The Sins and Glories of the Pharaoh Ay

Pharaoh Ay is known in popular books as the person who may have murdered Tutankhamun. Usually, he is described as a pharaoh-monster of the 18th dynasty. However, the real history is very different. Ay appears in it as one of the most important men of his times.

When Tutankhamun died, Ay was about 70 years old, or possibly even older. He had a lot of experience as an advisor of the pharaohs and he was a leader. The reign of Ay started unofficially during the lifetime of Tutankhamun, but his first journey to the throne started when he became vizier of Akhenaten. He was the best prepared to rule Egypt at the time and perhaps related to the royal family.

Ay’s Family

Ay is believed to have been a native Egyptian who was born in Akhim as a son of Yuya and Tuya. Yuya served as a member of the priesthood of Min in Akhim. His name was not a common one in Egypt, which may suggest that he could have come from Syria, but this is uncertain. With his wife Tuya (Tjuyu), he also had a daughter – the future Queen Tiye, mother of Akhenaten. Yuya became a very influential person in the royal court of Amenhotep III, but also his ancestor Thutmose IV. Yuya was such an important person, that he received the rare privilege of having a tomb in a Royal Valley of the Kings.

According to an inscription in the Theban Tomb of Ay (WV23) he was also the father of the famous Queen Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet, the future wife of pharaoh Horemheb. The family of Ay were the main characters of the Amarna Period and the last decades of the 18th dynasty. Ay ruled Egypt 1325 and 1321 BC. He had two main wives, Iuy and Tey.