24 Facts About Amenemhat III

Amenemhat III, known as Amenemhet III, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the sixth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom.

Amenemhat III was elevated to throne as co-regent by his father Senusret III, with whom he shared the throne as the active king for twenty years.

Amenemhat III directed his efforts towards an extensive building program with particular focus on Faiyum.

Amenemhat III built for himself two pyramids at Dahshur and Hawara, becoming the first pharaoh since Sneferu in the Fourth Dynasty to build more than one.

In total, Amenemhat III reigned for at least 45 years, though a papyrus mentioning a 46th year likely belongs to his reign as well.

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Amenemhat III is well attested to through his statuary with approximately 80 works attributed to him, his building program, particularly concentrated around Faiyum, and the two pyramids that he had built.

Amenemhat III is mentioned in Manetho's Aegyptiaca, originally composed circa the 3rd century BC, tentatively dated to the reign of Ptolemy II.

Amenemhat III is accorded a reign of 8 years under the name ?a?a??? by both Africanus and Eusebius.

Amenemhat III was the son of Senusret III, his predecessor on the throne.

Amenemhat III had several sisters – Menet, Mereret, Senetsenbetes, Sithathor, and a partially known Khnemet-.

Two of Amenemhat III's wives are known, Aat and Khenemetneferhedjet III, who were both buried in his Pyramid at Dahshur.

Amenemhat III had one confirmed daughter, Neferuptah, who appears to have been groomed as his successor, owing to her name being enclosed in cartouche.

Amenemhat III's reign is attested for at least 45 years, though a papyrus fragment from El-Lahun mentioning 'regnal year 46, month 1 of akhet, day 22' likely dates to his rule as well.

Amenemhat III's reign ends with a brief co-regency with his successor Amenemhat IV.

Senusret Amenemhat III had pursued aggressive military action to curb incursions from tribes people from Nubia.

Amenemhat III sent a military expedition into Syria-Palestine, enemies of Egypt since the reign of Senusret I His internal policies targeted the increasing power of provincial governors, transferring power back to the reigning monarch.

Amenemhat III formed the basis for the legendary character Sesostris described by Manetho and Herodotus.

One inscription dating to year 43 of Amenemhat III's reign comes from Tura and refers to the quarrying of limestone there for a mortuary temple, either that at Dahshur or Hawara.

Amenemhat III's building program included monuments in Khatana, Tell el-Yahudiyya, and Bubastis.

At Bubastis, Amenemhat III likely built a palace which hosts relief art containing his name.

In Faiyum, Amenemhat III built a huge temple dedicated to Sobek at Kiman Faras.

Amenemhat III kept close watch on the inundation levels of the Nile, as demonstrated by inscriptions left at Kumma and Semna.

The sculpture of Amenemhat III continued the tradition of Senusret III, though it pursued a more natural and expressive physiognomy, while retaining an idealized image.

Amenemhat III dressed in panther skin from the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.