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The statue of Amenhotep III, dating back to the 14th century BC, was discovered in Luxor. (AFP) |
A team of archaeologists from Johns Hopkins University has unearthed the statue of Queen Ti, one of the most significant women in ancient Egyptian history and the wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
The statue, nearly intact, was found beneath the statue of Amenhotep III in the cluttered Karnak Temple in Luxor, the royal city of ancient Egypt.
Ti is notable for being the first Egyptian queen whose name appears alongside her husband’s in official inscriptions. She is renowned for her political influence during the reign of her husband (1417-1379 BC) and her son Akhenaten (1379-1362 BC). Her son is remembered as the first pharaoh to promote monotheism.
Queen Ti is also believed to be the grandmother of Tutankhamun, the most famous pharaoh in ancient Egyptian history.
Amenhotep III, who ruled for 38 years, fundamentally changed the course of ancient Egyptian history by elevating his wife Ti to the status of queen, breaking with the tradition that only his sister could hold that title.
M.T
