Thuya, a key figure in Egypt's 18th Dynasty, was the mother of Queen Tiye and the grandmother of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun.

She played a pivotal role in both the political and religious life of ancient Egypt, holding influential positions such as "Singer of Hathor" and Superintendent of royal harems.

Her status allowed her to influence the spiritual and cultural traditions of the time, making her one of the most powerful women in the dynasty.

Married to Yuya, a high-ranking official, Thuya's lineage extended to other prominent figures, including possibly Pharaoh Ay.

Her tomb, KV46, is a testament to her legacy, filled with luxurious artifacts like gilded items, finely crafted jewelry, and evidence of advanced mummification techniques.

Among the most striking finds were her golden sandals, highlighting her high status and the respect she commanded during her lifetime.

While the cause of Thuya's death remains unknown, her remarkable tomb and preserved body offer valuable insights into her life.

A ring, called the “Newberry Ring”, which is one of the only pieces of evidence confirming a marriage between Tutankhamun’s widow, Ankhesenamun, and his successor, Ay. It is inscribed with cartouches containing both their names.

It was not a marriage that Ankhesenamun wanted, in fact there is evidence to indicate she was deeply concerned with what would happen to her if she married him. The King of the Hittites received a letter than the majority of scholars agree came from Ankhesenamun saying:

“My husband has died and I have no son. They say about you that you have many sons. You might give me one of your sons to become my husband. I would not wish to take one of my subjects as a husband… I am afraid.“

The Hittite people and the Egyptians were enemies, and this letter surprised the King, Suppiluliuma I , who said:

“Nothing like this has happened to me in my entire life!”

Despite his skepticism, he sent one of his sons to Egypt, but the prince was murdered en-route. Ay had been pressuring Ankhesenamun to marry him in order to help legitimize his claim to the throne, and with the prince’s death she had little choice. Ay was decades older than her and it’s thought by some scholars that he may have been her grandfather.

Shortly after the marriage, Ankhesenamun disappears from the historical record. None of Ay’s monuments show her as consort, and it is his other wife, Tey, who is depicted with him in his tomb. No burial for Ankhesenamun, or her tomb, has ever been found and no one knows precisely how she died.