Known for his superb nickname “the Magnificent”this pharaoh was the protagonist of the most glorious and resplendent period of ancient Egypt: characterizing an era of peace, prosperity and architectural grandeur. Now, more than 3,350 years after his death, the face of Amenhotep III has returned to shine thanks to a new reconstruction created starting from his mummy.
Reigning for nearly forty years during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom, Amenhotep III ascended the throne while still a child, becoming one of the most celebrated men of Egyptian civilization. His reign, dated between 1388 and 1351 BC, was notable for its impressive architectural development. Among his works stand out the main temple complex of Luxor, the monuments of Karnak And Memphisand his grandiose memorial temple at Kom el-Hettan, guarded by the majestic Colossi of Memnon.
Despite the prestige, however, the mummified body of the pharaoh did not survive the passing of the centuries unscathed: damaged by looting and humidity, its state of conservation does not allow us to easily draw information on what it looked like in life. The scholars, analyzing the largely skeletonized skull, highlighted that “it is not possible to deduce the facial features directly, as happens with the best preserved mummies”.
The mystery of atypical conservation
The exceptional state of deterioration of the body is also due to the particular mummification process to which Amenhotep III was subjected. Contrary to the practice of the time, the pharaoh was immersed in a bath of liquid natron, filled and sealed with resin to be transformed into a sort of “mummy statue”. This unusual and little-practiced approach has made facial reconstruction an even more complex undertaking.
The scientists thus resorted to the Australian anatomist’s notes Grafton E. Smithwho studied the mummy in 1905. Comparing Smith’s data with photographs, an error was discovered in the measurement of the skull: initially estimated at 194 millimeters, in reality it was only 174 millimeters. These and other details – such as the distance between the eyes, the size of the eye sockets and the width of the nose – were used to create an accurate model of the skull.
The reconstruction of Amenhotep III’s face was completed by superimposing tomographic scans of modern individuals onto the skull model, to define the soft tissues. The result was published in two versions: a neutral image, without hair, in grayscale and with closed eyes, and a more artistic one, with open eyes, hair, realistic colors and regal clothing of the time. This second interpretation, more vivid and detailed, seems to best capture the essence of a ruler nicknamed “the Magnificent”.
