Queen Tiye was one of the most influential and powerful queens in ancient Egyptian history. She was the wife of Amenhotep III, the mother of Akhenaten, and the grandmother of Tutankhamun. She was also involved in the political and religious affairs of the state, and was respected by foreign rulers and dignitaries. But how did she die, and where was she buried? This article will explore the possible answers to these questions, based on historical and scientific evidence.
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The Royal Tomb at Amarna
According to Wikipedia, Queen Tiye is believed to have been originally buried in the Royal Tomb at Amarna, alongside her son Akhenaten and granddaughter Meketaten. Amarna was the new capital city that Akhenaten built to worship his monotheistic god, Aten. However, after his death, the city was abandoned and his successors restored the traditional cult of Amun. The royal tombs at Amarna were vandalized and looted, and the bodies of the royal family were either destroyed or moved to other locations.
The Elder Lady in KV35
In 1898, the French archaeologist Victor Loret discovered the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV35) in the Valley of the Kings. Inside the tomb, he found several mummies that were not originally buried there, but were transferred from other tombs during the 21st Dynasty. Among these mummies, there was one that was labeled as “The Elder Lady”, which was wrapped in linen and had a wig of long curly hair. The identity of this mummy was unknown for a long time, until 2010, when DNA analysis confirmed that she was the mother of Akhenaten, and therefore Queen Tiye.
The Cause of Death
The mummy of Queen Tiye was examined by various experts, who tried to determine her cause of death and her physical appearance. According to Healthline, the mummy showed signs of arthritis, scoliosis, and tooth decay. She also had a large abscess in her jaw, which could have caused severe pain and infection. Some scholars have suggested that this abscess could have been the cause of her death, or at least a contributing factor. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this theory, and the exact cause of death remains unknown.
The Legacy of Queen Tiye
Queen Tiye was a remarkable woman who left a lasting impression on ancient Egyptian history and culture. She was a loyal and devoted wife, a loving and supportive mother, and a wise and influential queen. She was also a woman of beauty and grace, as depicted in the numerous statues and reliefs that portray her. She was admired and respected by her contemporaries, and remembered by posterity. She was, indeed, a queen of queens.
