Primary sourceSculpturec. 1350-1340 BCE

Shrine Relief of Akhenaten and Nefertiti with Three Daughters

c. 1350-1340 BCE

A limestone relief from a house shrine at Amarna showing Akhenaten and Nefertiti seated with three daughters under the rays of the sun god Aten.

Nefertiti is shown seated with Akhenaten and their daughters, receiving life from the Aten, in this household shrine relief.

Ask Queen Nefereti about this source View the original

Limestone relief of Akhenaten and Nefertiti seated on cushions under the sun disk Aten, whose rays end in ankh symbols. Akhenaten, left, holds a daughter; Nefertiti, right, holds another. Carved hieroglyphs fill the upper area and sides. — Shrine relief of Akhenaten and Nefertiti with three daughters, c. 1350-1340 BCE. Neues Museum, Berlin, ÄM 14145.

About this source

What it is

This limestone relief, about 32 cm high, comes from a household shrine found at Amarna, the city built by Akhenaten. It shows Akhenaten and Nefertiti seated, each holding a daughter, beneath the rays of the Aten, which end in ankh symbols representing life. It dates to around 1350-1340 BCE and is held at the Neues Museum in Berlin.

Why it matters

Amarna-period art often broke from older traditions by showing the royal family in intimate, everyday poses, receiving life directly from the sun god. This relief reflects the religious changes led by Akhenaten and the prominent role Nefertiti played alongside him. Such shrines were likely used for private worship within homes at Amarna.

Look closer

What does the pose of the family tell you about how they wanted to be remembered?
Why do you think ordinary objects like house shrines included images of the royal family?
What is left out of this scene that might tell us more about daily life at Amarna?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Nefereti on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Queen Nefereti sources

Meet the AI Queen Nefereti →

Painted limestone bust of an Egyptian queen wearing a tall blue crown with a red and green band and a gold-colored brow band. The eyes are inlaid with dark outlines, and the bust rests on a dark base against a black background.

Sculpture

Primary source

Bust of Queen Nefertiti

Thutmose · c. 1345 BC

Black-and-white photograph of a painted bust of a woman with a tall flat-topped crown, side-facing, on a dark rectangular pedestal set on a pale plinth. The collar has striped and patterned bands.

Sculpture

Primary source

Figure of Nefertiti

Close-up detail of an Amarna limestone relief. A seated woman wearing a tall flat-topped crown is at right, with a sun disc and rays above. At left, a smaller figure with a child's head is seated near her, and carved hieroglyphs fill the background.

Sculpture

Primary source

Akhenaten and His Family

c. 1352 BC

Photo of a curved, blue glazed ceramic fragment with white body edge, covered in raised concentric ring motifs with dots. Two holes pierce the piece near its center, with a scale bar along the bottom.

Sculpture

Primary source

Relief Fragment Showing the Blue Crown of Nefertiti

Black-and-white line drawing of columns of Egyptian hieroglyphic text arranged in vertical lines, with cartouches visible, copied from a wall inscription. This is a facsimile of the Great Hymn to the Aten.

Document

Primary source

Great Hymn to the Aten

Akhenaten · c. 1350 BC

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Queen Nefereti now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for free Get a quote for institutions