Nefertiti: Facial Reconstructions & History Documentary

Nefertiti has one of the most famous faces of the ancient world. Her bust has fascinated millions and inspired a love of Egyptology and Egyptian history in many. What did Nefertiti do? What is her legacy? Do we have her mummy? Is the Berlin bust fake? Finally, what did she really look like? We will take a look at some facial reconstructions together.

Narration & Art: Becca Segovia
Writing, Editing & Music Direction: Andre Segovia

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Research Credit: Anna May Writing
Editing Credit: Jordan Segovia

0:00 Introduction
0:45 Nefertiti's Life and History
4:27 Nefertiti's Mummy?
5:03 Nefertiti's Ethnicity
6:07 Statues and Depictions of Nefertiti
8:28 The Berlin Bust
8:58 Is the Berlin Bust Authentic?
10:38 Statue Reconstructions
11:48 Closing

This video creation and final image are ©Royalty Now.

Research Sources:
J. Williamson, ‘Alone before the God: Gender, Status, and Nefertiti’s Image’, Journal of the
American Research Center in Egypt, 51 (2015), 179-192.
E. L. Ertman, ‘Nefertiti’s Eyes’, Archaeology, 61, 2 (2008), 28-32.
J. Sampson, ‘Nefertiti’s Regality’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 63 (1977), 88-97.
L. Taronas, ‘Nefertiti: Egyptian Wife, Mother, Queen and Icon’, American Research Center in
Egypt. Available online:
K. Cooney, When women ruled the world: six Queens of Egypt’, (National Geographic Society’
Washington, 2018).
J. A. Tyldesley, Nefertiti: Egypt’s Sun Queen, (New York; Viking, 1999).
‘Hidden face in Nefertiti bust examined with CT scan’, ScienceDaily, 2009.
‘Your guide to Egypt’s sun queen, Nefertiti’, History Extra, (2021). Available online:
er-wife-akhenaten-key-questions-facts-bust-guide-reign/

[kurochan]

There's always the temptation to skip to the end bc i know it's gonna be good- but all the careful history storytelling is really what MAKES the reveal so much more. Another really cool portrait.

[jeanproctor]

She was a beautiful woman when you see the Berlin Bust (whether or not it's fake) but your modern recreation of what she may look like if she was alive now is truly stunning.

[WendiintoancientHistory]

She is absolutely stunning. About 10 years ago at a discounted retail store, I noticed a white ceramic discarded bust that I knew immediately was that of Nefertiti. I took it home and painted it based on the real one in Berlin. I attached an Egyptian necklace I had and not to toot my own horn here, it looks stunning to this day. Seeing what she would have looked like in real life is breathtaking. ❤

[diego_fe]

If she indeed look anything like the sculptures of her you can see why they say she was the most beautiful woman in Egypt, your recreations only solidify that fact.

[amechealle]

I love how you really research your subject. My Grandfather wore many hats, he was a geologist, paleontologist, archeologist, genealogist, architect and held two other engineering degrees. He loved to study everything but his passion was researching the past, even when he was older and couldn’t travel he read all the papers and would explain what he was reading to me. We would have loved your videos. He used to say that the stylizations of the times was sometimes frustrating because they did not depict the true person as they were, but as a representation of style fads of the time. Thank you for having this channel.

[hiedao.]

No queen in Egypt had a name like " the beautiful one has come forth", that is not coincidence She was indeed gorgeous.

[donnamarsh]

I visited Egypt in 2021 and went to the Temple of Nefertiti. Simply amazing how many depictions there are of her. Your history was on point. The recreations are stunning.

[richardtofts]

Love that you've remained true to the Berlin bust. The quality is so high that there's no reason to think it might not be accurate. Others have deviated too far.
She really was perfection 😊

[Sleuth_Squad]

On my first trip to egypt I assumed cleopatra was beautiful and several egyptologists told me she was not considered beautiful, but charasmatic and extremely clever. They all told me Nerfertiti was the epitomy of beauty for many egyptians. I was so excited when i saw art depicting her at the national museum because it was obvious she was absolutely stunning by any standard. Iknew my history from books but my visual references were mostly from movies. I learned my lesson.

What a wonderful channel this is. You really bring the characters from the past to life for us in a new way. Thank you!

[brunacirelli]

This for me is one of THE most beautiful of your recreations! Also the most realistic looking. It is stunning and I love to think she looked just like that. Fantastic work as always.

[EmadDesign]

Thank you for the video, as an Egyptian I can see that the first face recreation is more accurate and I was surprised as I found it so familiar to me as we have an Egyptian actress looks typically like it
, her name is Tayseer Fahmy, we also have another supper star called Sawsan Badr she looks typically like the statue 😍

[crisgrant]

I have been following your recreations for a while now. This Nefertiti smiling is defninately one of the most controversial and real versions so far. I see you got her ears right too which is what makes it the most real version of an ancient Egyptian too. I can allso see why people think she was Syrian or Persian - given the similarities with people from there - even today. But i also wanted to thank you for the well research history lessons while creating the best likeness you can based on all the information available. Keep up the great work! Regards, an old guy from Australia.

[mimi_j]

I was always obsessed with her and always wanted to see what she could’ve looked like. It’s amazing to think how people would’ve looked in the ancient times

[YourExcellency]

Amazing. Loved the blue earrings on the first recreation shown. I remember learning that they would never be seen without each other in public. They would always be together to symbolize divine completion. Their existence together was needed for the world to exist. That is beyond powerful and beautiful when you think about it. Especially how it must have looked to the people 3, 000 years ago.

[ellentorres]

Stunning, I love how you gave her a more Egyptian look and Egyptian coloring!!!

[lindaclark]

Brilliantly done. Very informative and enjoyable. Thank you.

[cherylcouch-thomas]

I first saw the bust of Nefertiti in the mid-1960's. My Dad was stationed in West Germany, for a vacation we traveled to Berlin and East Berlin. I was enthralled with it as a little girl and I still am enthralled with its beauty.

[carolweaver]

The recreation looks absolutely accurate. Wish the bump on her nose was left as it would have helped to probably see more of what she was like, but this really did bring her to life! She was very lovely!
You have done the most perfect recreation that I feel anyone could ever do1 It was like actually seeing her in person and finding her to be so very receptive with the smile, as well. Thank you! Am so glad it is on YouTube and so many will get this opportunity to really see it as would have looked in real life!.

[michaelpinreno]

I am totally enraptured by Egyptian history and art and have been for most of my life. Thank you for these renderings, they are exquisite.

[dianadeedy]

Your recreations are the best that I have seen! Thank you!