Queen Tiye

Queen Tiye

1. Foreign policy

   • Foreign Rulers/Vassals
     • Evidence from Amarna letters suggests that she played an active role in diplomatic affairs
       • Foreign rulers wrote directly to her, sometimes asking her to support their requests of booty
       • Replies indicate a more significant involvement. E.g when king of Mitanni wrote to her after Amenhotep III died, he asked that Egypt's good relations with Mitanni continue.
         • His letters show his respect for Tiye and indicate the important role she had played in relations between the two kings
           • Mentioned matters having nothing to do with state issues, e.g. such as the pleasant times they'd shared together
           • King of Mitanni-speaks highly of her political influence in letter EA 26
     • The king trusted Tiye's input in state matters and she was respected by foreign rulers for her diplomatic skills
       • Her influence over domestic and foreign policy continued during the reign of her son Akhenaten.

2. Domestic Policy

   • Religion
     • In the tomb of Kheruef, servant of Queen Tiye, details Amennhotep's first and third Heb-Sed festivals
       • In these scenes there is the living king who is uniting with the gods. Tiye is shown participating in the deification rites of her husband and shares in his divinity
       • In one scene the king and queen are shown being towed by members of the court in the evening nd morning barque of Re, before being embraced by the gods.
     • Supported Akhenaten's monotheistic reforms, most likely becaue she recognized them as important political strategems to increase power to the throne
   • Rule/Administration
     • To announce the importance of the king's marriage. He ordered the first set of commemorative scarabs to be inscribed and circulated around the kingdom
       • According to Breasted this was the first time that a queen's name was inserted into the royal tituary. A practice followed by Akhenaten.
       • This is an early indication of Tiye's influence on Amenhotep as a king as no queen had ever been mentioned before
     • From the beginning of their marraige he associated her name with his own official inscription
     • In Statuary she was often depicted on an equal level with her husband
     • In the tomb of one of the king's nobles, se was depicted as a sphinx
       • Such an image was usually reserved for kings
     • She exerted an enormous influence at the courts of both her husband and son
       • Directed both domestic and foreign policies
       • Tiye worked with officials and scribes overseeing the administratve aspects of the empire
     • Known as Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt
     • Akhenaten is routinely depicted with Tiye in domestic scenes or official visits to Akhetaten
       • Akhenaten's reign suffers a marked decline after Tiye' death
   • Building Programs
     • Amenhotep comissioned a final issue of commemorative scarabs to inform his people of the construction of a pleasure lake for Queen Tiye in her city of Djarlika