There are women in history I absolutely adore. They are who inspire me, who I admire, for one simple reason.

They succeeded, and did oh so well, in a world made for men.

Now, this is the simple reason. These women left their mark in the annals of history, all in a world where they were meant to be subservient to the 'better sex'.

They did so with their vibrant personalities, their bold actions, their delicate understanding of matters of state, and their forceful will.

An ideal woman was a mix of 'chastity, generosity, intelligence, and cunning'.

She was a loving wife and caring mother, a paragon of virtue, kind and merciful.

Any who crossed these lines in sand were immediately ostracized. Her name was bad-mouthed, her achievements erased, she was called all sorts of names, was credited for the destruction of empires.

But these women were never that. They were successful, influential individuals resented for their subversion of societal expectations.

And these women left their mark in history, never to slip from mind.

Nefertari was a queen of the kingdom of ancient Egypt. As the Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II, she exercised considerable influence over Egypt's affairs. The most prominent of Ramesses' Great Royal Wives, not to mention his favorite besides, Nefertari was the holder of many titles that showcased her prestige at the court of the Pharoah.

She was his 'great wife', 'his beloved', and the 'one for whom the sun shines'.

It is a sad truth that women in history first often rise to prominence due to personal relationships with powerful men. However, the ones who we remember are remembered for their own accomplishments, and not completely because of their personal relationships.

Nefertari was highly valued by Ramesses and his ministers. She was mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt, of the Two Lands. She is known to have corresponded with the kingdom Mittani, and her prominence in Ramesses' temples is a clear sign of how important she was to maintaining stability in the kingdom.

In truth, we do not truly know much of Nefertari in life. What we know of her, we know in death. What we know was what her husband wished to show the world.

And what a woman she must have been, for her husband made clear to all how beloved and prodigious she had been.

He built her temples, he engraved her name and statues, and most of all-he built for her a mangnificent tomb-the standard for queenly tombs for centuries to come.

One of her titles implied she came from noble blood, and it is often thought that she was a relative of Pharoah Ay, of the controversial and much-celebrated Eighteenth Dynasty. Pharoah Ay is also thought to have been the father of Nefertiti, Great Royal Wife of Akhenaten.

Whatever her stock, it is clear Nefertari was a woman with a quick mind and brave heart. She could read and write hieroglyphs, which, at the time, was an extremely rare skill to possess.

Not only that, but her skill was such that she featured in official correspondence between Egypt and the Hittite Kingdom.

There is also evidence that shows Nefertari accompanied her spouse on his military campaigns. In a world where women were meant to stay behind, she broke the mould.

Nefertari was also mother to at least six of Ramesses' children. Four sons, and two daughters, all of whom achieved distinction during their father's reign.

None of her sons lived long enought to suceed Ramesses, but while they lived, it is clear they were his favored heirs. As their mother, Nefertari was honored by the title 'mother of the king'. Sadly, she never lived to see her sons rule, and nor did they outlive their father.

Her daughters were priestesses, having considerable influence as the daughters of Ramesses and servants of the gods. One of her sons (Meryre) was the High Priest of Amun, the most prestigious position in the religion hierarchy.

The love and devotion she must have inspired in others must have been immense, for great care was taken when preparing her resting place.

Her immaculately painted tomb (Cave 66 in the Valley of the Queens) was the first of its kind, and set the standard for tombs of future Queens.

Nefertari is unique in Egyptian history-for as Queen, she was treated as equal to her kingly consort. One must remember that for ancient Egyptians, the Pharoah was the god on Earth, the living incarnation of Horus. His right to rule was divinely bestowed. No one ranked higher than him in the whole world.

His statues stood the largest, his temples the richest, his murals the most vibrant.

And yet, while she lived, Nefertari stood just as tall. At Abu Simbel, there are two statues of Nefertari and Ramesses adorning the front of the temple.

They are both equal in height.

Nefertari is remembered for her political acumen, her skill at languages, her brilliance as one of the greatest Queens Egypt has even known.

And she will continue to be remembered so, for what she achieved millenia ago is astonishing, even today.