Amenhotep III, who reigned from around 1386 to 1353 BCE, was the ninth pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. He is also referred to by several names, including Nebma’atre, Amenophis III, Amunhotep II, and Amana-Hatpa, all of which connect to the idea of the god Amun being pleased or, in the case of Nebma’atre, embodying the principle of harmony known as ma’at.
He was the son of Pharaoh Tuthmosis IV and his secondary wife Mutemwiya, and he was married to Queen Tiye. He was the father of Akhenaten and the grandfather of Tutankhamun and Ankhsenamun. One of his most significant achievements for Egyptian culture was fostering an era of peace and prosperity, allowing him to focus on artistic endeavors.
During his reign, many of ancient Egypt’s most magnificent structures were constructed. Through military campaigns, he not only fortified the borders of his kingdom but also expanded them. He ruled alongside Tiye for 38 years until his passing and was succeeded by his son, Amenhotep IV, who later became known as Akhenaten.
Amenhotep III’s Opulent Reign
Amenhotep III inherited a vast and powerful empire from his father, Tuthmosis IV, filled with wealth and influence. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass notes that Amenhotep III was born into an era when Egypt was at its peak, overflowing with gold and commanding respect from its vassal states. He ascended to the throne at just twelve years old and married Tiye in a grand ceremony. A notable aspect of their union is that Tiye was immediately named the Great Royal Wife, a title that had never been granted to Amenhotep’s mother, Mutemwiya, which meant Tiye held a higher status than the king’s own mother in court affairs.
Amenhotep III excelled in diplomacy, often sending extravagant gifts of gold to other nations to ensure their loyalty, which they consistently offered.
After marrying Tiye, he continued his father’s policies while also launching new construction projects across Egypt. His diplomatic skills helped him build strong relationships with neighboring countries, as he generously gifted friendly kings.
In addition to his political prowess, Amenhotep III was celebrated as a skilled hunter, proudly claiming in an inscription that he personally killed 102 lions during his first ten years on the throne. He was also a capable military leader, likely participating in or directing a campaign in Nubia, which he commemorated through inscriptions.
He upheld the dignity of Egyptian women by rejecting requests to send them as brides to foreign rulers, asserting that no Egyptian daughter would be sent abroad during his reign. In all these endeavors, Amenhotep III not only followed in his father’s footsteps but also made significant improvements, particularly in his devotion to ancient Egyptian religion, which aligned perfectly with his passion for the arts and monumental building projects.
Monumental Constructions
Historian Durant paints a vivid picture of the impressive monuments built by Amenhotep III, describing two colossal statues that stand tall at seventy feet and weigh an astonishing seven hundred tons, all carved from a single piece of stone. These giants symbolize the opulence of one of Egypt’s most magnificent rulers. Amenhotep III envisioned an Egypt so grand that it would inspire awe, and his ambitious projects—over 250 buildings, temples, statues, and inscriptions—clearly showcase his remarkable achievements.
The statues Durant refers to are known today as the Colossi of Memnon, and they are the last remnants of Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. Their enormous size and intricate details hint that the temple and other structures that have since disappeared were likely just as breathtaking, if not more so.
One of Amenhotep’s notable projects was a luxurious pleasure palace located at Malkata, on the west bank of the Nile, right across from Thebes. Bunson describes it as
“The House of Nebma’atre as Aten’s Splendour,” featuring a stunning lake over a mile long, which was impressively created in just 15 days using advanced hydraulic techniques. This sprawling complex included living quarters for Queen Tiye and Akhenaten, the king’s son and heir. Amenhotep even commissioned a pleasure boat dedicated to the god Aten for leisurely outings on the lake.
He often enjoyed these outings with Tiye, who seemed to be his closest companion in both public and private life. Tiye held a status almost equal to her husband, frequently depicted in statues at the same height as him, symbolizing their harmonious and equal partnership. While Amenhotep focused on his monumental building endeavors, Tiye managed state affairs and the operations of the palace at Malkata.
It’s clear that she had her hands full with these responsibilities, as seen in letters from foreign leaders and the impressive number of structures built during Amenhotep III’s time. Besides what we’ve already talked about, he commissioned 600 statues of the goddess Sekhmet around the Temple of Mut, south of Karnak. He also renovated the existing Temple at Karnak, constructed new temples for Amun, created statues representing Amun, erected stele to commemorate his achievements, placed granite lions in front of the Temple of Soleb in Nubia, and adorned walls and monuments with scenes showcasing his accomplishments and the favor of the gods.
In his first year as ruler, he initiated new limestone quarries in the Tura region, which he continued to use throughout his reign. The images of the pharaoh and his deities spread across Egypt’s landscapes, and cities were revitalized. Roads were improved, making travel much easier. This convenience allowed merchants to transport their goods to markets more swiftly, which naturally boosted the economy. With additional revenue flowing in from vassal states, Egypt flourished under Amenhotep III’s leadership. The people were happy, and the throne’s power remained stable, aside from some challenges posed by the priests of the Amun cult.
The Sun God & the Priests of Amun
Before Amenhotep III ascended to the throne, a significant power was already emerging in Egypt: the worship of Amun. In ancient Egypt, owning land equated to wealth, and by Amenhotep III’s reign, the priests of Amun had amassed nearly as much land as the king himself. True to traditional religious customs, Amenhotep III refrained from interfering with the priests’ activities. However, their vast wealth and potential threat to royal authority likely had a considerable impact on his son.
Aten, while just one of many deities in ancient Egyptian religion, held particular importance for the royal family, a significance that would later be reflected in Akhenaten’s religious reforms. At this time, though, Aten was merely one of the gods being worshipped alongside others.
In an effort to gain some influence away from the priests of Amun, Amenhotep III closely aligned himself with Aten more than any previous pharaoh had done. Although Aten was originally a lesser sun god, Amenhotep III raised him to the status of a personal deity for the pharaoh. According to Hawass:
“The sun god was quite complex, with beliefs surrounding him evolving over thousands of years. Besides his primary form as Re, he was linked to the creator Atum and other gods like Khepri and Osiris, merging with Re at night. Aten, representing the sun disk, was mentioned in texts dating back to the Middle Kingdom, symbolizing the king’s union with it upon death. This unique divine aspect, which wasn’t depicted in human form, became a central focus for Amenhotep III’s identity. It’s been suggested that the rise of Aten was particularly tied to maintaining the empire, as the sun was thought to rule over all lands. By associating himself with the sun’s visible disk, the king symbolically positioned himself above all territories where the sun shone—essentially, the entire known world.”
Amenhotep III’s choice to promote Aten as his personal deity was quite typical for pharaohs, who often had a special connection to a particular god. It’s important to note that he didn’t ignore the other gods in favor of Aten. If his intention behind highlighting Aten was politically motivated, it didn’t seem to have much impact during his reign. The worship of Amun continued to flourish and gain wealth, which ultimately posed a challenge to the royal family and the power of the throne.
More Affairs
Amenhotep’s Death & the Reign of Akhenaten
In his later years, Amenhotep III faced significant health issues, including serious dental problems, arthritis, and possibly obesity. He reached out to Tushratta, the king of Mitanni, asking him to send the statue of Ishtar that had previously visited Egypt during his wedding to Tadukhepa, one of Tushratta’s daughters, in hopes that it would bring him healing. There’s still debate today about whether the statue was actually sent and what exactly was troubling Amenhotep III. Some believe that an abscess from his dental issues may have contributed to his death, though this theory is contested.
Amenhotep III passed away in 1353 BCE, and letters from foreign leaders, including Tushratta, expressed their sorrow over his death and extended condolences to Queen Tiye. These messages also indicated that these rulers wished to maintain the positive relationships they had with Egypt under the new king. Following Amenhotep III’s death, his son, who became known as Amenhotep IV, took the throne.
Initially, there was nothing particularly different about Amenhotep IV’s reign compared to his father’s; he continued to build temples and monuments as before. However, in the fifth year of his rule, he experienced a religious transformation that led him to abolish the traditional Egyptian religion, close temples, and ban all forms of worship associated with it. Instead, he introduced a new faith called Atenism, changing his name to Akhenaten and establishing the first state-sponsored monotheistic religion in history.
Akhenaten continued the tradition of constructing monuments and temples, but these were dedicated to the sun disk, Aten, rather than Amun. He proclaimed Aten as the sole true god of the universe, positioning himself as the living representation of this deity. He moved away from Thebes, building a new city named Akhetaten (or Amarna), which means “the horizon of Aten,” on uninhabited land in central Egypt.
From his new palace, Akhenaten issued royal decrees but seemed to focus more on his religious reforms than on state matters, particularly foreign relations. As a result, Egypt lost vassal states like Byblos, disappointing the foreign rulers who had hoped for continued friendly ties with Egypt.
Queen Nefertiti, the wife of Akhenaten, took on many of her husband’s duties. While she was quite capable, Akhenaten’s lack of attention to his responsibilities had already led to significant losses in Egypt’s wealth and standing. During the Amarna Period, the treasury faced slow depletion, military discipline weakened, and the Egyptian people suffered as they were cut off from their traditional religious practices and the financial benefits that came with them.
Many who used to sell statues, amulets, or charms near temples found themselves out of work since selling these items became illegal. Those employed by the temples also lost their jobs. Foreign relations were neglected just as much as domestic issues, and by the time Akhenaten passed away in 1336 BCE, Egypt had significantly declined from its former glory during Amenhotep III’s reign.
Akhenaten’s son, Tutankhamun, attempted to restore his country’s fortunes during his short ten-year rule but sadly died at just 18 years old before he could fully achieve his aims. Nevertheless, he did reverse his father’s religious changes, reopened the temples, and reinstated the old beliefs. His successor, Ay, continued this path, but it was Horemheb, the next ruler, who truly worked to undo the damage caused by Akhenaten’s policies.
Horemheb went so far as to demolish the city of Akhetaten and dismantle the temples and monuments dedicated to Aten. He did such a thorough job that later Egyptians believed he was a direct successor to Amenhotep III. Horemheb managed to restore Egypt to the prosperity it had enjoyed prior to Akhenaten’s reign, though the nation never quite reached the same heights it experienced under the luxurious and multifaceted leadership of Amenhotep III, who was known for being a pharaoh, diplomat, hunter, warrior, and master architect of Egyptian monuments.
