Thuya of Ancient Egypt

Thuya, also spelled as Touiyou, Thuiu, Tuya, Tjuyu, or Thuyu, was an influential figure in ancient Egypt, particularly during the New Kingdom era. Thuya is best known for being notable as the mother of Queen Tiye, wife of Yuya, grandmother to Akhenaten, and great-grandmother to Tutankhamun. She lived during the Eighteenth Dynasty and held significant religious and administrative roles.

Statue of Thuya

Biography

Thuya is believed to be a descendant of Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, a pivotal figure in early Eighteenth Dynasty history. She occupied prominent positions intertwining religion and governance, with titles such as “Singer of Hathor” and “Chief of the Entertainers” for both Amun and Min. Additionally, she served as the Superintendent of the Harem for these deities. These roles highlight her influence in religious cults and royal rituals.

Thuya married Yuya, a powerful courtier. Together, they established a family that deeply influenced Egypt’s religious and political spheres. Thuya likely died around 1375 BCE, aged 50 to 60, based on modern analyses of her remains.

Children

Anen, an Eighteenth Dynasty noble and priest, served as an administrator primarily during the reign of his brother-in-law, Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Image: Statue of Anen, second priest of Amon; at the Museo Egizio, Turin

Thuya and Yuya had two confirmed children:

Tiye: Their daughter rose to prominence as the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. In this role, Tiye became a central figure in both state and religious affairs, often depicted alongside the pharaoh in official ceremonies.
Anen: Their son held numerous titles, including Chancellor of Lower Egypt, Second Prophet of Amun, and sm-priest of Heliopolis.

Speculation exists that Ay, who later became pharaoh after Tutankhamun’s death, might also have been their son. While evidence is inconclusive, both Ay and Yuya hailed from Akhmim, suggesting a possible familial connection.

Bust of Tiye, now in the Ägyptisches Museum in Berlin, Germany

Tomb and Burial

Thuya and Yuya were buried in Tomb KV46 in the Valley of the Kings. Discovered in 1905 by British archaeologist James Quibell under the patronage of American millionaire Theodore M. Davis, it was one of the most well-preserved tombs before the discovery of Tutankhamun’s burial. Although looted in antiquity, the tomb still contained many treasures, including furniture, chariots, and the gilded sarcophagi and coffins of its occupants.

Thuya’s sarcophagus, adorned in black and gold, featured a rectangular design with a lid shaped like the per-wer shrine of Upper Egypt. Tomb robbers had partially dismantled it, displacing its components to access her remains. Despite this, her innermost coffin and mummy were found relatively intact, offering significant insights into ancient Egyptian funerary practices.

Mummification and Physical Characteristics

Mummy of Thuya

Thuya’s mummy was covered with linen, secured by resin-coated bandages, and adorned with gilded titles. Her body underwent detailed mummification, including resin-soaked linen fillings, stitched embalming incisions, and restorative techniques such as subcutaneous facial padding. These efforts preserved her lifelike appearance.

Her mummy, examined by anatomist Grafton Elliot Smith, revealed an elderly woman standing 1.495 meters (4.90 feet) tall, with white hair and dual-pierced earlobes. Her arms rested alongside her body, with hands positioned near her thighs. She wore gold foil sandals, indicative of her noble status. While her embalming was thorough, her teeth were in poor condition, marked by abscesses and missing molars.

CT scans have confirmed that she suffered from mild scoliosis and other age-related conditions. However, the exact cause of her death remains unknown. Modern imaging has highlighted her meticulous mummification, such as linen-stuffed nostrils, embalming material in the mouth, and carefully packed eye sockets.

Legacy

Gilded cartonnage mask of Thuya in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Thuya’s lineage played a pivotal role in ancient Egyptian history. Her daughter Tiye, as queen, significantly influenced Egypt’s political and religious landscape, while her descendants, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun, shaped a period of profound cultural and religious transformation. Thuya’s tomb, with its preserved artifacts and her remarkably intact mummy, continues to provide valuable insights into the art, culture, and funerary practices of the Eighteenth Dynasty.