# Tey

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Egyptian queen and Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Kheperkheprure Ay

This article is about Tey, the Egyptian queen. For other uses, see [Tey (disambiguation)](/source/Tey_(disambiguation)).

Tey Great Royal Wife Eighteenth dynasty queen Queen Tey as depicted at the chapel at Akhmim (from Lepsius, Denkmäler) Spouse Ay Egyptian name Dynasty 18th Dynasty Religion Ancient Egyptian religion

**Tey** was the Great Royal Wife of [Kheperkheprure Ay](/source/Ay_(pharaoh)), who was the penultimate [pharaoh](/source/Pharaoh) of Ancient [Egypt](/source/Egypt)'s [Eighteenth Dynasty](/source/Eighteenth_Dynasty_of_Egypt). She also had been the [wet nurse](/source/Wet_nurse) of [Nefertiti](/source/Nefertiti).[1]

Her husband, Ay filled important administrative roles in the courts of several pharaohs – [Amenhotep III](/source/Amenhotep_III), [Akhenaten](/source/Akhenaten), and [Tutankhamen](/source/Tutankhamen) – before ascending the throne following the death of Tutankhamen, as the male line of the royal family became extinct. He is believed to be connected to the royal family, probably a brother of Queen [Tiye](/source/Tiye) (wife of Amenhotep III). Some researchers theorize that he even may have been the father of Nefertiti.

## Family

Reproduction of a Portrait of Tey, on display at [Musée d'Art et d'Histoire of Geneva](/source/Mus%C3%A9e_d'Art_et_d'Histoire_(Geneva)). Detail of a statue of the royal couple of king Ay and Queen Tey, the fragment depicting Tey being a reproduction of a piece now located at the Hermitage in Saint-Petersburg (inv 18477).

Tey was Ay's wife. In inscriptions at [Amarna](/source/Amarna), Tey is called "Nurse of the Great Royal Wife." It has been theorized that this title meant she was stepmother to Nefertiti as Ay's second wife.[2] Ay and Tey are never explicitly called Nefertiti's father or mother. Thus, if Tey was Ay's only wife, neither were parent to Nefertiti.[3] However, if they are the parents of Nefertiti, [Mutbenret](/source/Mutbenret) was most likely Ay and Tey's daughter. Further, [Nakhtmin](/source/Nakhtmin), Ay's intended successor, might be their son.[4]

Additionally, Tey may have had a sister named Mutemnub and brother-in-law named Nakhtmin. On a statue currently in the [Brooklyn Museum](/source/Brooklyn_Museum), a dignitary named Ay is called [Second Prophet of Amun](/source/Second_Prophet_of_Amun), high priest of [Mut](/source/Mut), and Steward of Queen Tey. His parents are recorded as Nahtmin and Mutemnub, sister of Queen Tey. The inscription is usually interpreted to mean that she was this Tey's sister.[5]

Ay and Tey are depicted in Amarna tomb 25 as receiving gifts from Akhenaten and Nefertiti (from Lepsius, *Denkmäler*)

Ay and Tey as depicted in WV23 (from Lepsius, *Denkhmäler*)

## Amarna

Tey is depicted in her husband's unused Amarna tomb,[1] prepared while he was an administrator to [Akhenaten](/source/Akhenaten). Her prominence in the decoration is exceptional, but her positions as nurse and tutor of the Great Wife (Nefertiti), and [King's Royal Ornament](/source/Khekeret-nisut) fully justify it.[6] A reward scene is depicted on the North Wall, East Side. Aye and Tey are shown before the window of appearances. Akhenaten is shown in a [Khepresh](/source/Khepresh) crown and Nefertiti in her well-known blue crown (in this case decorated with three uraei). [Meritaten](/source/Meritaten), [Meketaten](/source/Meketaten), and [Ankhesenpaaten](/source/Ankhesenpaaten) are shown in the window of appearances as well. The elder two daughters seem to be throwing rewards to Aye and Tey, while Ankhesenpaaten stands on the pillow before [Nefertiti](/source/Nefertiti) and is caressing her chin.[7]

## Great Royal Wife

When [Ay](/source/Ay_(pharaoh)) assumed the throne after the death of Tutankhamen, Tey became his [Great Royal Wife](/source/Great_Royal_Wife) and then held the titles Hereditary Princess (*iryt-p`t*), Great of Praises (*wrt-hzwt*), Lady of The Two Lands (*nbt-t3wy*), Great King’s Wife, his beloved (*hmt-niswt-wrt meryt.f*), and Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt (*hnwt-Shm’w T3-mhw*).[8]

Queen Tey is depicted in the [tomb WV23](/source/WV23) in the [Valley of the Kings](/source/Valley_of_the_Kings), used for [Ay](/source/Ay_(pharaoh)) after he had become king. She appears behind Ay in a scene where Ay appears to be pulling lotus flowers from a marsh. The images are rather severely damaged.

Tey may have been buried with her husband in WV23. Fragments of female human bones found in the tomb may be Tey's.[9]

Tey is also depicted in a rock chapel dedicated to fertility god [Min](/source/Min_(god)) in [Akhmim](/source/Akhmim).[1]

Tey also is mentioned on a wooden box inscribed for "The true scribe of the king whom he loves, troop commander, overseer of cavalry, and Father of the God, Ay." The text mentions: "The much-valued one, the sole one (unique) of Re, appreciated by the Great Royal Wife, the mistress of the house, Tey."[10]

A colossal statue at Akhmim was likely carved in Tey's likeness, but was later reinscribed for [Meritamen](/source/Meritamen), a daughter-wife of [Ramesses II](/source/Ramesses_II).[11]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-D157_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-D157_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-D157_1-2) Dodson, Aidan; Hilton, Dyan (2004). *The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt*. London: Thames & Hudson. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-500-05128-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-500-05128-3)., p.157

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dodson & Hilton, pp.36,147

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Jacobus Van Dijk, [Horemheb and the Struggle for the Throne of Tutankhamun](http://www.jacobusvandijk.nl/docs/BACE_7.pdf), *BACE* 7 (1996), p.32

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Dodson & Hilton, pp.151-153

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Dodson & Hilton, p.155

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** de Garis Davies, N. (1908). *The Rock Tombs of El Amarna Volume VI: The Tombs of Parennefer, Tutu, and Ay* (2004 Reprint ed.). Egypt Exploration Society. p. 21. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85698-161-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85698-161-3). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Norman De Garis Davies](/source/N._de_Garis_Davies), *The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Parts V and VI: Part 5 Smaller tombs and boundary stelae & Part 6 Tombs of Parennefer, Tutu and Ay*, Egypt Exploration Society (2004)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Grajetzki, *Ancient Egyptian Queens: a hieroglyphic dictionary*, Golden House Publications. p.63-64

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** J. Tyldesley, *Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt*, 2006, Thames & Hudson

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Roeder, G.: *Aegyptische Inschriften aus den Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin*. - Bd.II - Leipzig: 1924. - p.267-268

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Dodson, Aiden (2009). *Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation*. The American University in Cairo Press. p. 103. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-61797-050-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-61797-050-4).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Tey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tey).

v t e Queens of ancient Egypt Protodynastic Period to First Intermediate Period (<3150–2040 BC) Period Dynasty Pharaoh uncertain Early Dynastic (3150–2686 BC) I Neithhotep Benerib Khenthap Herneith Nakhtneith Penebui Merneith Seshemetka Semat Serethor Betrest II Menka Nimaathap Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BC) III Hetephernebti Djeseretnebti Djefatnebti Meresankh I IV Hetepheres I Meritites I Henutsen Khentetka Meresankh II Hetepheres II Meresankh III Khamerernebty I Persenet Hekenuhedjet Khamerernebty II Rekhetre Bunefer V Khentkaus I Neferhetepes Meretnebty Khentkaus II Khentkaus III Reptynub Khuit I Nebunebty Meresankh IV Setibhor Nebet Khenut Nimaathap II VI Iput I Khuit II Ankhesenpepi I Ankhesenpepi II Nubwenet Meritites IV Inenek-Inti Nedjeftet Neith Iput II Udjebten Ankhesenpepi III Ankhesenpepi IV Nitocris Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period (2040–1550 BC) Period Dynasty Pharaoh uncertain Middle Kingdom (2040–1802 BC) XI Neferu I Neferukayet Iah Tem Neferu II Ashayet Henhenet Sadeh Kawit Kemsit XII Neferitatjenen Neferu III Keminub Senet Khenemetneferhedjet I Nofret II Khenmet Khenemetneferhedjet II Neferthenut Meretseger Aat Khenemetneferhedjet III Sobekneferu 2nd Intermediate (1802–1550 BC) XIII Nofret Nubhetepti Senebhenas Neni Senebsen Tjan Ineni Nubkhaes Aya Abetni Satsobek Ameny XIV Tati XVI Mentuhotep XVII Nubemhat Sobekemsaf Haankhes Tetisheri Ahhotep I Ahmose Inhapy Sitdjehuti Ahhotep II New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (1550–664 BC) Period Dynasty Pharaoh uncertain New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC) XVIII Ahmose-Nefertari Ahmose-Sitkamose Ahmose-Henuttamehu Ahmose-Meritamun Ahmose Mutnofret Hatshepsut Iset Satiah Merytre-Hatshepsut Nebtu Menhet, Menwi and Merti Nebsemi Tiaa Nefertari Iaret Mutemwiya Tiye Gilukhipa Sitamun Iset Tadukhipa / Kiya Nefertiti Meritaten Neferneferuaten Ankhesenamun Tey Mutnedjmet Nebetnehat XIX Sitre Tuya Tanedjemet Nefertari Isetnofret Henutmire Maathorneferure Meritamen Bintanath Nebettawy Merytre Isetnofret II Takhat Tausret Tiaa Anuketemheb XX Tiy-Merenese Iset Ta-Hemdjert Tyti Tiye Duatentopet Henutwati Tawerettenru Nubkhesbed Baketwernel Tentamun 3rd Intermediate (1069–664 BC) XXI Tentamun Mutnedjmet Karimala XXII Karomama Penreshnes Maatkare Tashedkhonsu Nesitaudjatakhet Nesitanebetashru Kapes Karomama I Tadibast III XXIII Karomama II XXV Pebatjma Tabiry Abar Khensa Peksater Arty Qalhata Tabekenamun Takahatenamun Naparaye Atakhebasken Malaqaye Late Period and Hellenistic Period (664–30 BC) Period Dynasty Pharaoh uncertain Late (664–332 BC) XXVI Mehytenweskhet Khedebneithirbinet I Takhuit Tentkheta Nakhtubasterau Ladice XXVII Atossa Artystone Parmys Amestris Damaspia Parysatis XXXI Stateira I Hellenistic (332–30 BC) Argead Roxana Stateira II Parysatis II Eurydice II of Macedon Ptolemaic Eurydice Berenice I Arsinoe I Arsinoe II Berenice II Arsinoe III Cleopatra I Syra Cleopatra II Cleopatra III Cleopatra IV Cleopatra Selene Berenice III Cleopatra V Cleopatra VI Berenice IV Cleopatra VII Arsinoe IV Dynastic genealogies 1st 4th 5th 6th 11th 12th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st, 22nd and 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 30th 31st Argead Ptolemaic

v t e Amarna Period Pharaohs Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten Tutankhamun Ay Royal family Tiye Nefertiti Kiya "The Younger Lady" Tey Children Meritaten Meketaten Ankhesenamun Neferneferuaten Tasherit Neferneferure Setepenre Meritaten Tasherit Ankhesenpaaten Tasherit Nobles Officials Aperel Bek Huya Ipy Mahu Maia May Meryneith Meryre Meryre II Mutbenret Nakhtpaaten Neferkheperuhersekheper Paatenemheb Panehesy Parennefer Penthu Ramose Thutmose Locations Akhetaten Karnak KV55 KV62 Amarna Tombs Other Amarna letters Amarna succession Aten Atenism Dakhamunzu Amarna Art Style

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.