The Search for Nefertiti: the True Story of an Amazing Discovery.

THE SEARCH FOR NEFERTITI: The True Story of an Amazing Discovery JOANN FLETCHER 

In 1912, archaeologists discovered a sculpted bust of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti, but there was no evidence of her grave or remains. The intrigue thickened as scientists gathered that there had been a concerted effort to erase her from history, despite her significance as a ruler 3,000 years ago. Egyptologist Fletcher became intrigued in 2002 when she heard of a mummy that had been entombed in the Valley of the Kings wearing a wig--a symbol of importance that Fletcher had studied extensively. Fletcher gained access to the tomb and declared the remains to be those of Nefertiti, This book documents the events leading to this discovery as well as Fletcher's efforts to establish that Pharaoh Akhenaten shared power with Nefertiti, his wife, and that after Akhenaten's death, she ruled as sole pharaoh. Fletcher addresses why Nefertiti's body was so badly damaged and why so little is known about her, She speculates that priests of the day felt threatened by Nefertitis power and resented her efforts to dismantle much of the religious and political framework of the time. In elaborating on these ideas, Fletcher provides a rich account of the Amarna period, during which Nefertiti and Akhenaten ruled. The author's personal account of her career adds an interesting dimension to the book. Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2004. Morrow, 2005, 452 p., color plates, hardcover, $25.95.