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Volume 8 issue 1 August 2007

ANCIENT EGYPT explores the WORLD WIDE WEB ...

The great warrior king Thutmose III was buried in a magnificent tomb at the head of the Valley of the Kings, KV34. Refer:

On hearing of the death of Thutmose III, Syria and certain seaports on the Mediterranean coast revolted against Egyptian rule, and the untested Amenhotep II was required to put down these insurrections. He did this in no uncertain manner and returned to Karnak with seven captured princes hanging from the prow of his ship. Six were executed, and displayed on the walls of Karnak, whilst the seventh was taken to Nubia and executed there, to show the natives what fate would befall them it they too revolted against Egyptian rule. Having established Egyptian supremacy at the beginning of his reign he made a settlement with the Mitanni..In the era of peace that followed devoted himself to building works at many sites throughout Egypt, though especially at Giza & Karnak. Refer: http://touregypt.net/featurestories/amenhotep2.htm

Thutmose IV, almost certainly a son of Amenhotep II, is best well know for the “Dream Stele” he erected between the paws of the Great Sphinx at Giza. This tells the tale of how he cleared the sand from around the Sphinx, because of a dream – and thus the god rewarded him with the throne of Egypt. His rule was largely a peaceful one in which he enlarged and embellished many monuments built by earlier kings. Refer: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/tuthmosis4.htm

Amenhotep III was exceedingly lucky in that he came to the throne at a young age when Egypt was undoubtedly the world’s only super-power. The wealth of Empire was flowing back into Egypt and, living at the very apex of the New Kingdom, in an era of peace, all Amenhotep had to do was spend the money. As a result his reign is renowned for its great building works and major works of art. Refer: http://touregypt.net/featurestories/amenhotep3.htm

Towards the end of his reign, he appears to have brought a minor god, called the Aten, to greater prominence and it now seems clear that he appointed his son Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) as his co-regent.Amenhotep III’s Heb-Sed festival, in year 30 of his reign, brought about a profound change in his life and he now termed himself literally as “The Dazzling Sun Disk of all Lands” – the very image of the living Aten on earth! At the same time he resided in a magnificent palace on the West Bank of Luxor called “The Mansion of NebMaatRe is the Dazzling Aten” (Malkata), whist his son, Akhenaten, ruled at Amarna.Refer: http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/upper/luxorwest/other/malqata.html

Victor Blunden

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