Discover the Top 7 Amazing Fun Facts About Amenhotep III: The Egyptian Pharaoh's Secrets Unveiled!

1. Lion-Slaying Pharaoh

Before Simba ever thought, "I just can't wait to be king," there was a boss-like Pharaoh known as Amenhotep III dominating the lion-slaying game: This ancient ruler hunted and killed over 100 lions in just the first 10 years of his reign, garnering crazy street cred among the Egyptians as memorial scarabs were created to document his prowess and can still be found in museums today.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. A-Head of the Game Statue

Let's talk about statues with "a-head of the game": Back in ancient Egypt, Amenhotep III had a colossal quartzite statue that towered over 8 meters high, without even counting its platform shoes! The serious reveal: This statue, found in his mortuary temple by the River Nile, sported the fashionable red crown of Lower Egypt and struck a power pose symbolizing his first Sed festival, which leveled him up from mere mortal to god-in-residence.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that the "pharaoh of sunscreen" Franz Greiter invented the sun-defending Glacier Cream in the 1930s, introducing the world to SPF and revolutionizing sun protection? Discover how this invention led to a multi-billion dollar industry! 🌞💡

=> Fun Facts about Egypt

3. King of Bling Statues

In a true testament to the phrase, "you can never have too many statues of yourself," Amenhotep III took self-promotion to colossal levels: this radiant Pharaoh of Egypt commissioned over 700 life-sized statues of himself and his family, as well as 90 enormous statues of the goddess Sekhmet for his mortuary temple at Thebes, firmly establishing himself as the original king of bling.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. International Speed Dating Pharaoh

A royal husband with a dab hand in international speed dating: Amenhotep III was a master of diplomatic marriage, marrying a Babylonian princess and finessing peace and trade negotiations with neighboring kingdoms during the Eighteenth Dynasty, all while cleverly avoiding sending his daughters off to tie the knot with lesser Babylonian beaus.
Source => hist1039-16.omeka.fas.harvard.edu

5. Gatsby-Level Party Planner

Talk about a Gatsby-level bash: Amenhotep III threw a Heb-Sed festival so extravagant that it included building temples, colossal sculptures, and a fancy-schmancy House of Rejoicing palace complex in celebration of his 30th year reign as king.
Source => cambridge.org

6. Pharaoh of Partyhardology

Inheriting the title "Pharaoh of Partyhardology," whose curriculum vitae read like a scene out of the Great Gatsby: Amenhotep III was an Egyptian king who enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, putting a special focus on the arts and upholding grand architectural undertakings. Being a lover, not a fighter, he squashed a rebellion in Nubia early on, only to spend the rest of his days living peacefully and wooing his commoner wife, Tiy, by making her a majestic lake with dimensions befitting a love boat cruise liner. Alas, all that royal feasting took a toll on our titular protagonist, who ended up with an aching belly and a dental bill that would make a modern dentist drool like the Nile!
Source => discoveringegypt.com

7. Dawn-Serenading Colossi

Step aside, early morning DJs: the Colossi of Memnon had the freshest dawn sounds that had ancient tourists flocking for some good luck! Alas, this larger-than-life Egyptian hitmaker, Amenhotep III, erected these statues not for a trend-setting gig, but as guardians of his mortuary temple complete with smaller statues of his mother and wife: The 60-feet tall Colossi, situated near his Luxor temple, emitted a mysterious sound at sunrise from the northern statue, bestowing good fortune on those who heard it and making it a sought-after destination for travelers of yore.
Source => memphistours.com