Aménophis III

Amenhotep (or Greek Aménophis in ), is the ninth Pharaon of (period of the Nouvel Empire). Manéthon calls it Aménophis. It reigns thirty-eight years and seven months, but certain Egyptologists think of a Co-regency with his/her son Amenhotep {{IV}} at the end of its life.

One locates his reign at the neighborhoods of -1391/-1390 with -1353/-1352. He is the son of the queen Moutemouia and Thoutmôsis {{IV}}. Moutemouia assumes regency when it goes up on the throne at the age of ten/twelve years. Amenhotep will prefer to maintain the superiority of Egypt by the diplomacy and it will seek to reinforce the relations with powerful the Mitanni. Trade agreements are taken with Cyprus and an important quota which could enter to copper and wood Egypt is fixed, which brought to the island an exemption customs duties.

His large royal wife is Tiyi, girl of Youya (Prophet of Min) and Touya (or Tyouyou). It closely associates it with the capacity and at the end of her life, whereas it is very sick, the queen will enormously help it in the management of the state. He marries also Giloukhepa (or Gilu-Hepa), in the thousand-year-old year Ve front J. - C. of his reign, which is the girl of the emperor of the Mitanni Shuttarna {{II}}. He marries then the sister of the king of Babylon, Tarhoundaradou, the girl of the king of Arzawa, Tadukhepa (or Taduhepa), the girl of Tushratta, new king of Mitanni and finally his two daughters Iset (or Isis) and Satamon (or Sitamon).

Tiyi gives him seven children: the future Amenhotep {{IV}}, Satamon, Iset, Henouttaneb, Nebetâh, Baketaton and Thoutmôsis whose existence is dubious. Certain Egyptologists think that Smenkhkaré (future Pharaon) could be a son that Amenhotep would have had with Satamon.

It counts among the largest builders of old Egypt.

Genealogy

See also: Family tree of the XVIIIe Egyptian dynasty

Titulature

Reign

Amenhotep leads the Egypt to the apogee of its power. It is not a warrior. During its long reign, only one military forwarding is attested in Nubie in year 5 of its reign, to repress a revolt.

In year 2 of its reign (-1406), it took for wife Tiyi who becomes the Grande royal wife. For the occasion it orders a series of large beetles whose back reports the event and which one will find disseminated in all the empire.

The scribe of the king, Amenhotep wire of Hapou, favorite, director of all work of the king (royal architect) is a “Prime Minister” in fact. Mérymosé becomes viceroy of Koush after Amenhotep.

During its reign Bakenkhonsou is large priest of Amon.

The end of its reign is marked by a degradation of the international policy. The princes Mitanni ens of Syria, however combined of Egypt are attacked by a new power come from the Hatti, in the person of the emperor of the Hittites Soupilouliouma (-1382/-1342).

Amenhotep does not intervene to come to their help, in spite of the calls of the princes. Egypt, on the contrary, sign a treaty with Hatti. The prince of Kadesh and the king of Amourrou (Lebanon) intrigue to form a coalition of small states, there still Amenhotep lets make. These negligences will leave with his/her son an empire or the disorder settled.

Economy and company

Egypt, thanks to Nubian gold, is the first financial power of the world. One attends a development of the big cities in Egypt, especially those which are royal residences (Thèbes, Memphis).

The Shardanes, perhaps originating in Sardinian, in Minor Asia, are employed as mercenaries of elite by Amenhotep.

Arts, cultures and religions

He undertakes many building sites of Nubie in the North of the country. He makes increase considerably the complex of Karnak while making there build the Temple of Louxor by his architect Amenhotep wire of Hapou (which, following the example Imhotep, the architect of Djéser, will be divinisé on a purely posthumous basis). The elegance of the architectural forms and the proportions culminates then (fasciculées floral columns with Louxor in particular).

It also makes build immense a castle of million years opposite Thèbes of which there remain today only the colossi known as “of Memnon”.

One notes under his reign a refinement of the forms of the official art (sculptor, relief, painting).

The opening of the country continues under the reign of Amenhotep and one assists has a religious syncretism between the gods of Egypt and Asia. The king of the Mitanni sends to Aménophis the miraculous statue of the goddess Ishtar of Ninive.

It is considered sometimes that Amenhotep is one of the initiators of the Art amarnien. It is the introducer of the religion of Aton which will be followed by his/her son.

Burial

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