Nebettawy

Nebettawy (nb.t-t3.wỉ; "Lady of the Two Lands") was an ancient Egyptian princess and queen, the fifth daughter and one of the eight Great Royal Wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II.

Life

Nebettawy may have been the daughter of Ramesses' wife, Nefertari,¹² but this is by no means certain. She is shown in the greater Abu Simbel temple. On the second southern colossus in front of the temple Nebettawy is depicted in the regalia of a queen. Nebettawy shown with a cap wig, a fairly simple modius and the double plumes. Bint-Anat (also dressed as a queen) stands by the left leg of the second southern colossus, Nebettawy by the right leg, and an anonymous princess stands in front of the colossus.³

Nebettawy appears as the fifth princess in a parade of royal daughters as depicted in the great temple at Abu Simbel. She appears behind Bintanath, Baketmut, Nefertari ii, and Meritamen. The princesses are shown carrying a sistrum.¹

Nebettawy is not shown on the smaller temple of Abu Simbel. Nefertari is shown with Meritamen and Henuttawy on the facade of this temple.⁴

Since all the evidence attesting to her status as queen is found within her tomb, it is impossible to determine precisely when Nebettawy became queen. The title of Great Royal Wife must have been conferred upon her posthumously.⁵ Given the severe lack of documentation, it is possible that she did not live into the final phase of Ramesses II's reign as did Bintanath, Meritamen, and Henutmire. These three princesses are attested until the 42nd to 56th years of Ramesses II's reign: Bintanath and Henutmire appear at the sides of Ramesses II's colossal statues, while Meritamen held an even more exalted position, being attested in colossi of equal scale to those of Ramesses II himself.