This reproductions comes from Tomb QV66 located in the Valley of the Queens, one of the largest and most lavishly decorated in ancient Egypt. It was built as the final resting place for the favourite queen of Ramesses II, Nefertari Meritenmut (“Beautiful Companion, Beloved of the Goddess Mut”), who lived around 1279-1213 BC. She held the title of “King’s Great Wife”, meaning she was favoured of Ramesses eight wives, who described her as “the one for whom the sun shines”.

Within her tomb, Nefertari is shown being welcomed by the gods of Egypt, who guide her to the afterlife by giving directions and performing ceremonies and tests from the Book of the Dead. In this scene from the northeast wall of the vestibule, Nefertari is being led by the goddess Isis towards the sun-god Khepri, who represents the rising sun.

Nefertari
“Great Wife of the King, Lady of the Two Lands, Nefertari Meritenmut, true of voice, in the presence of Osiris, the great god.”
Queen Nefertari wears a long and semi-transparent white dress typical of the elaborate fashions of the Ramesside court at the time, tied at the middle with a red sash. On top of her tripartite wig, she wears her characteristic headdress featuring a gold Nekhbet vulture holding the shen symbol in its claws representing eternity.

Goddess Isis
“Words spoken by Isis: By my hand, come, Great Wife of the King, Nefertari Meritenmut, true of voice, to a place in the sacred land.”
Nefertari is being led by the hand by the goddess Isis, who is shown wearing the sun-disk and cow horn headdress more typically associated with the goddess Hathor, which has a uraeus cobra symbolising divine authority. This is emphasised by the was-sceptre she holds in her left hand, which symbolises power and is often depicted as being carried by gods, kings, and priests.

Isis wears a tight-fitting, red dress with a lozenge pattern which is thought to represent a bead-net dress. Her arms are decorated with bracelets made of carnelian and turquoise set in gold and around her neck is a broad necklace with a counterweight that hangs down her back, known as a menat.