#amenhotep ii

[egypt-museum]

Kneeling Statue of Amenhotep II

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1427-1401 BC. From Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak. Now in the Egyptian Museum of Turin. Cat. 1375

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[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Amenhotep II New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep II Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Denmark Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? There are various theories. However, by examining the evidence found in ancient recorded history, it is surprisingly clear to establish just who the Exodus Pharaoh was. In "The Exodus Pharaoh EXPLAINED," Archeologist and Professor Joel Kramer shows us that Amenhotep II was indeed the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

[peoplematchingartworks]

[thereader-radhika]

Amenhotep II and Rajendra Chola I

There are some similarities between Pharoah Hatshepsut and Ko-Parakesari Uttama Cholan.

Both became rulers during turbulent times.

In Chola country, there were some succession issues that are still unknown to us and a young heir (Aditha Karikalan) and the king (Parantaka II, Sundara Cholan) died back to back.

In Egypt, Thutmose II was a physically and mentally weak ruler who died young. His sister-wife (yes, incest 😫) and stepmother of his infant son Thutmose III, Hatshepsut, became the baby's co-regent and later independent King. She died when Thutmose III was 24.

Both stabilised the economies of their states and led administrative reforms.

They groomed their heirs very efficiently. Hatshepsut's stepson Thutmose the Great and Uttama Cholan's nephew Rajaraja the Great would go on to become extremely successful rulers.

Amenhotep II and Rajendra Cholan, the successors of these Kings, would try to malign the reputation of Hatshepsut and Uttama Cholan.

When he was made the co-regent at the end of his father's reign, Amenhotep II chiseled out or replaced Hatshepsut's cartouches (royal seal), destroyed pharonic statues and covered up her monuments. Rajendra Cholan's Thiruvalangadu copper plates say that  "paternal uncle (Uttama Cholan) coveted his (i.e., Arunmolivarman's) dominions".

Why did these kings do it? Didn't Hatshepsut and Uttama Cholan bring their fathers (possibly Rajendran too) up and train them for well? If they were problematic, couldn't Thutmose III and Rajaraja I have outed them from power? Arulmozhi Varman was supposedly so beloved that people were begging him to become the king. Hatshepsut and probably Uttama too placed the army under the command of their heirs.

At the same time, we don't have any reason to believe that Hatshepsut and Uttama weren't nice and their successors were anything but respectful. Thutmose was actually really fond of his stepmother (which was ofc covered up Amenhotep). Rajarajan named his son Maduranthakan. We will revisit this at the end.

It is interpreted that the reasons weren't troubled past or personal relationships. It is the future, the legacy. It comes across as extremely conceited and arrogant but kings placed a lot of importance on their lineage. It is the sole thing that differentiated a random talented person from the king. Establishing a line of succession was only second to having the support of the army. If they didn't know much about ancestors or if they were unremarkable, kings would even claim the legacy of gods and mythological heroes.

By excluding Hatshepsut from the list of kings, Amenhotep established himself and his children as the legitimate successors of the throne.

Ahmose I - Amenhotep I- Thutmose I - Thutmose II - Hatshepsut - Thutmose III - Amenhotep II - Thutmose IV - Amenhotep III  . . .          . . . you get the idea.

Similarly, by setting a narrative that the Chola crown always belonged to his father who magnanimously bestowed it upon the uncle temporarily, Rajendran ensured that he or his successors won't be troubled by Uttama's line.

Amenhotep and Rajendran didn't bear any personal grudge against Hatshepsut or Uttama.

Though Amenhotep tried to erase proof of Hatshepsut's reign as an independent king, her statues and inscriptions as the King's daughter, Chief Priestess of Amun and the Great Royal Wife were left intact. In fact he stopped those attempts too, immediately after he consolidated his rule.

Uttama Cholan is praised as an ideal man and king even in Thiruvalangadu plates and other inscriptions don't say anything bad about him.

Applying (his) mind to (the devotion of) Sarva (Siva), utilising (his) wealth in the act of performing his worship (employing) all (his) retinue in the construction of houses (i.e., temples) for him, and directing (his) subjects to (regularly) perform his festive processions, (showing his) wrath (only) in the killing of enemies and (distributing his) riches among virtuous Brahmanas, that king (Madhurantaka) bore on (his) broad shoulders, the (weight of the) earth.

Esalam copper plate, which was made at least after 25 years of rule (total reign 30 years).

Madhurantaka [Uttama], who wanted to re-establish on earth the auspicious path of justice that has slipped owing to the power of Kali.

But the story doesn't end here.

Sanskrit introduction of Leiden Plates aka Anaimangalam plates which is assumed to have been added later in Rajendran's reign praises him even more.

When that chief of kings went to heaven, the son of Gandaraditya, King Madhurantaka, he, of powerful arms and famous as Mahendran, protected the earth which had the ocean for its girdle.

The curious factor to be noticed here is that this grant doesn't mention the titles of either kings. Uttaman is mentioned as Maduranthakan and Rajarajan's son isn't Rajendran, Mummudi Cholan, Gangaikondan, or Kadaram Kondan- he is just another Maduranthakan. This might be the rare occasion of humility we see in him.

@willkatfanfromasia

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@vibishalakshman

@ambidextrousarcher

[ultrachoppedpenguinbouquet]

Amenhotep II

[ukdamo]

Ozymandias

Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land,

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

The Colossi of Memnon - once reputed to sing at dawn (but not for many centuries!) The Singing Ringing Tree continues to perform for visitors.

[innervoiceartblog]

Paint Box of Vizier Amenemope Egypt, Dynasty 18 -

(1540-1296 BC), Reign of Amenhotep II c. 1427-1401 BC

[panafrocore]

12 Facical Recreations Of Africa's Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs/Figures Based On Their Respective Sculptures

The 12 facial recreations of Africa’s ancient Egyptian pharaohs and figures based on their respective sculptures offer a captivating glimpse into the past. From the regal visage of Ahmose Nefertari to the serene countenance of Queen Tiye, each reconstruction brings history to life. The majestic presence of Amenhotep III and the enigmatic charm of Nefertiti are captured with remarkable precision.…

[egypt-museum]

Face of Amenhotep II

The faces on most statues of Amenhotep II differ slightly from those of his two immediate predecessors. Compared with the sculpture of Thutmose III or Hatshepsut exhibited nearby, for example, this statue’s face is a little longer, the eyes somewhat narrower, the brows a bit straighter, the nose slightly thicker, and the mouth less curved.

This face is not a portrait, but an official image conceived by the chief royal sculptors to communicate the ideal physical appearance of Amenhotep II. The Egyptians believed that reality was momentary and thus, within the context of eternity, meaningless. Only an ideal representation would endure forever.

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1426-1400 BC. Now in the Brooklyn Museum. 56.7

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[m1male2]

Tomb of Sennefer or Tomb of the Vineyards, in the Valley of the Nobles, Egypt.

Sennefer, his titles include Mayor of Thebes and “Inspector of the granaries and gardens of Amun”, during the reign of Amenhotep II (reigned from 1443 to 1417 BC) 18th Dynasty.

[spiritsdancinginthenight]

Painted double statue of Sennefer & his mother or wife, Nenounhermenetes New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep II, c. 1427-1401 B.C. Musée du Louvre. E 27161

[the-painting-space]

English👉🏻Paint Box of Vizier Amenemope. Egypt, Dynasty 18 (1540-1296 BC), reign of Amenhotep II, c. 1427-1401 BC

French👉🏻Boîte de couleurs du Vizir Amenemope.Egypte, Nouvel Empire, XVIIIème dynastie (1540-1296 av. J.C.), règne d'Amenhotep II

Musée d’Art de Cleveland, Ohio

[nowoolallowed]

Merit’s wig - Museo Egizio Collection

Inventory Number: S. 8499 New Kingdom, Pre Ramesside, Dynasty 18. 1425–1353 BCE. Reign: Amenhotep II / Tuthmosis IV / Amenhotep III Location Information: Deir el Medina / tomb of Kha (TT8)

Description:

Another exceptional artifact that belonged to Merit is her wig, made with real locks of hair that were sewn together and braided. The hair is parted in the middle and curled into ringlets that end with braids on either side of the face and on the back of the neck. This type of hairdo was often decorated with flowers and diadems, which were very fashionable in the mid-18th dynasty, as can be seen in the paintings and statues of the period.

[galgannet]

Ahmose I (Ahmes I) was a pharaoh who reigned approximately 1550 - 1525 BC. e., and is the founder of the 18th dynasty. He was never particularly popular or known and that’s the reason that made me draw this picture so that people would remember him or learn about him. Ahmose's reign began on the day he came of age (at the age of 16), by which time his heroic father Seqenenra Taa II was already dead (he died not from intrigue, as you might think, but in a battle with the Hyksos). Ahmose's mother, Queen Yahhotep, initially ruled together with her son until he got married. Having blessed the couple to have a long and happy life, she finally retired from political affairs (not really). Ahmose continued the war with the Hyksos because his father’s work had to continue and his death had to be avenged. The brave pharaoh set his sights on the very capital of his vile enemies. The young pharaoh entered into an alliance with Crete, which was famous for its unsurpassed fleet (And also for dancing with bulls and a centralized water supply, but that’s another story). He led the combined fleet to Avaris, a fortified city located on the Nile Delta, which made approaches to it from the river quite convenient. Nevertheless, the siege lasted for an indecently long time and only in the 11th year of the reign of Ahmose, the city was captured through a fierce assault. Many hands were cut off, and the water was stained with blood to the delight of the alligators. The unfortunate Hyksos were forced to retreat all the way to Asia, liberating all of Lower Egypt. But this did not stop Ahmose. The thirst for revenge and the desire to protect Egypt from further encroachments by the Hyksos forced him to capture the Sharukhen fortress in Palestine. The last stronghold of his enemies fell. All this time, Queen Yahhotep did not sit idle and actively helped her son in military activities, earning awards for her valor (perhaps we will talk about her in our next illustrations). Recapturing Egypt became the greatest deed in the life of Ahmose (which, you see, is quite impressive). While the young pharaoh was engaged in his military activities (after all, as you know, once you start, it’s impossible to stop), his still fragile power over Egypt weakened. Uprisings began. However, they were successfully suppressed, thus finally strengthening him on the throne. Finally, as he grew older, Ahmose’s ardor subsided and he began construction work. However, he was not so good in this field and practically not a single building of Ahmose has survived to this day. However, during his time new quarries were opened for the construction of temples, so everything is not so bad. Ahmose's mother and grandmother were quite strong women who actively participated in political and even military activities until their last day. The first wife of Ahmose, Ahmose-Nefertari, also did not lag behind her relatives. All these women overshadowed Ahmose himself (we will not write about their deeds here). However, he loved his family and treated them with respect, which is reflected in some frescoes and in the records of scribes. The painting reflects my interpretation of the fresco on the stele that Ahmose dedicated to his grandmother Tetisheri after her death. Here he makes offerings to her. Ahmose died early, he was about 40 years old. After his death, his son Amenhotep I took the throne. If you want to know more about this pharaoh, but don't want to read boring historical texts, there are works of fiction on the topic. Ahmose is the main character in Naguib Mahfouz's novel The War of Thebes and Christian Jacques's Wrath of the Gods trilogy. Both works tell the story of the liberation of Egypt from the rule of the Hyksos. Artstation | Deviantart | VK | Commission List

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Ten Commandments Trivia

(Cecil B. DemIlle with Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter)

Cecil B. DeMille picked Charlton Heston for the role of Moses in "The Ten Commandments" (1956) because he bore a resemblance to Michelangelo's statue of Moses in Rome, Italy. Heston played Michelangelo in "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (1965).

Legend has it that Anne Baxter's character's name was changed from "Nefertiti" to "Nefretiri" because DeMille was afraid people would make crude jokes. In reality, DeMille was sticking to history: Rameses II's Queen was actually named Nefretiri. Nefertiti, by contrast, lived about sixty years earlier, and was the Queen of Amenhotep IV (named Akhenaten later in his reign). These events were depicted in another film, "The Egyptian" (1954). Nefretiri means "beautiful companion" in Egyptian.

Audrey Hepburn was originally slated for the role of Nefretiri; DeMille reluctantly decided to pass on her after she was judged "too slender".

Edward G. Robinson said DeMille saved his career by hiring him for this movie. Robinson had been almost blacklisted for his left-wing political activism, and offers of work had dried up as a result. DeMille hiring Robinson for this movie undermined the Hollywood blacklist.

According to Hollywood lore, while filming the sequence that precedes Moses' descent from Mount Horeb with the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are engraved, DeMille was perched on top of a ladder delivering his customarily long-winded directions through a megaphone to the hundreds of extras involved in the scene. After droning on to the extras for several minutes, DeMille was distracted by one young woman who was talking to another woman standing next to her. DeMille stopped his speech and directed everyone's attention to the young woman. "Here," DeMille said, "we have a young woman whose conversation with her friend is apparently more important than listening to her instructions from her director while we are all engaged in making motion picture history. Perhaps the young woman would care to enlighten us all and tell us what the devil is so important that it cannot wait until after we make this shot." After an embarrassed pause, the young woman spoke up and boldly confessed, "I was just saying to my friend here, 'I wonder when that bald-headed old fart is gonna call 'Lunch!'" Nonplussed, DeMille stared at the woman for a moment, paused, then lifted his megaphone and shouted, "Lunch!" (IMDb)

[artifacts-archive]

Head of King Amenhotep II with the "Blue Crown"

Egyptian, 1427-1401 BCE (New Kingdom)

The khepresh, or "blue crown," appears frequently in royal sculpture of the New Kingdom. The king wore this crown on campaigns or in ceremonial processions. As with all royal headdresses, the coiled, protective uraeus serpent appears at the brow.