The Tragedy of Ankhesenamun

Ankhesenamun lived through the Amarna period. Later Egyptians tried to suppress everything about the period and what they didn’t destroy was forgotten. As a result, much of her life is speculation. Archaeological research has continued to find new information that changes our views. I eventually gave up my ideas for a story when my speculations about her life were not born out by research.

The Daughter of a Pharaoh

Ankhesenamun, originally Ankhesenpaaten, was born in 1348 BCE and was 7 years old when her half brother Tutankhamun was born. She was the third daughter of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh and his main wife Nefertiti. Akhenaten, originally known as Amenhotep IV, banned the worship of Egypt’s traditional gods and introduced the worship of the sun disk Aten. Nefertiti was reputed to be the most beautiful woman to have ever lived. The images of the period show Akhenaten and Nefertiti as being especially devoted to their children.

Marriages

Many archaeologists think that Ankhesenamun married her father Akhenaten. By modern standards, this is unthinkable, but was not only acceptable but it was even encouraged within the royal family at the time. Some archaeologists have suggested that she may have also married Akhenaten’s successor Smenkhkare, although there is no evidence of this.

Many artefacts in Tutankhamun’s tomb show that Ankhesenamun was his wife. The images in the tomb show the two as a loving couple, with a strong bond between them. It is easy to speculate that their bond began when the seven-year-old Ankhesenamun first saw the newborn infant. One can imagine her as caring for her little brother from the day he was born until the day that he died.

Image via Wikipedia

Return of the Old Gods

The traditional priesthood resented Akhenaten’s forced introduction of Aten worship. After Akhenaten’s death, the priesthood worked for restoration of their power. Without Akhenaten, there was no strong advocate for Aten worship.

Tutankhamun came to power at a critical time in the conflict. During Tutankhamun’s reign, Egypt returned to the old ways and Aten worship ended. Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun both changed their names at the time to reflect this change.

The Death of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun died at age 18 after only 10 years as pharaoh. This is when the tragedy of Ankhesenamun really begins. It would have been a terrible blow to her personally, as the two were very close. Beyond this, she would have to continue in her official capacity as queen of Egypt and play a major role in finding a successor.

Some Egyptologist proposed a theory that someone assassinated Tutankhamun. Speculation focused on two suspects, both of whom later became pharaohs. Ay was chief advisor to both Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.  Horemheb was the head of the army and designated as Tutankhamun successor.

Later research suggests that Tutankhamun died from a combination of an infection in a broken leg and malaria. This makes the assassination theory unlikely.

The Hittite Letters

Archaeologists found a report from this time in Hattusa the capitol of the Hittites. A queen of Egypt makes an unusual request of the king of the Hittites Suppiluliuma I. She tells the king that her husband has died and she has no sons who can succeed to the throne. She says that the king has many sons and asks that he send her one to be her husband and pharaoh. She goes on to say she would never marry a servant of hers and adds that she is afraid.

Suppiluliuma is wary of this request. When he does send a son, he dies before he reaches Egypt. He blames the Egyptians for his death and attacks Egyptian territories in what is now Lebanon in retaliation.

The Hittite report does not identity the queen. Although some suggest Nefertiti, and Ankhesenamun’s sister Meritaten as the queen, it is most likely Ankhesenamun. Either Ay or Horemheb could be the servant that the queen refuses to marry. Archaeologists now think that Ay could be Nefertiti father. This would make him Ankhesenamun’s grandfather.

Marriage to Ay and Disappearance

The last mention of Ankhesenamun is when she marries Ay and he becomes pharaoh. Ay is pharaoh for only a few years. When he dies, Horemheb takes his place. What happens to Ankhesenamun after the marriage? Did she live a long life or die a short time later? On that, history has so far been silent.