Preceden

Nefertiti Timeline

(c. 1370 BC – c. 1330 BC)

Nefertiti was one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and celebrated queens, serving as Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten during the 18th Dynasty. She played a central role in the Amarna Period, a time of dramatic religious and artistic change centered on the worship of the sun disk Aten, and her famous bust remains one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Life and Reign

Nefertiti born

1370 BC

Nefertiti was born around 1370 BC. She would rise to become one of the most famous queens in the history of Ancient Egypt.

Image source: Nefertiti

Nefertiti born

Becomes great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten

1353 BC

Nefertiti served as a queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was the great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, playing an exceptionally prominent role alongside him during his reign.

Vanishes from historical record around Year 12 of Akhenaten's reign

1338 BC

Pre-2012 Egyptological theories assumed that Nefertiti vanished from the historical record around Year 12 of Akhenaten's reign, with no word of her existence thereafter. She is thought to have died around 1330 BC.

Discovery and Archaeology

Bust of Nefertiti attributed to sculptor Thutmose

1345 BC

The famous painted bust of Nefertiti is attributed to the Egyptian sculptor Thutmose. It was created during her lifetime and later became one of the most iconic images of the ancient world.

Image source: Nefertiti Bust

Bust of Nefertiti attributed to sculptor Thutmose

Victor Loret finds two female mummies in KV35 tomb of Amenhotep II

1898

In 1898, French archeologist Victor Loret found two female mummies among those cached inside the tomb of Amenhotep II in KV35 in the Valley of the Kings. These mummies, known as the Elder Lady and the Younger Lady, later became candidates for identification as Nefertiti.

Image source: KV35

Victor Loret finds two female mummies in KV35 tomb of Amenhotep II

Nefertiti made famous by discovery and display of her bust

1900 - 1999

In the 20th century, Nefertiti was made famous by the discovery and display of her ancient bust, which transformed public perception of the ancient queen and made her a global icon of beauty and power.

Nefertiti's bust displayed in Berlin's Neues Museum

1900 - 1999

The bust of Nefertiti went on display in Berlin's Neues Museum, where it remains one of the museum's most celebrated treasures and continues to draw millions of visitors.

Nicholas Reeves proposes hidden burial chamber behind Tutankhamun's tomb walls

2015

In 2015, English archaeologist Nicholas Reeves announced that high resolution scans revealed voids behind the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb, which he proposed to be the burial chamber of Nefertiti.

Radar scans show no hidden chambers in Tutankhamun's tomb

2016

Following Nicholas Reeves' proposal, subsequent radar scans showed that there are no hidden chambers behind the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb, ruling out his suggested location of Nefertiti's burial chamber.

Image source: Tomb of Tutankhamun

Radar scans show no hidden chambers in Tutankhamun's tomb

Popular Culture

Geraldine Chaplin portrays Nefertiti in Mexican short film

1973

Nefertiti was portrayed by Geraldine Chaplin in 'Nefertiti and Akhenaton,' a 1973 Mexican short film directed by Raul Araiza depicting the famous royal couple of the Amarna period.

Song 'Nefertiti, Sun Goddess' written

Dec 1998

In December 1998, Leo-Neferuaten Boyle and Sovra Wilson-Dickson wrote the song 'Nefertiti, Sun Goddess,' which celebrates the legendary ancient Egyptian queen.

'The Aten Shines Again' demo album released featuring the song

Oct 2002

In October 2002, 'Nefertiti, Sun Goddess' appeared on Leo-Neferuaten Boyle's studio recorded demo album, 'The Aten Shines Again,' bringing the musical tribute to the queen to listeners.

Riann Steele portrays Nefertiti in Doctor Who episode

Sep 8, 2012

Nefertiti was portrayed again by Riann Steele in Doctor Who (2012), in the episode 'Dinosaurs on a Spaceship,' where the queen appears as a companion figure aboard a spaceship, introducing the historical figure to a new generation of viewers.

Image source: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

Riann Steele portrays Nefertiti in Doctor Who episode

YouTube video of 'Nefertiti, Sun Goddess' created

Nov 2012

In November 2012, a YouTube video of the song 'Nefertiti, Sun Goddess' was created, extending the reach of this artistic homage to the ancient queen to a global online audience.

Jacqueline Benson's novel features Nefertiti as key archaeological topic

2024

Nefertiti (presented as the same person as Neferneferuaten) is a key part of the archaeological topics in Jacqueline Benson's 2024 historical fantasy novel, Tomb of the Sun King, continuing the enduring fascination with the queen in modern fiction.

Scholarship and Research

KMT magazine article suggests Elder Lady might be Nefertiti

2001

An article in KMT magazine in 2001 suggested that the Elder Lady, one of the female mummies found in KV35, might be Nefertiti, adding to the debate over identifying the queen's remains.

Joann Fletcher announces Nefertiti's mummy may be the Younger Lady

Jun 9, 2003

On 9 June 2003, archaeologist Joann Fletcher, a specialist in ancient hair from the University of York in England, announced that Nefertiti's mummy may have been the Younger Lady, one of the two female mummies discovered in KV35 in 1898.

Image source: The Younger Lady

Joann Fletcher announces Nefertiti's mummy may be the Younger Lady

James P. Allen argues coregent was Akhenaten's fourth daughter

2009

In a 2009 paper written in memory of William J. Murnane, James P. Allen argued that the female coregent Neferneferuaten was Akhenaten's fourth daughter, reasoning that it seemed a logical progression in Akhenaten's attempts to produce a son, and because evidence appeared to lack confirmation that Nefertiti was still alive in Akhenaten's final years.

Inscription dated to Year 16 of Akhenaten's reign discovered

2012

In 2012, the discovery of an inscription dated to Year 16, month 3 of Akhet, day 15 of the reign of Akhenaten was announced. This finding challenged the long-held belief that Nefertiti had disappeared from the record after Year 12, suggesting she remained alive and active much later than previously assumed.

van der Perre contributes study on Nefertiti's chronology

2014

Athena van der Perre's 2014 scholarly contribution examined the chronological evidence surrounding Nefertiti's life and reign, helping establish the case for her continued prominence late into Akhenaten's rule.

Athena van der Perre publishes research supporting Nefertiti identification

2014

Egyptologist Athena van der Perre published research contributing to the growing body of scholarship identifying the female pharaoh Neferneferuaten as Nefertiti, supported by evidence including the 2012 Year 16 inscription.

Aidan Dodson publishes updated work on Amarna royal family

2016

Aidan Dodson published an updated edition of his influential work in 2016, originally issued in 2014, contributing to scholarship on the Amarna period and supporting the identification of Nefertiti with the female king Neferneferuaten.

Leading Egyptologists agree female pharaoh Neferneferuaten was Nefertiti

2016

The number of Egyptologists who agree that the female pharaoh Neferneferuaten was Nefertiti includes Chris Naunton, Aidan Dodson, Athena van der Perre, Nozomu Kawai and James Peter Allen since 2016, reflecting a significant scholarly consensus on the queen's later career as a ruler.

Image source: Neferneferuaten

Leading Egyptologists agree female pharaoh Neferneferuaten was Nefertiti

James P. Allen updates his view to identify Neferneferuaten as Nefertiti

2016

In his updated 2016 paper, published in Göttinger Miszellen, James P. Allen revised his earlier position and now identifies the female pharaoh as Neferneferuaten Nefertiti herself, rather than Akhenaten's daughter who was named Neferneferuaten Tasherit (the younger) as he had previously suggested.

Dodson publishes 2020 work on Egyptian royalty

2020

Aidan Dodson published a new major work in 2020 covering the royal families of Ancient Egypt, incorporating the latest understanding of Nefertiti's role and her possible identity as the female pharaoh Neferneferuaten.

Key Facts

  1. Nefertiti was the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten and may have ruled Egypt briefly after his death as the pharaoh Neferneferuaten.
  2. She is best known for her iconic painted limestone bust, discovered in 1912 in Amarna and now displayed in Berlin's Neues Museum.
  3. Nefertiti and Akhenaten championed the worship of the single god Aten, initiating one of history's earliest known religious reforms toward monotheism.
  4. Her name means 'The Beautiful One Has Come,' reflecting her legendary beauty and high status in Egyptian society.
  5. She appears prominently in temple reliefs, sometimes depicted smiting enemies or making offerings—roles traditionally reserved for pharaohs.

Source

This Nefertiti timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free