The strong bull arising in Thebes

November 27, 2020

Let's visit the Luxor Museum again today to look at one of its fantastic artifacts. This magnificent granodiorite statue is of Thutmose III of the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom.

The statue was found in 1965 in Deir El-Bahari at what used to be Thutmose III's temple.

The king's birth name was Djehutimes (Thutmose) - meaning "Thoth is born" and his throne name was Men Kheper Ra, meaning "Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra". These names can be seen on cartouches by the legs of the king. (See the 5th photo). His Horus name was Ka nakht kha em Waset - meaning "The strong bull arising in Thebes".

Undoubtedly one of the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt, he ruled for 54 years, the first 22 of these in co-regency with his step-mother Hatshepsut.

He was a great military leader who conducted 17 campaigns from the Euphrates to Nubia. He was also a great builder and had numerous temples constructed.

His tomb (KV34) in the Valley of the Kings is one of the first tombs dug in the Valley. It was discovered in 1898 and it's famous for having a complete version of the Amduat - one of the ancient Egyptian funerary texts - recorded on its walls.