"Earl Ertman -- The University of Akron emeritus professor of Egyptian art has written an article featured in the new KMT: a Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt (Vol. 17, Winter 2006-2007). Titled Smiting the Enemy in the Reign of Akhenaten: A Family Affair, the article demonstrates that the first instance of a female Egyptian royal shown present during the bashing in of heads of foreigners/enemies was in Egypt's 18th Dynasty during the reign of Akhenaten. Queen Nefertiti is first shown along with Akhenaten and later on her own smiting enemies.
Ertman demonstrates that this innovation was continued by Tutankhamen, who was shown with his queen, Akhenaten's daughter Ankhesenamun, ritually killing enemy prisoners. After this dynasty, at least two other later kings are shown with a female behind them as they kill prisoners, but in these cases, the female is a goddess, not a queen, underscoring the singular importance that Nefertiti held during her lifetime, he points out."
Ertman demonstrates that this innovation was continued by Tutankhamen, who was shown with his queen, Akhenaten's daughter Ankhesenamun, ritually killing enemy prisoners. After this dynasty, at least two other later kings are shown with a female behind them as they kill prisoners, but in these cases, the female is a goddess, not a queen, underscoring the singular importance that Nefertiti held during her lifetime, he points out."
See the above page for the full review - it is the third piece on the page, entitled Worth Noting.
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