Tuthmosis III

by Jimmy Dunn

For different reasons, to different people, Egypt's 18th Dynasty is

probably one of Egypt's most interesting periods. For the general

public, This was the Dynasty of Tutankhamun, probably the best known,

though certainly not the most powerful pharaoh of all time. To others,

Akhenaten, the heretic king, will provide an everlasting curiosity.

Closer to the beginning of this Dynasty, Hatshepsut ruled as perhaps

the most powerful of all Egyptian queens, even though she often

disguised and promoted herself though inscriptions as a man, and even

though her predecessor, Tuthmosis II named his young son to succeed

him upon his death. But upon Tuthmosis' death, his son, Tuthmosis III

was still a young child, so there was little choice but for his

stepmother and aunt Hatshepsut to initially act as his regent. His

birth name was probably Djehutymes III in Egyptian, but he is

frequently referred to by his Greek name of Tuthmosis (Born of the

god Thoth). He is also known as Thutmose III, Thutmosis, and his

Throne name was Men-kheper-re (Lasting is the Manifestation of Re).

By the second year of the young king's rule, Hatshepsut had usurped

her stepson's position and so inscriptions and other art began to show

her with all the regalia of kingship, even down to the official

royal false beard. Yet, at the same time, she did little to really

diminish Tuthmosis' rule, dating her own rule by his regnal years, and

representing him frequently upon her monuments.

It is likely that Tuthmosis III, was lucky to have survived her rule,

though there is some debate on this issue. He obviously stayed well

in the background, and perhaps even demonstrated some amount of

cunning in order to simply keep his life. Because of the prowess he

would later demonstrate on the battlefield, we assume he probably

spent much of Hatshepsut's rule in a military position. To an extent,

they did rule together, he in a foreign military position, and her

taking care of the homeland. When Hatshepsut finally died, outliving

her powerful ministers, Tuthmosis III was at last able to truly

inherit the thrown of Egypt, and in doing so, proved to be a very able

ruler.

Interestingly, it was not until the last years of his reign that he

demonstrated what must have been some anger with his stepmother by

destroying as much of her memory as possible. Her images were

expunged from monuments throughout Egypt. This is obvious to most

visitors of Egypt because one of the most effected monuments was her

temple at Deir el-Bahari, today a primary tourist site. There,

Tuthmosis III destroyed her reliefs and smashed numerous statues into

a quarry just in front of the temple. He even went so far as to

attack the tombs of her courtiers. Yet if this was over the

frustration of his youth when she ruled, why did he wait until such a

late date to begin the destruction?

Military Exploits

In any event, Tuthmosis III became a great pharaoh in his own right,

and has been referred to as the Napoleon of ancient Egypt (by the

Egyptologists, James Henry Breasted). But perhaps is reputation is

due to the fact that his battles were recorded in great detail by the

archivist, royal scribe and army commander, Thanuny. The battles were

Having close ties with his military, Tuthmosis undoubtedly received

sage advice from his commanders. It was probably decided that the

Levant offered the greatest potential for glory and wealth if the

trade routes dominated by Syrian, Cypriot, Palestinian and Aegean

rulers could be taken.

Tuthmosis III fought with considerable nerve and cunning. On one

campaign, he marched to Gaza in ten days and from Yehem, planned the

battle to take take Megiddo which was held by a rebellious prince

named Kadesh. There were three possible approaches to Megiddo, two

of which were fairly open, straightforward routes while the third was

through a narrow pass that soldiers would only be able to march

through in single file.

Though he was advised against this dangerous pass by his commanders,

Tuthmosis not only took this dangerous route, but actually led the

troops through. Whether by luck, or gifted intuition this gamble paid

off, for when he emerged from the tight canyon, he saw that his

enemies had arranged their armies to defend the easier routes. In

fact, he emerged between the north and south wings of the enemy's

armies, and the next day decisively beat them in battle. It apparently

took a long siege (seven months) to take the city of Megiddo, but the

rewards were great. The spoils were considerable, and included 894

chariots, including two covered with gold, 200 suites of armor

including two of bronze, as well as over 2,000 horses and 25,000 other

animals.

Tuthmosis III had marched from Thebes up the Syrian coast fighting

decisive battles, capturing three cities, and then returned back to

Thebes. Over the next 18 years, his armies would march against Syria

every summer and by the end of that period, he established Egyptian

dominance over Palestine. At Karnak he records the capture of 350

cities, and in the 42nd year of his rule, Kadesh itself was finally

taken.

He also made campaigns into Nubia where he built temples at Amada and

Semna and restored Senusret III's old canal in his 50th year of rule

so that his armies could easily pass on their return to Egypt.

Queens and Vassals

Tuthmosis' main queen was Hatshepsut-Merytre, who survived him and

lived as Queen Mother into the reign of her son. However, he also had

several minor queens, some of whom had been acquired due to diplomatic

exchanges. We know the names of three such minor queens, Menhet,

Menwi and Merti from the discovery of their tomb west of Deir el-Bahri.

He also took a number of foreign prices hostage, who then received

training and indoctrination in Egyptian ways. They would later be

returned to their homeland as obedient vassals of Egypt.

Building Projects

Tuthmosis is well attested in many parts of Egypt and outside of Egypt.

We find blocks deep within Nubia at Gebel Barkal, and also at Sai,

Pnubs at the third cataract, Uronarti, Buhen, Quban, Faras and Ellesiya

, as well as his temples at Amada and Semna. He also built a temple

dedicated to the goddess Satet at Elephantine, as well as projects at

Kom Ombo, Edfu, ElKab, Tod, Armant, Akhmim, Hermopolis and Heliopolis. From a list of one of Tuthmosis' overseers, we also know of projects at Asyut, Atfish and various locations in the delta.

Tuthmosis III built his own temple near Hatshepsut's on a ledge between

her temple and that of Mentuhotep. His small temple was excavated

recently by a polish mission. The excavation revealed stunningly fresh

reliefs, perhaps because a rock fall from the cliffs above covered the

temple shortly after its completion. Close by, Tuthmosis built a rock

cut sanctuary to the goddess Hathor. This monument was accidentally

discovered by a Swiss team when a rock fall exposed its opening.

Apparently, the shrine was in use up to the Ramesside period, when it

was destroyed by an earthquake.

Tuthmosis III's Temple of Hathor

But of the many monuments associated with Tuthmosis III, none faired

better then the temple of Karnak. Wall reliefs near the sanctuary

record the many gifts of gold jewelry, furniture, rich oils and other

gifts offered to the temple,. mostly from the spoils of war, by

Tuthmosis III. He was responsible for the Sixth and Seventh Pylons at

Karnak, as well as considerable reconstruction within the central

areas of the temple. He erected two obelisks at the temple, one of

which survives at the Hippodrom at Istanbul. There is also a great,

black granite Victory Stele embellishing his military victories.

He also built a new and very unique temple at Karnak that is today

referred to as his Festival Hall. The columns are believed to

represent the poles of the king's campaign tent. In the rear is a a

small room with representations of animals and plants bought back from

Syria during the 25th year of his reign. For obvious reasons, this

room is referred to as the Botanical Garden.

The opulence of his reign is also reflected in the quality tombs built

by his high officials. The tome of his vizier, Rekhmire is notable,

with many scenes of daily life, crafts as well as a long inscription

concerning the office of vizier. However, the presence of a military

elite is also attested by no less then eleven Theban tombs from the

reign of Tuthmosis.

From Tuthmosis III's Tomb

Tuthmosis III, we believe ruled Egypt from 1504 BC until his death in

1450 BC. He was buried in tomb KV 34 in the Valley of the kings.

The tomb was halfway up a cliff face, and after his burial, masons

destroyed the stone stairway leading up to it and concealed the tomb's

entrance. However, it would seem that no matter what initiatives

pharaohs took to protect their tombs, robbers were sure to find them.

Indeed, in 1898 when his tomb was discovered by Victor Loret, all he

found was the carved sarcophagus and some remains of smashed furniture

and wooden statues. Tuthmosis III, mummy likewise was not in the

tomb, for it had been found in 1881 in the great royal cache at Deir

el-Bahari. However, the tomb is covered with black and red painted

hieratic renditions of the netherworld texts.