An inference I made about Queen Nefertari is that she was highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society, not only for her beauty but also for her significance in the royal lineage and culture. The passage states that Ramesses the Great built "one of Egypt's most extraordinary tombs for her," indicating that her status was important enough to merit such a grand tribute. Additionally, the text refers to her tomb as the "most impressive" in the Valley of the Queens and compares it to the "Sistine Chapel of ancient Egypt," suggesting that her memory and legacy were deeply valued, as reflected in the elaborate decorations and artwork that tell stories of her journey into the underworld.
Read the passage and then answer the question below.
Think about a story involving tomb raiders, a journey into the underworld, and a romance between a
glamorous queen and a powerful king. This may sound like the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but it's a
script pulled straight from the history books. The story begins with Ramesses the Great, who is
known to have ruled Egypt from 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C. Ramesses had many consorts, but his most
beloved wife was Queen Nefertari. She was known for her beauty and for the many Egyptian
monuments built in her honor. Nefertari had many nicknames including "beautiful face," "pretty with
two feathers," and "appeasing the Gods." When Queen Nefertari died, Ramesses ordered the
building of one of Egypt's most extraordinary tombs for her.
Nefertari's tomb is located in Egypt's Valley of the Queens, which hosts more than 70 lavishly
decorated tombs belonging to queens, princesses, and other members of the nobility. Queen
Nefertari's tomb is considered the most impressive of them all. It's known as the Sistine Chapel of
ancient Egypt because of its beautiful decorations and detailed artwork. When it was discovered in
1904 by an Italian Egyptologist, Nefertari's tomb had long before been looted by tomb raiders. They
had stolen nearly all of the precious treasures buried with the queen, including her sarcophagus and
her mummy. Still, the tomb was an extremely important discovery. The magnificent paintings on the
tomb walls are some of the most detailed and well-preserved in all of ancient Egypt. The stories these
paintings tell about Queen Nefertari's journey into the underworld shed light on ancient Egyptian
beliefs about death and the afterlife.
In 3-5 sentences, identify and explain an inference you made about Queen Nefertari and her tomb based on the passage. Support your answer with text evidence from the passage.
3 answers
Queen Nefertari was highly esteemed in ancient Egyptian society, as indicated by the extraordinary tomb built for her by Ramesses the Great, which was deemed the "most impressive" in the Valley of the Queens. The passage also highlights her tomb’s elaborate decorations, comparing it to the "Sistine Chapel of ancient Egypt," showcasing the value placed on her legacy. This suggests that Nefertari held significant importance both during her life and after her death.