Thutmose III

Cleopatra’s Needle

Despite its name, the obelisk was not from the reign of Cleopatra VII, but was originally erected by Thutmose III in the city of Heliopolis and later usurped and inscribed by Ramesses II. The obelisk was moved in 12 B.C. to Alexandria, where it remained for over 1,800 years. It is made of Aswan granite....

King’s Ba Bird

The Ba is a part of a person’s non-physical spiritual nature. After death, the Ba might leave the tomb, but it had to return to the tomb on a regular basis to reconnect with the mummy. The Ba was frequently shown as a bird with a human head, and occasionally with human arms. This Ba...

Alabaster ointment jar inscribed for Hatshepsut. Met Museum. 18.8.15

Alabaster ointment jar inscribed for Hatshepsut

This beautifully rounded alabaster ointment jar is adorned with an inscription dedicated to the female king Hatshepsut. “King’s Daughter, King’s Sister, God’s Wife, King’s Great Wife (principal queen), Hatshepsut, may she live and endure like Re forever.” The latter part of the dedication was usually reserved for king’s alone, thus it is safe to presume...

Thutmose III as a Sphinx

Thutmose III as a Sphinx

This finely executed representation of Thutmose III as a sphinx is made of extremely hard stone. The transition between the head of the king and the powerful feline body has been masked by the nemes headdress and the stylized lion’s mane which forms a bib-like panel on the chest. A short column of inscription running...

Mummy of Thutmose III

Mummy of Thutmose III

The mummy of King Thutmose III was moved from its original burial place in tomb (KV34), in the Valley of the Kings, to the Deir el-Bahari Royal Cache (DB320) in his original middle coffin. The king, who was keen on leaving his own mark on his expanding empire, was extremely active all over Egypt and...

Statue of Thutmose III Offering Two Nu Vases

Kneeling Statue of Thutmose III

In this unique marble statue, King Thutmose III is shown kneeling in a pose of worship, offering two Nu vases for libation to Amun-Re. He wears the royal nemes headdress, surmounted by the uraeus, or rearing cobra. His body is well modeled with defined muscles. The king is kneeling on the nine bows, which represent...

Royal face, probably King Thutmose III

Royal face probably Thutmose III

This royal face of Thutmose III remained from a head of a statue. The style suggests that the sculpture was done during the first half of the 18th Dynasty, most probably for Thutmose III. Although only parts of this face carved in obsidian remain, it is clear that the features were very delicate. The eyes...

Standing Statue of Thutmose III

Standing Statue of Thutmose III

This grey schist statue depicts King Thutmose III, who regained his throne after 20 years of struggle with his aunt and stepmother, Queen Hatshepsut. The queen usurped his right to the throne of Egypt after the death of his father, her husband, King Thutmose II. The statue represents Thutmose III as a great, athletic warrior...

Ritual Statuette of Thutmose III

Statuette of Thutmose III

Beautifully poised, this small bronze statuette of king Thutmose III offers wine or milk to a god. This figure is the earliest known New Kingdom royal bronze statuette and, with a few Late Middle Kingdom copper and copper-alloy precursors, it initiates the tradition of bronze statuary in Egypt. The fluid, athletic modeling of his body...