Ay (pharaoh)

Ay
Ay II, Aya [citation needed]
Pharaoh Ay performing the Opening of the Mouth ceremony on his predecessor Tutankhamen. He is wearing the Leopard skin worn by Egyptian High Priests and a Khepresh, a blue crown worn by Pharaohs.
Pharaoh
Reign	1323–1319 BC or 1327–1323 BC
Predecessor	Tutankhamun (Grandnephew & grandson-in-law?)
Successor	Horemheb
Royal titulary Horus name Kanakht Tekhenkhau The strong bull, the one of glittering crowns Nebty name Sekhempehti dersetet Who is mighty of strength, who subdues the Asiatics Golden Horus Heqamaat sekhepertawy The ruler of truth, who creates the two lands Prenomen  (Praenomen) Kheperkheperure–Irimaat Everlasting are the Manifestations of Re, who does what is right Nomen Itinetjer Ay Divine father, Ay
Consort	Iuy (uncertain), Tey, Ankhesenamun (Granddaughter & grandniece-in-law?)
Children	Nakhtmin?, Nefertiti?, Mutbenret/Mutnedjmet?
Died	1319 or 1323 BC
Burial	WV23
Monuments	Amarna Tomb
Dynasty	18th Dynasty

Ay was the penultimate pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty. He held the throne of Egypt for a brief four-year period in the late 14th century BC. Prior to his rule, he was a close advisor to two, and perhaps three, other pharaohs of the dynasty. It is speculated that he was the power behind the throne during child ruler Tutankhamun's reign, although there is no evidence for this aside from Tutankhamun's youthfulness. His prenomen Kheperkheperure means "Everlasting are the Manifestations of Ra", while his nomen Ay it-netjer reads as "Ay, Father of the God".^[1] Records and monuments that can be clearly attributed to Ay are rare, both because his reign was short and because his successor, Horemheb, instigated a campaign of damnatio memoriae against him and the other pharaohs associated with the unpopular Amarna Period.