Famous Egyptian Queen Had Eye Bags

Next to Cleopatra, she is the second most famous queen of Egypt. She was greatly admired in the ancient world because of her beauty. Among her many names were Possessed of Charm, Exuding Happiness, Mistress of Sweetness, Beloved One, Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt, Great King's Wife, and Lady of the Two.

That woman was Nefertiti, the “Great Royal Wife” or “Chief Consort/Wife” of the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, the heretic king who led a religious revolution and later changed his name to Akhenaten. More than just a pretty face, Nefertiti was said to have played a prominent role in promoting this new religion.

During Akhenaten’s reign, she became co-regent or the pharaoh’s equal and was considered the most powerful woman on earth as shown in artworks in temple walls that depicted her as large as the king. Nefertiti is even shown in the conventional pose of a pharaoh smiting his or her enemy with a mace.

But the woman who influenced the standards of feminine beauty of the 20th century was not spared from the ravages of time. Egyptologists at Berlin’s Altes Museum now say the queen who was revered for her youthful beauty actually had eye bags and wrinkles!

This startling revelation comes from experts at the Egyptian museum that houses the 3,300-year-old bust of Nefertiti. The painted limestone bust or Berlin bust is the work of the pharaoh’s official sculptor Thutmose and was found in his workshop in 1912. Many regard it as one of the greatest works of art since it shows Nefertiti in all her glory.

“This bust depicts (Nefertiti) with full lips enhanced by a bold red. Although the crystal inlay is missing from her left eye, both eyelids and brows are outlined in black. Her graceful elongated neck balances the tall, flat-top crown which adorns her sleek head. The vibrant colors of her necklace and crown contrast the yellow-brown of her smooth skin. While everything is sculpted to perfection, the one flaw of the piece is a broken left ear. Because this remarkable sculpture is still in existence, it is no wonder why Nefertiti remains 'The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,’” said Egyptologist Jimmy Dunn.

However, with the discovery of traces of eye bags and wrinkles in her bust, experts say Nefertiti may have been an aging beauty. These findings emerged when a different light was used on Nefertiti’s bust that showed her “imperfections” that the late sculptor had captured in limestone. A CT scan confirmed their findings.

“Now she is even more fascinating. (This finding) destroys the myth of Nefertiti as the icon of youthful beauty and reveals a new, fascinating woman in her mature beauty," said Egyptologist Francesco Tiradritti.

Luckily for Nefertiti, she carried her eye bags well. But for many people, eye bags are a nuisance since they make you look old, tired, sad or sleepy. The worst part is that they can affect anyone – both young and old alike. To prevent eye bags, get enough sleep, don’t smoke, avoid sun exposure, drink enough water, and use a good moisturizer. If you already have them, consider using Eyevive, a safe and effective way to eliminate eye bags, dark circles, puffiness, and other signs of aging. Check out http://www.eyevive.com for more information.