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Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye - Parents of Akhenaten
Famous Egyptians
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Amenhotep
III and
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Amenhotep appears to have been crowned while still a child, perhaps between
the ages of 6 and 12. His lengthy reign was a period of peace and prosperity,
and artistic splendour. He built extensively at the temple of Karnak,
including at least two pylons, a colonnade behind the new entrance, and
a new temple to the goddess Ma'at. He also oversaw construction of another
temple to her at Luxor.
In year 11 of this reign he began the construction of a huge palace at
Luxor on the west bank, now called Malkata.
His mortuary temple on the west bank at Luxor was, in its day, the largest
religious complex in Thebes but, unfortunately, he chose to build too
close to the floodplain and less than 200 years later, it stood in ruins.
Much of the masonry was purloined by later pharaohs for their own construction
projects. The Colossi of Memnon — two massive 18-metre stone statues of
Amenhotep that stood at the gateway of his mortuary temple — are the only
elements of the complex that remained standing.
He was buried in the Western Valley of the Valley of the Kings, in WV22.
Queen Tiye (Tiy)
Tiye (c. 1398 BC - 1338 BC) was the Chief
Queen of Amenhotep III and matriarch of the Amarna family. By all accounts,
she was a very beautiful woman. Tjuyu, Tiye’s mother was Egyptian (a descendant
of Ahmose-Nefertari), and it appears from his mummy that her father, Yuya,
may have been of Asiatic descent. Tiye married Amenhotep III during year
2 of his reign (1385 BC) and they had at least six children, one of whom,
Akhenaton, went on to become pharaoh.
Amenhotep III devoted number of shrines to her, built her a palace, and
even built her an artificial lake. During his reign, Akhenaton built his
mother a sumptuous shrine.
Tiye enjoyed a good deal of power during her husband’s and son’s reigns.
Amenhotep III, although a fine sportsman, lover of outdoor life, and a
man of great wealth, was no statesman. Tiye was the first Egyptian queen
to have her name on official acts. She continued to advise Akhenaton when
he took the throne.
Amenhotep III died in year 38 of his reign. But twelve years after his
death, she is still mentioned in inscriptions as Queen and beloved of
the King.
While her mummy has not been definitely
identifed, she is thought to be "the elder Lady" found in one
of the mummy caches.
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