Thutmose III’s official reign spanned from 28th April 1479 BC to 11th March 1425 BC, marking approximately 54 years of rulership over ancient Egypt. Such a prolonged reign is noteworthy, particularly in an era fraught with power struggles and threats of usurpation. However, it’s important to note that Thutmose III ascended to the throne at the tender age of two. The remarkable precision of these dates is attributed to funerary inscriptions found in the tomb of Amenemheb-Mahu, a military commander who served during Thutmose’s time. On the walls of Amenemheb-Mahu’s tomb, it is inscribed that Thutmose III pᴀssed away in the 54th year of his reign, providing historians with invaluable information regarding the duration of his rule.
Mummy of Thutmose III
The mummy of King Thutmose III, originally interred in tomb KV34 in the Valley of the Kings, was later relocated to the Deir el-Bahari Royal Cache (DB320), still encased in his original middle coffin. Renowned for his determination to imprint his legacy on his burgeoning empire, Thutmose III was exceptionally active throughout Egypt and Nubia.
The mummy of King Thutmose III, severely damaged by tomb robbers, likely during the 21st Dynasty (circa 1069-945 BC), required extensive restoration when it was relocated. To reᴀssemble the royal remains, narrow wooden splints were employed to stabilize the body. Measurements indicated that Thutmose III stood approximately 1.63 meters (5 feet 4¼ inches) tall. His hands were positioned over his chest in the traditional Osirian pose.
From the examination of his mummy, it is known that Thutmose III was a small man, standing no taller than five feet three inches (1.6 meters) in height. His statues, however, present a different image, depicting a youthful and smooth-faced ruler with a prominent, high-bridged nose and a pleasantly smiling mouth. This artistic representation contrasts with his physical remains, reflecting the idealized image of a pharaoh that was common in ancient Egyptian art.
Interior of the Tomb of Thutmose III
The art in the Tomb of Thutmose III (KV34) is simple in form and muted in color, depicting the significant episode of the defeat of the serpent of chaos, Apep, from the Book of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Despite the damage inflicted by tomb robbers, the stone sarcophagus that once held Thutmose’s body remains in the burial chamber, a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient pharaoh.
The tomb of Thutmose III (KV34) in the Valley of the Kings is notable for its distinctive decoration, which depicts the journey of the sun god through the 12 hours of the night. This artwork is rendered in a style that mimics drawings on papyrus, offering a unique visual narrative of the pharaoh’s afterlife journey.
Originally, Thutmose III was interred in a cartouche-shaped sarcophagus, which still resides in his burial chamber. However, similar to many other royal mummies, his remains were eventually relocated to the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahari for protection.
During the reign of Thutmose III, tomb construction saw significant advancements, with tombs being completely painted rather than just highlighting relief carvings with paint. This period also witnessed considerable progress in glᴀss-making, particularly with the introduction of core-formed glᴀss.
The core-formation technique involves using a solid core supported by a rod, around which molten glᴀss is shaped. Once the glᴀss solidifies, the rod is removed and the core is scraped away, resulting in a hollow glᴀss object. This innovation marked a significant development in ancient glᴀss-making practices.
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