Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows

[Shield-of-Dardania]

I think the circumstances of Vizier Ay's ascendancy, as well as that of Commander Hor-em-heb subsequent to that, to the pharaohship of Egypt must be seen within and vis-a-vis the wider geopolitical situation of that time.

Egypt's rival the Hittite Empire under King Suppiluliuma was in fierce resurgence, Egypt's ally Mitanni was going moribund, while the Assyrians were threatening to produce another revival.

The monotheistic cult of Aten as pioneered by Tut-ankh-amen's father Akh-en-aten had taken Egypt backwards and alienated the priests, the real pillars of political power in Egypt, while he himself spent his time composing poetry, growing flowers etc. instead of ruling the land with a firm hand, leaving much of his kingly duties to Queen Nefertiti.

I tried putting myself in Vizier Ay's head for while. This is what I saw:

I've spent my whole life serving Egypt. Egypt is my life. My life is Egypt.

I've been the one calling the shots for quite some time. Tut was just a kid. I've been the one telling him what to say, what to do, since he was five years old. Now his widowed queen, my own granddaughter, wants to marry a Hittite?

What does she know? She's handing Egypt on a plate to Egypt's arch enemy? No! Over my dead body! No bloody foreigner, prince or otherwise, is going to just appear in Memphis and be Egypt's king!

If nobody else cares about Egypt anymore, I do. If I have to be pharaoh to save Egypt, then so be it.

[W.J. Cherf]

I am amazed at all the Nefertiti plots out there.