Amenhotep III.

Amenhotep III. was born to Thutmose IV. and Mutemwiya, who was a minor royal wife. He was growing up mostly in Thebes (Waset) and he was only twelve, when he replaces his father on the throne. Amenhotep III. married Tiye two years after his father's death, who is considered as one of the most significant Queens in Egyptian history.

Amenhotep's first and also last campaign took place in Palestina in the fifth year of his reign. Because the peaceable Pharaoh hated the war this campaign had rather preventive character. He could use the dominant position that was gained by his more militant predecessors for Egypt - especially Thutmose III.

Construction activities of Amenhotep III.

There were only few rulers, who let build as many remarkable buildings as Amenhotep III. He let build magnificent temples in Nubia - e.g. Elephantine, Wadi es-Sebuam, Aniba, Kawa or Sesebi. He also beautified the towns Tell Basta and Tell Atrib in the north. He let build a temple sacred to Horus in Heliopolis, started work on Serapeum in Saqqara, let build a "southern harem" of Amun-Ra in Thebes (Waset). Southern harem was a name for a temple complex in Luxor) in antiquity, where 600 statues of the goddess Sekhmet were placed by Amenhotep III. He also let build himself a gorgeous residential palace on the other bank of the Nile and a huge chantry temple.

Amenhotep III. fought with a disease for the whole life, which symptoms are also visible in pictures of the end of his life. Amenhotep dedicated a special respect for the goddess Sekhmet, a merciless lion goddess, who was the master of illnesses and could protect from them as well.  He died in the thirty-nineth year of his reign and the mummy is preserved even if the tomb was robbed under the 21st dynasty rule. It is a mummy of approximately 50 years old man.