, including the smaller temple at Abu Simbel, makes her an important figure for understanding queenship, religion, and the public image of pharaonic power.

Related history

• Akhenaten: Aten Worship and Egypt’s Religious Revolution
• Howard Carter’s Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Further reading: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Nefertari and her tomb paintings.