Nitocra

Nitocra is a figure from ancient Egyptian history, primarily known from the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus. Herodotus describes her as a queen who ruled Egypt, although her historicity is debated among Egyptologists. According to Herodotus's account in his Histories, Nitocra was the sister and successor of a king named Menkaure, who is likely identifiable with the pharaoh Menkaure of the Fourth Dynasty. She is said to have ruled after her brother's death, which occurred under mysterious circumstances, and she sought to avenge him.

Herodotus recounts that Nitocra, seeking retribution for her brother's murder, devised a plan to lure the culprits to a secret underground chamber. She had a magnificent tomb constructed, which she then flooded by diverting the Nile River into it. The assassins were invited to a feast in this chamber, where they were trapped and drowned. After carrying out her vengeance, Nitocra is said to have taken her own life by locking herself in the chamber and burning herself to death.

However, contemporary Egyptian records do not mention a queen named Nitocra. Her name does not appear on any king lists or inscriptions from the Old Kingdom period, which is when she would have supposedly reigned. Some scholars suggest that "Nitocris" might be a corruption of a king's name or that the story is a later embellishment or legend. The Turin King List does mention a female ruler named "Netjerkare Siptah" or similar, whose reign is very short, and some have speculated this could be the basis for the legend of Nitocra, although this is not widely accepted. The lack of corroborating evidence makes it difficult to confirm her existence as an independent ruler.