Amenhotep's Accomplishments

Amenhotep III was the son of Thutmose IV and the minor wife Mutemwiya, he reigned from 1390 till 1353 BCE. Amenhotep’s reign was dedicated to his expansion of diplomatic contacts and to the extensive building of several monuments in Egypt and Nubia. Amenhotep III’s reign is often referred to as the “Golden Age”, a time of political stability and economic prosperity for Egypt. And due to this prosperity it enabled Amenhotep’s expansive building programs to thrive, while also resulting in advances in art and religion.

Amenhotep III craftsmanship of several monuments, cemented the ideologies of religious figures within his reign. Monuments such as the Colossi of Memnon, which were two twin statues that depict Amenhotep III sitting on a throne.

Inscribed onto the side of statue depicts the river god himself, the connection between this inscription and the position in which the statues were placed. Facing not only the Nile, but also the rising sun. This position that the colossi sits, offers an insight how Amenhotep used his buildings to demonstrates his worship toward both these gods. Similarly, the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III, that the statues are placed near, also shows the respect Amenhotep III had towards the sun god Amun-Re and the Nile god. Due to the placement of both the statues and temple. The monuments that were erected during the reign of Amenhotep III, allow an insight into the pharaoh and who he was when he ruled. The religious temples that were constructed in his name, shows his respect to the egyptian gods.

Amenhotep III’s monuments were not the only insight into the religious perspective of the pharaoh. The religious figures that were around during the pharaoh's reign, changed many aspects of his worshipping. As they were idolised and very often represented in monuments and inscriptions. The main god to be featured in many of these inscriptions and monuments was Amun-Re, because of the representation of the god throughout the monuments and inscriptions it is lead to believe that Amun-Re was the god Amenhotep featured himself as. (Hurley, T., Medcalf, P., Murray, C.,