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Egyptian archaeologists believe they could have finally found the mummy of Queen Nefertiti
Featured Image Credit: VPC Travel Photo / Alamy Stock Photo. Terence Waeland / Alamy Stock Photo

Egyptian archaeologists believe they could have finally found the mummy of Queen Nefertiti

Queen Nefertiti reigned from 1353–36 BCE, when Egypt was at its most prosperous and powerful.

Archaeologists believe they have finally found the long-lost tomb of one of Egypt's most famous rulers, Queen Nefertiti.

Leading Egyptologist Zahi Hawass has revealed that scientists have had a major breakthrough after discovering two mummies lying in the Valley of the Kings, Newsweek reports.

While archaeologists are still waiting on the DNA results, they believe they have obtained the remains of Queen Nefertiti and her daughter Ankhesenamun, the wife of Tutankhamun.

Hawass told the Spanish newspaper El Independiente: “I'm sure I'll reveal Nefertiti's mummy in a month or two.”

The mummies are reportedly from tombs KV21 and KV35, at the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, as per The Telegraph.

Valley of the King, paul prescott / Alamy Stock Photo

Hawass added that if the mummy turns out to be Queen Nefertiti, they will conduct CT scans to reveal the monarch’s true beauty, which is reported to be legendary.

However, Hawass explained that much of ancient Egyptian history is still unknown as scientists have yet to discover most of the remains.

According to The Telegraph, he said: “We have barely found 30 percent of everything that is underground.

“Modern Egypt is built on the Ancient.

"And that is why the heritage that remains hidden is immense.”

Queen Nefertiti reigned as queen from 1353–36 BCE, when Egypt was at its most prosperous, according to the World History Encyclopaedia.

agefotostock / Alamy Stock Photo

With her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, they turned the nation from polytheism to a monotheistic worshipping religion named Aten, which followed the beliefs and practices of a sun god.

However, once their son-in-law Tutankhamun ruled, he rejected Aten and restored the pantheon of Egyptian gods.

Following the Queen’s death, high priests destroyed monotheist monuments created by Akhenaten and abolished her name from records.

Despite swiping her from history books, scholars continue to be fascinated by the sun queen almost 3,300 years after her reign.

Michelle Moran, the author of Nefertiti, told The Guardian: “She was the Cleopatra of her time. Just as beautiful, just as wealthy, and just as powerful – if not more powerful.”

As a bust of the monarch has been widely celebrated and recognised worldwide, Moran added: “You see the graceful curve of her neck, her thinly arched brows, cheekbones so rigid they could cut you.”

She continued: “She is compelling. You look into her face and you are arrested by beauty.”

Topics: News, Science, World News