Mummy of Thutmose III

The mummy of Thutmose III was discovered in 1881 in the famed Royal Cache (TT320) at Deir el-Bahari, near Luxor, yet the king was originally interred in the Tomb KV34 in the Valley of the Kings, famed for its vivid wall paintings and early depiction of the Amduat.

This move took place during the 21st Dynasty (c. 1069–945 B.C.), as rampant tomb-robbing threatened the royal necropolis, priests undertook the clandestine task of transferring his (and other) royal remains to the hidden Deir el-Bahari Royal Cache (TT320) to safeguard them. This cache, contained the remains of numerous pharaohs, including Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, and Ramesses II.

Unfortunately, the mummy of Thutmose III was badly damaged by tomb robbers, likely during this period, resulting in a fragmented body that had to be rewrapped with narrow wooden splints to keep it intact.

Measuring approximately 1.63 metres (5 feet 4¼ inches) in height, Thutmose III’s hands were crossed over his chest in the Osirian pose, symbolising his hoped-for resurrection in the afterlife. Now housed in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the mummy shows signs of arthritis, dental abscesses, and age-related wear, suggesting he died in his fifties or early sixties. Despite its damaged state and lack of original amulets or a golden mask (likely removed during tomb plundering) the mummy of Thutmose III remains a profound testament to his enduring legacy as both a formidable warrior-king and a symbol of Egypt’s complex interplay between reverence and vulnerability.

Related: Mummy of Hatshepsut

It appeared that his wrappings were hastily applied, evidence of the secondary reburial rather than the original burial’s full ceremonial process. No funerary mask or significant amulets have been found associated with him, likely removed during the initial tomb plundering. His body is disarticulated, with limbs detached and parts of the torso damaged, though the skull and many teeth remain intact, still visible from the king’s “smiling” appearance.

Modern examinations, including those cited in the book “Scanning the Pharaohs” by Zahi Hawass and Sahar Saleem (2016), suggest that Thutmose III was approximately 50–60 years old at his death, with wear on his teeth and signs of arthritis and dental abscesses indicating chronic health issues common to his era. His cranial structure shows a long, narrow face with a prominent aquiline nose, consistent with other mummies of the 18th Dynasty.

There is no definitive DNA analysis available for Thutmose III, though studies of royal mummies from this period continue to evolve.

Related: Inside the Tomb of Thutmose III

Thutmose III

Thutmose III, the mighty warrior-pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, stands as one of history’s most accomplished military leaders and statesmen. Born to Thutmose II and a lesser wife, Iset, his rise to the throne was initially overshadowed by his stepmother and co-regent, Hatshepsut, who assumed full Pharaonic power while he was still a child. However, upon her death around 1458 B.C., Thutmose III embarked on a reign of unparalleled ambition and achievement, ruling for a total of 54 years, including his joint reign with Hatshepsut.

Through a series of 17 military campaigns, Thutmose III expanded Egypt’s empire to its greatest extent, stretching from Nubia in the south to the Euphrates in modern-day Syria. His victories at Megiddo, Kadesh, and against the Mitanni kingdom in Syria and Turkey not only secured vast territories but also brought immense wealth and human capital into Egypt. Sons of defeated rulers were brought to Egypt, educated in Egyptian ways, and returned home as loyal allies, a shrewd diplomatic strategy that cemented his dominion. His military prowess earned him the epithet of the “Napoleon of Egypt,” with more battles fought and victories won than even Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar.

Beyond warfare, Thutmose III’s reign was a time of artistic and architectural brilliance. He commissioned over 50 temples and monuments, most notably contributing to the grandeur of the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, including the famed botanical garden; a chamber adorned with images of exotic plants and animals collected during his foreign campaigns. His artisans reached new heights of skill, pioneering fully painted tombs rather than painted reliefs.

Thutmose III’s tomb (KV34) in the Valley of the Kings is a masterpiece of funerary art, with its walls painted in a vivid, papyrus-like style illustrating the sun god’s journey through the underworld. Though originally buried in a cartouche-shaped sarcophagus, as previously mentioned, his mummy was later moved to the Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahari to protect it from tomb robbers. Sadly, as stated, the body suffered extensive damage, likely during its reburial in the 21st Dynasty, requiring wooden splints to hold the disarticulated remains together. Standing at about 1.63 metres (5 feet 4¼ inches) in life, Thutmose III’s mummy reveals signs of arthritis, dental issues, and age-related wear, suggesting he died in his fifties or early sixties.

Unlike later pharaohs such as Ramesses II, who often exaggerated their military feats, Thutmose III’s victories are well-attested in his Annals, inscribed upon the walls of Karnak’s temple of Amun-Re. Through his military conquests, architectural legacy, and enduring image as a master strategist and builder, Thutmose III secured his place as one of Ancient Egypt’s most dynamic and influential rulers, a king whose life and accomplishments continue to resonate through the ages.

Summary:

Mummy of king Thutmose III

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Thutmose III, c. 1458-1425 B.C.

Now in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), Cairo. CG 61068