Thursday, February 20, 2014

Smile & Sensuality


Kellita Smith in white gown with butterfly 

Mereana Taki in red teddy on light blue sheets.




Reclaim our story



Not even one of the most beautiful women of the 20th century, Elizabeth Taylor, could capture to represent the deep allure and the powerful beauty of Egyptian women before the mixing of the white tribes near the end of the last of Egypt's 3,000 year reign. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 11.17.13



LOVERS in ancient EGYPT


If we mention the famous women of Egypt, including Hatshepsut and Cleopatra along with them we would have to name Nefertari, if for no other reason then her well known tomb. We know a great deal about Queens Hatchepsut and Cleopatra, but of course they were pharaohs.


It is very possible that Nefertari grew up as the daughter of a nobleman in Thebes. One of Nefertari's names was Mery-en-Mut, which means, "Beloved of Mut". As the wife of Amun, Mut was part of the Theban triad. It is interesting to note that post references to Nefertari come from Upper (southern) Egypt, while most of the other principal queen, Istnofret, are found in Lower, or northern Egypt. Furthermore, Ramesses II probably had a better power structure in northern Egypt, and it is thought that he may have married a Theban to enhance his position in the South. The two queens, Nefertari and Istnofret, could have possibly even had a division of duties geographically. However, it is has also been suggested that Nefertari could have been a daughter of Seti I, making her a half sister of Ramesses II.


Nefertari was most likely Ramesses II's first wife when the prince was only 15. She provided him with his first male heir, Amun-her-khepseshef (Amun Is with His Strong Arm), even prior to his ascending the throne of Egypt In addition, Ramesses II also fathered at least 3 more sons and 2 daughters by Nefertari. In fact, her oldest daughter, Meryetamun probably later also married Ramesses II, possibly after the death of her mother, apparently when Nefertari was in her early 40's.

She was probably Ramesses II's chief queen, at least up until her death in about year 24 of Ramesses II's reign. From her tomb, we know a number of her other names and titles. They included "Hereditary Noblewoman; Great of Favors; Possessor of Charm, Sweetness and Love; Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt; the Osiris; The King's Great Wife; Mistress of the Two Lands, Nefertari, Beloved of Mut, Revered Before Osiris".


Surely Ramesses II loved Nefertari. Few queens were built anything near as grand a shrine as her temple dedicated to Hathor at Abu Simbel, near the somewhat larger temple of her husband. Her tomb in the Valley of the Queens on the West Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes) is today, one of the most fabulously decorated tombs at Luxor or anywhere else in Egypt. If one had only time enough to visit one tomb on the West Bank, it should be this one. Ramesses II, who said of Nefertari, "the one for whom the sun shines", even wrote of his weakness for the queen: "My love is unique - no one can rival her, for she is the most beautiful woman alive. Just by passing, she has stolen away my heart." by Sanio  





SHE IS

She Beauty


composer & reality star Kandi Burruss laughing in the moment wearing a provocative black dress. 



"Some types of beauty need only appreciation. Others need to be discussed, others talked about. One type of beauty is different from another, and a few types hold one in awe, and still fewer take your breath. Less in count is the beauty of soul that opens the possibility of access to divinity to the mind, and to the senses divinity is all too real. All kinds of beauty in the world. How it is perceived is by your perception." - Gregory E. Woods 12.29.13


Nia Long in black hat 


Padma Lakshmi 



Colombian woman in the country side.
February 14 , 2014


DREAMS are glory

a Dream of...
DARK SKINNED WOMEN

"There is dreams & there is glory, and dreams of glory within us all, but embedded within us is the certainty of the present moment's breath, its beauty, its motion and its significance. It lives in us all. Clothed in the expression of who we are and how wonderful we feel is the depth of fashion. How it makes others feel is the effect of fashion, and how it expresses the times we live in is the prophecy, the statement of a moment in history." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 3.18.13


elegant Kina Kai