Editing Akhenaten (section)

=== Coregency with Smenkhkare or Nefertiti ===

Akhenaten could have ruled together with [[Smenkhkare]] and [[Nefertiti]] for several years before his death.{{sfn|Dodson|2014|p=144}}{{sfn|Tyldesley|1998|pp=160–175}} Based on depictions and artifacts from the tombs of [[Meryre II]] and Tutankhamun, Smenkhkare could have been Akhenaten's coregent by regnal year thirteen or fourteen, but died a year or two later. Nefertiti might not have assumed the role of coregent until after year sixteen, when a stela still mentions her as Akhenaten's [[Great Royal Wife]]. While Nefertiti's familial relationship with Akhenaten is known, whether Akhenaten and Smenkhkare were related by blood is unclear. Smenkhkare could have been Akhenaten's son or brother, as the son of [[Amenhotep III]] with [[Tiye]] or [[Sitamun]].{{sfn|Ridley|2019|pp=337, 345}} Archaeological evidence makes it clear, however, that Smenkhkare was married to [[Meritaten]], Akhenaten's eldest daughter.{{sfn|Ridley|2019|p=252}} For another, the so-called [[Coregency Stela]], found in a tomb at Akhetaten, might show queen [[Nefertiti]] as Akhenaten's coregent, but this is uncertain as the stela was recarved to show the names of [[Ankhesenpaaten]] and [[Neferneferuaten]].{{sfn|Allen|1988|pp=117–126}} Egyptologist [[Aidan Dodson]] proposed that both Smenkhkare and Neferiti were Akhenaten's coregents to ensure the Amarna family's continued rule when Egypt was confronted with an epidemic. Dodson suggested that the two were chosen to rule as Tutankhaten's coregent in case Akhenaten died and Tutankhaten took the throne at a young age, or rule in Tutankhaten's stead if the prince also died in the epidemic.{{sfn|Dodson|2018|pp=38–39}}