Ay (pharaoh)

sharphistoryThe universe of The Egyptian, the epic novel by Mika Waltari

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Also known as: Aya (II)

Community · Ay (pharaoh)

Summary

Ay was the penultimate pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty.

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dynastic context of Ay's reign
Ay served as the penultimate pharaoh of this dynasty, representing the final stage of the Thutmosid royal line before the military takeover by Horemheb.
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successor and political rival
Horemheb was the commander-in-chief of the army under Ay and eventually succeeded him, effectively ending the 18th Dynasty and erasing much of the Amarna legacy.
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predecessor and royal ward
Ay served as a high-ranking vizier and advisor to the young pharaoh Tutankhamun before succeeding him on the throne.
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burial site of Ay
This tomb in the Western Valley of the Kings was constructed for Ay, though it was later desecrated, likely during the transition to the 19th Dynasty.
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burial site of the pharaoh Tutankhamun
Ay is famously depicted on the walls of KV62 performing the Opening of the Mouth ceremony for his predecessor, Tutankhamun, which legitimized his own succession.
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historical era of Ay's rise to power
Ay's career spanned the entirety of the Amarna Period, from the reign of Amenhotep III through the transition back to traditional Egyptian religious practices.
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monarch served by Ay
Ay held the title 'God's Father' during the reign of Akhenaten, indicating his deep integration into the royal family and the Amarna religious movement.
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Hittite king involved in the Zannanza Affair
The Hittite king Suppiluliuma I sent his son Zannanza to Egypt to marry Ankhesenamun, but the prince was killed, an event that occurred during the power vacuum Ay filled.
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widowed queen who sought Ay's support
Following the death of Tutankhamun, the widowed queen Ankhesenamun wrote to the Hittite king requesting a husband, a diplomatic crisis that Ay navigated to secure his own position.
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monument documenting the return to traditional religion
This stela, commissioned by Tutankhamun, reflects the political and religious climate of the court where Ay served as a high-ranking official before becoming pharaoh.
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influential queen and likely relative
Tiy was the Great Royal Wife of Amenhotep III and mother of Akhenaten; Ay is widely believed to have been her brother, which explains his high status in the royal court.
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key political antagonist and advisor
Ay is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative figure who navigates the power vacuums of the Amarna period, directly impacting the protagonist's life.
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queen and potential relative
Some theories suggest Ay was the father of Nefertiti, which would explain his continued influence and high status throughout the Amarna period.
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