Amunhotep III (Part 2).
In his first year of power (1400 – 1399 BCE), Amunhotep III began a whole string of projects. Guided by his mother Mutemwia, the new king commissioned new monuments, quarrying efforts, and even undertook a great hunt. Twelve months of intense activity: all things considered, the reign began quite well…
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Statue of Thoth commissioned by Amunhotep, Hermopolis/Ashmunein (1 World Tours).
Mutemwia (left) and Amunhotep III in the kiosk of his coronation (The Met)
A statue of Mut-em-wia, carved to represent Mut (seated) in her Barge/Barque. A “rebus,” or object conveying a symbol/word, this statue literally means “Mut in Her Boat,” like the name of the Queen (British Museum).
Quarries worked by Amunhotep III’s workers (Nishimoto, 2002).
The record of Amunhotep’s bull hunt (Cleveland).
Bibliography
Lawrence Michael Berman, The Art of Amenhotep III, 1990.
David O’Connor & Eric Cline, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1997.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Shin-Ichi Nishimoto, “Hieratic Inscriptions from the Quarry at Qurna: an interim Report,” British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (2002). British Museum.
There’s an error at 26:30 , the ruins of Memphis are partly covered by the village of Mit Rahina, not Cairo. Memphis is 20 km south of Giza on the west bank of the Nile.
Hi David, the village of Mit Rahina is part of the greater Cairo area. In the interests of clarity, it is easier to refer to this area as Cairo. This helps to avoid disrupting the narrative, or distract the listener
Hm… the podcast breaks abruptly at 35:29 – “it does seem to be a one…”
I don’t think this was intended, so – just to let you know…
And a big thank you for it – very informative,
Ivonna
Hi Ivonna, I can’t seem to replicate this issue. The episode is whole and intact, according to my server host. Is it still happening?
Interesting episode.
You say near the beginning (I believe, this could be me going senile and confusing it with another episode) that there is some dispute about how old Amunhotep was when he came to the throne, between 12 years old and much younger. If he’s ‘hunting’ “bulls” surely he has to be around the top end of that range, what arguments do those who say he was younger make to challenge this?
I’ve been thinking about the building programs the 18th dynasty kings have undertaken at least according to your presentation of them. It seems they don’t really build in canaan/syria? Was that region considered different in relation to the understanding of the kingdom as opposed to Egypt + the Kushite territories? Less ‘core land’ so to speak, more an occupation not worthy of royal building projects?
Sudan has received much pharonic attention in the building department (admittedly less than egypt-proper) yet this does not seem to be replicated (at least so far) north of the Sinai?
On a final and more long term note, it seems to me that Osiris and Horus don’t get much of a look in as far as the royal patronage game is concerned, is there particular prominence more a facet of the old kingdom? Or is it just blended into the kings role as the living horus?