Power and victory over all the nations; the final story of Tuthmosis the 3rd

BY DAVE RANKIN

Our last entry covered a few of the campaigns Tuthmosis the 3^rd led during his early years on the throne.

While the numbers may show that he was well into his reign during all of this, we have to remember that for twenty-two years his stepmother, nesew Hatshepsut served as his co-regent. So technically, he was fairly new to running a nation on his own but as we have mentioned several times, Hatshepsut made sure he was installed with the finest education in all areas of nation management, especially on the battlefield.

Most of the world remembers Tuthmosis the 3^rd as a fearless general who led from the front, conquering approximately 110 states and extending Kemet’s borders as far as parts of Syria, Canaan, and even into Nubia. The inscription located at the temple of Karnak ‘I have given you power and victory over all the nations’ served as the basis to create “the first true empire,” as quoted by the great African scholar Cheik Anta Diop.

The tributes paid in his honor were equally opulent. In the 38^th year of his reign the annual net tribute paid by Syria alone read the following: 328 horses, 522 slaves (these were generally women as state vassals gave their daughters willingly), nine chariots decorated in gold and silver, 61 painted chariots, vast amounts of copper and other precious metals, incense, oil and the best lumber. To see other examples of tributes collected, I suggest reading Civilization or Barbarism also by Cheik Anta Diop.

Later on in his reign, Tuthmosis the 3^rd set his eyes on establishing his artistic development. Like so many nesew or kings before him, erecting monuments was of great importance. So he commissioned over 50 temples and tombs to be built for quite a number of nobles. Architecturally, his use of what was called heraldic pillars (two large pillars standing on its own instead of being a part of a set that supported a roof) was brand new and could be seen with chiseled lotus flowers on its face at the temple of Karnak.

There is mention of a jubilee hall that was known as the ‘earliest building created in basilica style.’ It was under Tuthmosis the 3^rd that his artisans learnt the art of glassmaking to create pitchers. There are a few other items that were constructed during his time that stood out, like the ‘teken waty’ or unique obelisk (a stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and a pyramidal top, set up as a monument or landmark). Although created, it was never erected until Tuthmosis the 4^th did so some 35 years later.

As much as he had built during his time on the throne, Tuthmosis the 3^rd also took the time to have some of Hatshepsut’s work defaced in the process. The defacing of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri was a despicable act. I had been taught that he done this out of jealously. Being refused Hatshepsut’s daughter in marriage, and the delay of taking his place on the throne may have served as fuel for the fire. It was later discovered that Hatshepsut’s chief steward Senemut had his monuments defaced as well.

Tuthmosis the 3^rd died about one month shy of his 54^th year on the throne and was buried in his own mortuary temple built close to Hatshepsut’s. His mummy was excavated by the German born Egyptologist Émile Brugsch in 1881. When the mummy was unwrapped, the state he was in was not fitting for someone who had supplanted himself as one of Kemet’s greatest nesew. For starters, his feet were missing probably by grave robbers who also stripped Tuthmosis the 3^rd of the jewels he we buried with.

All in all, Tuthmosis the 3^rd legacy remains in the hearts and minds of us all. His efforts added to the mystique and splendor of the ancient world and raised the bar of the type of greatness Kemet has shown us time and time again.