Limestone Statue of a Kneeling Priest (Possibly Prince Thutmose)

Amenhotep III and his Great Royal Wife, Tiye‘s firstborn son, was a prince named Thutmose. As the eldest royal son, he was heir to the throne, and so Thutmose bore prestigious titles such as High Priest of Ptah, indicating his early grooming for both religious and royal responsibilities.

A carved statuette depicting him as a youthful priest, now in the Musée du Louvre, suggests his elevated status during his short life. However, Thutmose died prematurely, likely as a young man, leaving the line of succession open.

Thutmose’s untimely death is generally assumed to have taken place shortly before the end of Amenhotep III’s reign, likely between c. 1360 and 1353 B.C., though no precise record survives. His death must have occurred early enough for his younger brother to be firmly positioned as successor before Amenhotep III’s passing around 1352 B.C. Prince Amenhotep, later known to history as Akhenaten, became the heir after the death of his older brother Thutmose, and assumed the throne after their father’s long and prosperous reign (although some propose a brief co-regency). Thutmose’s early demise may have had profound consequences for Ancient Egypt’s religious and political future, as it was Akhenaten who would go on to launch one of the most radical religious revolutions in its history.

The cause of Thutmose’s death remains unknown, though most scholars believe he died of natural causes, likely from illness. In Ancient Egypt, even royalty were vulnerable to diseases such as malaria or tuberculosis, and no certified physical remains or inscriptions offer clues to his final days, although a mummy which possible is that of the prince has been discovered. Some have speculated he may have died in an accident or during priestly or military duties, but there is no evidence to support this. While later intrigue surrounded the royal family, there is no indication that Thutmose’s death was suspicious or politically motivated. His memory was not erased, and he held prestigious titles, suggesting he died with no malicious intent before he could succeed his father.

This exquisitely crafted limestone statue depicts a kneeling priest, originally holding an offering table. The figure wears a short layered wig with a the side lock of youth upon the right side of his head. This style, is of course associated with a young age and princely status, but could also be identifying him as a priest, possibly of the god Ptah. He is adorned with traces of red-painted armlets, a leopard-skin garment across his back (another sign of priestly status), and faint remnants of a ‘gold of honour’ collar. The features are rendered with exceptional delicacy with elongated eyes outlined in black, typical of the style during the reign of Amenhotep III. He is a softly modelled face, and full lips and small sharply incised nose.

Although unnamed, the quality of the workmanship and stylistic parallels to royal sculpture of Amenhotep III’s reign have led scholars to propose that this may represent his eldest son, Prince Thutmose. The statue’s refined finish and unusual use of fine-grained limestone suggest it was produced by one of the royal ateliers.

If the limestone statue (British Museum. EA21979) does indeed represent Prince Thutmose, it was most likely created as a funerary piece following his untimely death. The kneeling pose, with arms once supporting an offering table, is characteristic of Ancient Egyptian funerary statuary designed to present perpetual offerings on behalf of the deceased. Such figures were often placed in tomb chapels or temple niches to ensure the continuation of ritual provisions in the afterlife.

The lack of inscription leaves the figure officially anonymous, but this may reflect either an unfinished commission at the time of the prince’s sudden death or a contextual placement where identification was presumed. As High Priest of Ptah, Thutmose held a prestigious religious role, and the statue, with its detailed priestly attire and symbolic leopard skin garment, may have served to honour both his sacred duties and his place in the royal succession. Though his life was cut short, the quality and style of the piece suggest it was meant to preserve his memory and presence in the ritual and spiritual landscape of death.

Summary:

Limestone Statue of a Kneeling Priest (Possibly Prince Thutmose)

New Kingdom, late 18th Dynasty, c. 1375–1355 B.C.

From Thebes, Upper Egypt

British Museum, EA21979