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Explore the illustrious reign of Amenhotep III, an influential Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Uncover his diplomatic finesse, monumental constructions, and lasting legacy, showcasing political prowess, cultural advancements, and the rise of a powerful civilization in history.
| Overview | |
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| Birth | 1386 BC |
| Region | 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom |
| Father & Mother | Tuthmosis IV & Mutemwiya |
| Death | 1353 BC |
| Burial | Tomb WV22, Valley of Kings |
The great King Amenhotep III is one of the most influential Pharaohs to ever rule the immortal country of Egypt and is one of the few who was able to leave a great mark in the ancient history books. He is one of the most famous rulers in history who was highly successful in creating a majestic legacy worthy of admiration by everyone who ever came across it.
During his reign in the New Kingdom of Egypt (1570 – 1050 BC), Egypt reached the ultimate peak of international and artistic power which further strengthened Egypt's reputation as the most incredible civilization to ever exist on the face of the earth. He was known for his sophisticated artistic taste, architectural innovations, and very enlightened vision for the future.
Amenhotep III (1386 – 1353 BC) is known to be the 9th king of the 18th dynasty and is known to be the son of Tuthmosis IV from his minor wife Mutemwiya, the husband of Queen Tiye, the father of King Akhenaten, and the grandfather of Tutankhamun. He became Pharaoh at the age of 12 after the passing of his father, Thutmose IV, and remained in power for 38 years. He married his wife, Tiy, and gave birth to two sons and four daughters.
The history of ancient Egyptian pharaohs started in 3400 B.C until 335 B.C. There are 30 Dynasties ruled Egypt throughout the four kingdoms.
Read MoreHis wife Tiye enjoyed equal status to her husband, which showcased her equality and harmony in their relationship. He also had other wives, including Gilukhepa and Tadukhepa from Mitanni, and daughters of Babylonian, Arzawa, and Syrian rulers. In the last decade of his reign, he married his daughters Sitamun and Iset. He was known to be a great politician and a gifted leader. He was a talented hunter, as there are scarabs describing him killing 110 lions during the first ten years of his reign, and a sportsman, as mentioned in a number of inscriptions that also show his military expeditions.
His birth name, "Amenhotep-Heqawaset" means (Amun is pleased, the Ruler of Thebes) while his throne name, Neb-maat-re, means ( Lord of Truth is Re). He had a number of nicknames such as Amenhotep the Great and Amenhotep the Magnificent.
He is known to have many names which are Amenophis III, Amana-Hatpa, and Amunhotep II which are connected to the concept of the satisfied god Amun plus Nebma'atre who is related to the satisfied god Maat.
The magnificent Pharaoh Amenhotep III had some incredible hobbies like you would expect from any royal member like hunting expeditions, especially of lions, which were considered a symbol of royal power, Collecting Precious Objects, building works of art, and more.
Amenhotep III son of Habu dedicated his life to making Egypt maintain the highest levels of prosperity and peace which in turn created an incredible artistic revolution. He was able to set new standards of realism and quality.
He is renowned for crafting the most enchanting monuments and structures all over Egypt across Memphis and more importantly Thebes, expanding the lands of Egypt and his empire through military campaigns into Nubia which enriched Egypt and strengthened its borders.
When he came to the throne of Egypt at the age of twelve, he ruled a great kingdom that ruled supreme, containing immense size, power, and wealth. Throughout his rule, he favored peaceful negations and pursuits over war.
Amenhotep III was a true master of Diplomacy as he made many diplomatic exchanges with other great nations as confirmed by the Amarna Letters which shows he would send lavish gifts of gold to other nations so that they could bend to his will and also it was an exchange for copper, horses, and lapis lazuli, all the way from Asia.
He made political marriages with a number of daughters and sisters from the rulers of Mitanni, Babylon, and Hittite in order to consolidate alliances. During his rule, he made many diplomatic expeditions across Cyprus, Assyria, and more. His high level of generosity and understanding made him establish a number of profitable relationships with all his neighboring countries.
He refused the requests to send Egyptian women as wives to foreign rulers. He improved the entire atmosphere to express the policies and religion which encouraged the establishment of the most amazing building projects and arts. One of Amenhotep III's most important decisions was restricting the powers of Amun priests by recognizing other cults, one of which is the special form of Ra the sun god known as Aten, and later on, his son Akhenaton called for the worship of one god which launched a failed religious revolution.
Amenhotep III was responsible for creating the most enchanting constructions ever created in the history of Egypt, reaching up to 250 temples, constructions, statuary, and steles to immortalize his heritage. Some of his most famous constructions projects are The Colossi of Memnon which are the only remaining pieces of his mortuary temple, the Nubian temple of Soleb, and his palace complex in western Thebes Malkata which was connected by the Nile through a huge artificial harbor called Birket Habu.
He erected 600 statues of the goddess Sekhmet around the Mut Temple south of the Karnak Temples Complex. The court of Amenhotep III can be found in the Theban hills. Amenhotep III son of Hapu celebrated the ancient tradition of the Sed festival that happened in the 30th, 34th, and 37th years of his rule which are a series of mental and physical tests that shows the ability of the king to continue his role as the ruler of Egypt.
See the awe-inspiring Colossi of Memnon, large stone depictions of Pharaoh Amenhotep III from Egypt's 18th Dynasty.
Read MoreHis mortuary temple is the biggest of its kind which was destroyed by Ramses II to be a quarry for his own temple. He constructed many buildings in Memphis, the main portions of Luxor temple, and a pylon in the Karnak Temples complex.
King Amenhotep III was a visionary who wished to immortalize his rule and create a legacy worthy of being respected by all future generations. His heritage still lives across all the heavenly wonders found across the wonders of Thebes.
The mortuary temple of Amenhotep III was built on the west bank of the Nile River in the 18th dynasty and became the biggest of its kind in all of Egypt. The colossi of the Memnon remains the only preserved aspect of the temple that reaches a height of 18 m. What lead to the deterioration of the temple is its proximity to the river and annual flooding plus the happening of an earthquake around 1200 BC. The temple was oriented to the west which symbolized the rising sun due to the pharaoh’s dedication to the sun god Amun. Some of the constructions that occupied the temple included a Hypostyle Hall which led to the Peristyle Sun Court, and three pylons, plus the Sun Court which held statues of Amenhotep III and various gods, which used materials from all over the country.
The temple held many great works of art, like numerous unique statues, including representations of gods like Sekhmet of healing and protection, and animal statues used in rituals, such as the solar ritual and the creation of the sky map. The temple was meant to give offerings to the gods after the death of the pharaoh to help him on his quest into the afterlife. It played a role in immortalizing his heritage and his incredible achievements throughout the temple's iconography. Also, the temple showcased the rise of the world from the primeval waters of creation.
Pharaoh Amenhotep III holds some of the greatest collections of surviving statues, monuments, and artifacts in the history of Egypt. He has over 250 statues identified, providing a visual record of his entire reign. He ordered the creation of a number of incredible building projects which included work at the Karnak temple complex, construction of the Luxor temple, and various monuments across Nubia.
His mortuary was by far the largest, but it disappeared over time. Some of the greatest artifacts include the two giant statues of Amenhotep III at his funerary temple's northern gate. A great stela known as the Sed Festival Stela that features the god Heh and the cartouche of Amenhotep III was discovered. He uncovered over 200 large commemorative stone scarabs discovered across a wide geographic area, including Syria and Nubia.
A cartouche of Amenhotep III had hieroglyphic representation used in ancient Egypt to encircle his name, title, and many achievements. Amenhotep III's cartouche would have contained his royal name written in hieroglyphs. They were used to immortalize the creator god Amun and also symbolize the raising of the pharaoh for a million years.
Amenhotep III has left a number of epic depictions and murals which can be found across some of his greatest works of constructions, which are the colossi of Memnon which was famous for producing the legendary vocal phenomenon of the Greek figure Memnon.
The Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple have a great number of murals dedicated to the pharaoh's life and his offerings to the gods. The Palace of Amenhotep III used to be adorned with colorful depictions, reliefs, and scenes that provided insight into daily life and hobbies like hunting expeditions and feasts.
With his old age, he grew fat and ill, and his mummies showed many painful dental problems. He was buried in the western valley of the Kings in tomb WV 22 which was discovered in 1898 AD. The mummy of Amenhotep III is now located at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Amenhotep III ruled Egypt for 38 years and was succeeded by his son Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten).
Amenhotep III's reign lasted for 39 years, which means he may have died at the age of 50. His regnal year 39 has mostly documented which shows that he suffered from a number of ailments like arthritis, obesity, and dental issues in his later years, which of them may have been the cause of his death. He had only one surviving successor, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), from his wife Tiye's show; she outlived him by at least 12 years. He was buried in Valley of the Kings in Tomb WV22. The mummy was found in a three-metre long granite, which was broken into serval small pieces. The mummy was moved around a lot during history but was eventually moved from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in an event known as the Pharaohs' Golden Parade in April 2021.
Ancient Egypt was ruled by a line of pharaohs who were considered both political and religious leaders. There are many pharaohs, each with their own stories, accomplishments, and legacies that are worth exploring and learning about. So, if you're interested in exploring their tales, then Egypt should be your next must-visit destination. Our Egypt classic tour packages offer a unique glimpse into the past. You can explore the wonders of ancient Egypt such as the Giza pyramids, Abu Simbel temples, the Valley of the Kings, the Karnak temple complex, and more. So why not plan your trip to Egypt today and experience the history and wonder of this ancient civilization?
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Amenhotep III was the Pharaoh of Egypt after the death of his father Thutmose IV, around 1386 BC.
Amenhotep III (1391–1353 BC)gained great fame due to a number of incredible achievements; one of the most recognized of them is the extensive building projects such as the colossi of Memnon and the temple of Luxor. He was also a skilled political and diplomate who created great alliances and trade deals with the neighboring countries of Mitanni, Babylon, and Hatti.
His royal mother, Queen Mutemwiya was his regent during the early years of his rule, where he ascended to the throne at a young age.
The tomb of Amenhotep III is found in the Valley of the Kings. It was discovered in 1799 AD and contained some of the most magnificent treasures, including jewelry, statues, pottery, and texts.
Amenhotep III allowed Canaanite laborers to enter the lands of Egypt to work on all the great building projects ordered by the pharaoh in Thebes.
Amenhotep III was simply the next in line who was set to inherit the throne as he ascended to kingship due to hereditary succession after the death of his father, Thutmose IV.
Pharaoh Amenhotep III ordered the spread of royal propaganda through the issue of countless scarabs and to commemorate many events at the times of his reign. All the scarabs held amazing inscriptions showcasing many great facts about his hunting expeditions, diplomatic relationships, and the construction of temples.
The estimated height of Amenhotep III is around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm).
Amenhotep III, like most Egyptians, practiced Egyptian religion, which included the worship of numerous gods and goddesses. He is known to have been dedicated to Amun-Ra, which would explain why the priests of Amun enjoyed great power and influence during his reign.
There are countless statues and monuments of Amenhotep III found all over Egypt, which were made to convey many great facts and tales about his life.
Amenhotep III’s Heb Sed Jubilee festival can be seen on the temple walls of Luxor, where he is depicted participating in all the rituals and ceremonies.
As proven by all the inscriptions and texts seen in all the temples and tombs, Amenhotep III is believed to be the father of Akhenaten and the grandfather of the famous pharaoh Tutankhamun (King Tut).
Royal kings like Amenhotep III did marry their daughters as part of the common practice that was used to preserve the royal bloodline.
Amenhotep III is seen as one of the most successful and influential pharaohs in the history of the New Kingdom, which was marked by economic prosperity, stability, and cultural achievements.
The son of Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, was famous for introducing the concept of Aten worship as the central religious tenet during his own reign.
Pharaoh Amenhotep III was not known for any form of Controversy but his successor and son Akhenaten created radical religious and cultural changes that caused significant controversy and upheaval in ancient Egypt.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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