Neferneferuaten Tasherit

Neferneferuaten Tasherit or Neferneferuaten the younger (, meaning most beautiful one of Aten – younger) (14th century BCE) was an ancient Egyptian princess of the 18th Dynasty and the fourth daughter of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti.

Family Neferneferuaten was born between c. year 8 of her father's reign. She was the fourth of six known daughters of the royal couple. It is likely that she was born in Akhetaten, the capital founded by her father. Her name Neferneferuaten ("Beauty of the Beauties of Aten" or "Most Beautiful One of Aten") is the exact copy of the name Nefertiti took in the 5th regnal year. ("Ta-sherit" simply means "the younger"). She had three older sisters named Meritaten, Meketaten, and Ankhesenpaaten (later known as Ankhesenamun), and two younger sisters named Neferneferure and Setepenre.

Life From left to right: Setepenre, Neferneferure, and Neferneferuaten Tasherit at the Durbar in year 12. One of the earliest depictions of Neferneferuaten Tasherit is on a mural from the King's House in Amarna. She is depicted sitting on a pillow with her sister Neferneferure. The fresco is dated to c. year 9 of Akhenaten, and the entire family is depicted, including the baby Setepenre.

Neferneferuaten also appears in the award scene of Panehesy. She is shown standing in the building near the window of appearance as her parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, bestow honors upon the first servant of the Aten named Panehesy. In another scene in this tomb Neferneferuaten and her three older sisters all accompany their parents who are shown offering flowers to the Aten. The four royal daughters are all shown holding bouquets of flowers.

Meketaten under the canopy, on the wall paintings of the Chamber . In front of her: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Meritaten, Ankhesenpaaten and Neferneferuaten Tasherit.

Final years and death It is unknown what became of Neferneferuaten Tasherit, but it has been suggested she died before Tutankhamun and Ankhesenpaaten came to the throne. that she might be identified as Akhenaten's co-regent. whose exact identity is still disputed, but who could have been a woman.

However, in an updated 2016 article, James Allen has now repudiated his previous opinion that Neferneferuaten-tasherit was the female pharaoh Neferneferuaten. Allen now agrees that this female king was indeed Nefertiti instead with the publication of the Year 16 date showing that Nefertiti was still alive in Akhenaten's second last year of rule. Other women who have been suggested as candidates for the identity of this female ruler are Queen Nefertiti (her mother) and her older sister Meritaten.