he new king Amenhotep IV is accompanied by a royal woman, and this lady is thought to be an

early depiction of Nefertiti. The king and queen are shown worshiping the Aten. In the tomb of
the vizier Ramose, Nefertiti is shown standing behind Amenhotep IV in the Window of
Appearance during the reward ceremony for the vizier.[12]

Close-up of a limestone relief depicting Nefertiti smiting a female captive on a royal barge. On display at
the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

During the early years in Thebes, Akhenaten (still known as Amenhotep IV) had several
temples erected at Karnak. One of the structures, the Mansion of the Benben (hwt-ben-ben),
was dedicated to Nefertiti. She is depicted with her daughter Meritaten and in some scenes the
princess Meketatenparticipates as well. In scenes found on the talatat, Nefertiti appears almost
twice as often as her husband. She is shown appearing behind her husband the Pharaoh in
offering scenes in the role of the queen supporting her husband, but she is also depicted in
scenes that would have normally been the prerogative of the king. She is shown smiting the
enemy, and captive enemies decorate her throne.[13]
In the fourth year of his reign, Amenhotep IV decided to move the capital to Akhetaten (modern
Amarna). In his fifth year, Amenhotep IV officially changed his name to Akhenaten, and
Nefertiti was henceforth known as Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti. The name change was a sign of
the ever-increasing importance of the cult of the Aten. It changed Egypt's religion from
a polytheistic religion to a religion which may have been better described as a monolatry (the
depiction of a single god as an object for worship) or henotheism (one god, who is not the only
god).[14]
The boundary stelae of years 4 and 5 mark the boundaries of the new city and suggest that the
move to the new city of Akhetaten occurred around that time. The new city contained several
large open-air temples dedicated to the Aten. Nefertiti and her family would have resided in the
Great Royal Palace in the centre of the city and possibly at the Northern Palace as well.
Nefertiti and the rest of the royal family feature prominently in the scenes at the palaces and in
the tombs of the nobles. Nefertiti's steward during this time was an official named Meryre II. He
would have been in charge of running her household.[5][12]
Inscriptions in the tombs of Huya and Meryre II dated to Year 12, 2nd month of Peret, Day 8
show a large foreign tribute. The people of Kharu (the north) and Kush (the south) are shown
bringing gifts of gold and precious items to Akhenaten and Nefertiti. In the tomb of Meryre II,
Nefertiti's steward, the royal couple is shown seated in a kiosk with their six daughters in
attendance.[5][12] This is one of the last times princess Meketaten is shown alive.
Two representations of Nefertiti that were excavat