Ay

Short Biography, Information & Facts about Ay, the famous pharaoh and king of Egypt

Biography, Facts and information about the life of a Pharaoh
The term pharaoh was the title of an ancient Egyptian king who was considered to be a living god and worshipped as a deity. The pharaoh was an absolute ruler of Egypt, both the political and religious leader.

Short Biography of the life of Ay
The history, facts and information about Ay, a famous pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.

The following biography information provides basic facts about the life Ay:

Ay was also known by the royal name of Kheperkheperure meaning "Everlasting are the Manifestations of Re"
Name is also spelt as Aye
Egyptian Period / Kingdom: New Kingdom
Dynasty: Ay ruled in the Eighteenth Egyptian Dynasty
Name of Previous Pharaoh: Tutankhamun 1334 BC -1325 BC
Years of Reign: 1325 BC -1321 BC
Succeeded by: Horemheb 1321 BC -1292 BC

Family

Father of Ay: His father and mother are unknown
Children of Ay: He was the father of Nefertiti who married Akhenaten, the heretic Pharaoh and the father of Mutnedjmet who became the second wife of the Pharaoh Horemheb. He was also believed to be the father of a son called Nakhtmin who he designated as heir to the throne
Wives: Tey and Ankhesenpaaten (aka Ankhesanamum and Ankhesenamen)
- Ankhesenpaaten was previously the wife of Tutankhamun. She was also the daughter Nefertiti and therefore the granddaughter of Ay
General of the Armies: Horemheb led the battles against the Hittites

Year of Death: 1321 BC

Location of the Burial Site of Ay: Valley of the Kings

Tomb reference number: KV23

Name of Egyptologist who discovered the burial site, or tomb, of Ay: Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778 - 1823)

Why Ay was famous: As a chief suspect in the mystery surrounding the death of Tutankhamun

Biography and accomplishments: He rose to prominence as Master of Horses during the reign of Akhenaten, then served as Grand Vizier to Tutankhamun, holding enormous power over the boy-king. When Tutankhamen died Ay, who was in his late sixties, married his widow, Ankhesenpaaten (aka Ankhesanamum and Ankhesenamen) against her wishes and took the opportunity to seize the throne from General Horemheb who was recognised as the heir to Tutankhamun. Ay continued the ideals and religion initiated by Akhenaten which had radically changed Ancient Egypt from a polytheistic religion, with many gods, to monotheism (the worship of one god). There was considerable opposition against the new religion and compromises had been made to re-establish some of the gods of the old religion and maintain order. Temples to the old gods were reopened, their worship was allowed and the roles of some of the priests of Amun were restored. But the god Aten remained as the supreme god, allowing continued worship of the Aten. During his reign Ay began construction of one of the largest tombs at El-Amarna which contained a version of the Hymn to the Aten

After a brief rule of just 4 years Ay died. General Horemheb became Pharaoh. Horemheb had the names of Ay, Akhenaten, Nefertiti and to a lesser extent Tutankhamun publically condemned and removed from Ancient Egyptian records and history. Their names were struck from royal lists and their tombs and monuments were usurped. The tomb of Ay, his sarcophagus and paintings were all violently desecrated indicating the hatred that Horemheb felt towards Ay

Ay
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