Editing Nefertiti (section)

=== Possible reign as a Pharaoh ===

Many scholars believe Nefertiti had a role elevated from that of great royal wife, and was promoted to [[Coregency|co-regent]] by her husband Pharaoh Akhenaten before his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/nefertiti|title=Nefertiti - Ancient History - HISTORY.com|website=HISTORY.com|access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref> She is depicted in many [[archaeological]] sites as equal in stature to a King, smiting Egypt's enemies, riding a [[chariot]], and worshipping the [[Aten]] in the manner of a pharaoh.<ref>{{Citation|last=AncientHistory|title=Nefertiti's Odyssey - National Geographic Documentary|date=2017-04-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYurJrSiRA| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106174348/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYurJrSiRA&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2019-11-06 | url-status=dead|access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref> When Nefertiti's name disappears from historical records, it is replaced by that of a co-regent named [[Neferneferuaten]], who became a female Pharaoh.<ref name="Deep Blue"/> It seems likely that Nefertiti, in a similar fashion to the previous female Pharaoh [[Hatshepsut]], assumed the kingship under the name Pharaoh Neferneferuaten after her husband's death. She was then succeeded by Tutankhamun.{{sfn|van der Perre|2014}}
[[File:Limestone column fragment showing a cartouche of Nefertiti. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg|thumb|189x189px|Limestone column fragment showing a cartouche of Nefertiti. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London]]
It seems less possible that Nefertiti disguised herself as a male and assumed the male [[alter ego]] of [[Smenkhkare]]. According to Van Der Perre, Smenkhkare is thought to be a co-regent of Akhenaten who died before Neferneferuaten assumed the kingship.{{sfn|van der Perre|2014}}

If Nefertiti did rule Egypt as a Pharaoh, it has been theorized that she would have attempted damage control and may have re-instated the [[ancient Egyptian religion]] and the [[Amun]] priests. She would have raised [[Tutankhamun]] in the worship of the traditional gods.<ref>{{cite AV media |via=YouTube |last=AncientHistory|title='Queen Nefertiti' The Most Beautiful Face of Egypt (Discovery Channel)|date=2014-12-16|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kht878XLsg| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308132614/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kht878XLsg&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2017-03-08 | url-status=dead|access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref>

Archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr. [[Zahi Hawass]] theorized that Nefertiti returned to [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] from Amarna to rule as a Pharaoh, based on [[ushabti]] and other feminine evidence of a female pharaoh found in [[KV62|Tutankhamun's tomb]], as well as evidence of Nefertiti smiting Egypt's enemies which was a duty reserved to kings.<ref>{{cite AV media |via=YouTube |last=Badger Utopia|title=Nefertiti - Mummy Queen of Mystery|date=2017-08-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czSww5m39q4|access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref>