The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (37 page)

Traveling there felt longer than our trip from Akhenaten. My heart was weighed down with dread. The sun was out and scorching our skin. Was Aten displeased? He must have felt we had abandoned Him, forgotten Him. In my heart I had not, but all the trappings of his worship, including the priests of Aten, had stayed in Akhenaten. Ay said that if they would not convert, they would be left behind. When we returned to the city later in the year, we would find out their answers.

I knew their hearts would not change. They had shared my father’s passion for Him. Besides, no one would welcome them back even if they did. They would be a reminder of the mistakes of the past.

But the worst part was that all images of my parents also had to be left behind, all the beautiful busts, figures, any likenesses. We could not look upon their faces anymore.

We were truly alone.

Our litter touched the ground. As we got out, we were greeted by the largest temple I had ever seen. This temple had been continuously built up over centuries by pharaohs of the past. It was known as the most sacred of places. The entire site was surrounded by an enormous enclosure wall. The entrance pylons loomed over us. They were made from two wide and slowly tapering towers, each with a horizontal molding crowning them. There were two rows of open-air windows in each pylon. Usually monuments such as these held the giant-sized body of a pharaoh carved upon it smiting his enemies. I was glad this particular image did not adorn the pylons before us. I had seen these images on the way over, and it felt as if the carvings were warning us of a fate that could be. I could not help but believe that the country thought of our family as the enemy despite all the cheers we received this morning.

Tutankhaten took my hand, gave it a squeeze, and then let go. Could he feel my fears pulsing through my skin? I took in a deep breath. I could not let myself be overwhelmed. Even our new pharaoh took the time to comfort others.

We stepped towards the pylons. Ay took the lead in front of our procession. Guards flanked us, and the crowds could be heard roaring behind us.

There were three main temples at Ipet-isut. These were for Mut, Montu, and Amun. Each was enclosed by walls of brick. The Temple of Amun was the main temple, and it was situated in the center of Ipet-isut. Off to the side of Amun’s temple, there was The Sacred Lake. On the opposite side of the temple, there was an unroofed section. I longed to stand underneath pure sunlight and pray, but I knew this was no longer an accepted form of worship. There were also a number of smaller temples and chapels spread about the site including a temple to Osiris Hek-Djet inside the enclosure wall of Amun’s temple. Our focus was to be only for Amun. I could only hope I did not walk into the wrong temple with so many in one place! I could see myself offending the priests in less than a full day as queen. How Meket would laugh at me.

Her laughter rang in my ears for but a moment as if she had heard my thoughts from wherever her soul rested. My fear must have opened the gates and was now allowing my imagination to run wild! But the sound of my sister filled my pounding heart with peace.

We passed into a hall filled with papyrus columns. Their capitals were bell shaped. The columns in the center were taller than the others surrounding them. Together, they all supported a rooftop above our heads with small clerestory windows created by pierced slits in the vertical stone roof. Altogether, the structures reached so high that I could not imagine how it could have been constructed. The columns, top to bottom, were filled with writing. It would take years to read it all.

Walking under the roof, the light around us became dull. Mutbenret, who was my appointed tutor, had told me that this muted light was meant to represent the primeval papyrus swamp. Statues of gods filled the spaces between the columns, as if emerging from this ancient swamp on the first day of creation. We were surrounded by glorified images of the past hidden within shadows.

Mutbenret had proven to be very patient with my learning. She said her father had secretly trained her with knowledge of all the gods in case Atenism was overthrown. He had always suspected that my father was not charismatic enough to change a nation’s heart. Mutbenret had a memory for details, and she did her best to relate as much to me as she could in a short period of time. She would make up rhymes to song melodies to help me keep things straight:

As Ra’s tongue, he gave us speech
,

Our reading and writing he did teach
.

Djehuty, depicted as ibis or baboon
,

Whose light we see each night as the moon
.

Or

Tricked inside a wooden box
,

Sealed with lead despite his knocks
.

Our king, Osiris, thrown into the waters
,

Leaving the world without sons or daughters
.

While Seth puts on his brother’s crown
,

Isis searches up and down
.

Then 14 pieces he is divided
,

Until Isis embalms him, by Nephthys guided
.

Resurrected as our Lord of the Dead
,

Into eternal life now we are led
.

She was an excellent teacher and was always ready with encouraging words. Often she said I had a lovely singing voice when vocalizing her rhymes, but I just dismissed her. Truth be told, I had not sung since I last put my daughter to sleep. Maybe it brought her joy, but it brought me none.

Mutbenret was also very sympathetic. I had never seen her shed tears for her sister, but she said she understood my grief. I found her easy to talk to and share my feelings with. I was not sure if this was a wise thing to do, but I could sense something about her that wanted to help. There was compassion in her. Perhaps she was like her sister and good at keeping her feelings buried. At times, I would catch her perfume and remember my mother. Her presence was a soothing balm on my wounds still so raw and open to the forces besieging my life.

I could see more pylons ahead of us with a pair of obelisks in front built by a pharaoh from our distant family. The obelisks were the tallest I had seen. I wondered who had built such beautiful works, but we did not get close enough to see the encircled names. I would have to ask Mutbenret about them after the ceremony.

As we walked, forever more pylons rose before us. The next row of them was partially plated in gold. Light filtering through the high windows behind us seemed to bounce off the gold and sprang toward me, striking my eyes as sharply as a needle. Shielding my vision, all was dark for a moment. I could vaguely see stone images showing scenes of victory in battle as well as scenes of a festival, but the carved impressions were unfinished, abandoned. There were three flag staffs on each side of the pylons which sprouted upward into the sky. Cloth flags hung limply as we walked by, but Aten blinded my view from making out the colors that rose up to Him on these staffs.

Then we walked clear of the columned hall and were directed to our right, toward The Sacred Lake. Blinking away the short burst of blindness given to me, I looked out upon the lake with wonder, never having seen anything like it before. Mutbenret had told me that it symbolized the ocean from which the gods came. In one corner, I could see a beetle-shaped scarab keeping watch. It was placed there by my grandfather. The walls surrounding the lake were designed in a wave pattern, which was the written symbol for flowing water. This lake was used by our priests for the purification of souls. I knew that part of today’s ritual would use the waters from this lake, but I could not entirely remember what would take place as it was about pharaoh and not the royal wife.

On our left stood the central temple of Amun. A small group of priests filtered out from it and made their way toward us. Their heads were shaved and seemed to shine in the sun. It gave the appearance of a glowing halo encircling their bare scalps. They wore linen skirts and papyrus sandals. One man stood at the head, the man I assumed to be the first prophet of Amun. There was a linen sash running down his chest. After a few steps, they all bowed to us as one.

“Greetings. I am Wennefer, and I am pleased to meet the saviors of the temple,” the man standing closest to us said. His voice was higher-pitched than I expected and thin. “I hope you have felt the peace of Amun wash over you as you have come through our city, the humble place where Creation occurred and Amun begat Himself out of the chaotic waters of Nun.”

Tutankhaten held out his hand and bade them to rise. “Thank you for your welcome. I appreciate your support, Wennefer,” he said. “Tonight, much compensation will be given to you and your faithful servants.”

“We have the crowns ready and will begin at your command,” Wennefer replied kindly. He seemed eager to please.

Tutankhaten nodded his head. With that, Wannefer walked back into the temple as others came out.

They looked like demons! We had been told of these images, but the sight was nonetheless frightening.

One of the creatures approached Tutankhaten and stretched out his hand toward him. It had the head of a ram and the body of a man. Behind him stood four other beings. Their bodies were also of a man’s, but… I took a deep breath as I absorbed the half-man, half-beasts in front of us. One had the head of an ibis (I knew this to be Djehuty from my studies), the second had the head of a hawk with a sharp beak and a sun disk on his head, the third had a head that looked as a falcon’s, and the last was with the head of a greyhound with a curved muzzle, almond eyes, and long, straight pointed ears. He was the most frightening to look upon. I felt myself shiver when my eyes met up with his.

Booming from the head of the ram-headed man, without lips that moved, he spoke, “With my hand, I will provide you protection and give you safe passage through your rite of enthronement. Let the Gods take Their positions at the four points of the world as We have divided it.”

Tutankhaten took his hand, and he was guided into a shallow pool beside the Sacred Lake. The four other beings stepped forward, each with a golden ewer. Tutankhaten stepped over the pool’s rim, his sandals holding his ankle straight, and into the shallow clear waters. Tutankhaten took back his hand and stood as straight and tall as he could.

The ram-headed being raised his arms, and the other gods raised their tall ewers. Again the ram spoke, an echoing voice that seemed to reverberate around us, “Through these waters, you will be purified and deemed fit to appear before the Gods as ruler.”

One of the creatures began pouring out his water onto Tutankhaten’s head.

“We wash you in the waters of Nun in which Amun Himself washes. In this way, may I, Amun, recognize you as My son, My body reborn in your body, My flesh purifying your flesh. May you be prosperous and remembered for eternity.”

A second being poured out his water over Tutankhaten.

“I purify thee with the water of all life and good fortune, all stability, all health, and all happiness.”

The third poured out his waters.

“Let Me be your guide, He who comes to the voice of those in distress. You will embody Amun, the Lord of the silent. When My people call out to you in my distress, you will come and rescue the poor, the downhearted, and those in need.”

The final creature, the hound, poured his ewer out over him.

“Though the servant was disposed to do evil, I am disposed to forgive. As the Lord of Waset, I spend not a whole day in anger; My wrath is passing in a moment. My breath comes back to the world in mercy. May your ka be kind; may you forgive; may you give mercy as My image enthroned.”

Wannefer reappeared again with the two crowns of Egypt in his hands. “Let the water of life, brought forth from the Sacred Pool, bring you good fortune and guide you. Today we praise your name as the holy son. Let your name ring throughout the lands, Mighty King.”

Everyone stepped back except for the ram, Amun. He outstretched his hand again and led Tutankhaten from the waters and presented him to Wannefer. Tutankhaten bowed his head. First, Wannefer placed a linen covering over Tutankhaten’s wet hair. Then he set the white Hedjet crown reverently on top.

“I place onto you, possession of Upper Kemet.”

Next the red Deshret crown was placed over that of the white crown so they created one magnificent headdress. It proclaimed to any and all that he was the mightiest of all in the lands.

“I place onto you, possession of Lower Kemet. Lord of two lands, come and sit upon your throne.”

We processed into the temple where a golden throne stood. It was not sized for a full-grown man but for someone my brother’s size. It was polished but showed signs of wear. There were duller sections where light scratches could be seen. I wondered what other young boy had taken the throne as a king.

At the front of the procession, Tutankhaten carefully got to his knees, assisted by the ram-headed Amun. Then Amun came around to stand behind him. He placed His hand on the nape of Tutankhaten’s neck. His fingertips were hidden inside golden coverings which glinted in the sunlight and threw specks of Aten across the walls.

Amun’s voice echoed about the room, “Tutankhaten. Ka Nakht Tut Mesut. Nefer Hepu Segereh Taui. Wetches Khau Sehotep Neteru. Nebkheperura. I have spoken your names for all the gods to hear. King of Upper and Lower Kemet, take your place.”

Delicately, Tutankhaten stood, turned, and finally seated himself upon the throne. The Kepresh did not waver, though it did look big on his head. Into his hands, an unnamed priest placed the crook and flail, perfectly sized for him as well.

“Shepherd of our flock, keeper of our lands, I again recite your names for the men and women upon the earth.” Wennefer said stepping to the right of the throne. “Nebkheperure, King of Kemet. He, Horus enthroned, the strong bull of perfect birth. He whose laws are good, who pacifies all the Gods. He who brings together divine order, who pleases the Gods. Ra manifests Himself as him. Lord of Ra’s being, Tutankhaten, living image of the Aten. Beloved of Amun, Lord of the Two Lands, Foremost in Ipet-esut, may he be given Life, like Ra forever and ever.”