Statuette of Tuya (Thuya)
This statuette represents Thuya, the mother of Queen Tiye, wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, often called “the Magnificent.” Although of non-royal birth, Thuya achieved high status through her marriage to Yuya, a distinguished official in the royal household.
The statuette closely resembles her gilded funerary mask, which was placed atop her coffin to depict her as a sacred embodiment of the goddess Hathor. Such imagery emphasized her sanctity and divine protection in the afterlife.
Thuya was a highly influential and noblewoman of ancient Egypt, best known as the mother of Queen Tiye, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and the grandmother of Pharaoh Akhenaten. She held prestigious titles such as “Great One of the Harem of Amun” and “Chief of the Female Physicians,” reflecting her high status and possible involvement in religious and medical affairs.
Thuya came from a powerful family and played a key role in maintaining the royal lineage and influence of her family during the 18th Dynasty. Her well-preserved mummy and richly decorated coffin, found in the Valley of the Kings, offer invaluable insights into the funerary practices, artistry, and wealth of elite Egyptian society.
