Quartzite torso of Meketaten
Meketaten was born approximately in Year 4 of Akhenaten’s reign to him and his Great Royal Wife, Nefertiti. She had an elder sister, Meritaten, and four younger sisters: Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferuaten Tasherit, Neferneferure and Setepenre. Tutankhaten was likely their full brother or half-brother through their father.
The first known depiction of Meketaten is on the walls of the Hwt-benben temple in Thebes, which is dedicated to her mother, Nefertiti. Meketaten additionally appears behind Meritaten in later inscriptions, thought to date to Year 4 or later. Further, her figure was added to a Boundary Stela at Akhetaten that states events from Year 4 and was carved in Year 5.
Meketaten died in approximately Year 14 of Akhenaten’s reign. If she did not die in childbirth, she most likely died of a plague along with other members of the royal family. Between Years 12 and 15, many members of the royal family disappear from the record and cease to be mentioned again: Queen Mother Tiye, King’s Wife Kiya, and the King’s Daughters Neferneferure, Setepenre, and Meketaten.
Meketaten was likely buried in the Royal Tomb at Akhetaten, where fragments of her sarcophagus were found. Inscriptions upon the fragments mention her parents, her sister Ankhesenpaaten, and her grandparents Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye. Another scene shows a figure labelled Meketaten standing under a canopy. In front of her, stand Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and their three daughters, Meritaten, Ankhesenpaaten, and Neferneferuaten Tasherit.
Several others scenes within the tomb possibly relate to her. In both chambers, Akhenaten and Nefertiti bend over a woman’s inert body. The pharaoh and his Great Royal Wife weep and grip each other’s arms for support. Behind them, a nurse cradles a baby in her arms and is accompanied by a fan-bearer, which indicates the baby’s royal status. This is the child theorized to be Meketaten’s above, although many scholars propose this baby may be the infant Tutankhamun (then named Tutankhaten).
Summary:
Quartzite torso of Princess Meketaten, daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti who died young
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1352-1336 B.C.
Possibly from an Amarna Period temple at Akhmim, Egypt.
Brooklyn Museum. 16.46
