Reconstructed the face of Amenhotep III "the Magnificent"
The history of Ancient Egypt has been preserved through monumental structures and enduring mummies that have withstood the test of time. Today, with advanced facial reconstruction technologies, we can breathe new life into the great pharaohs, revealing their faces as they might have appeared in ancient time.
A few days ago an international team of researchers, led by Brazilian 3D artist Cícero Moraes, successfully reconstructed the face of Amenhotep III, famously known as “The Magnificent.”
A Project of High Scientific Value
The reconstruction, published in the prestigious journal Clinical Anatomy, offers a glimpse into the face of one of Egypt’s most illustrious pharaohs, approximately 3,300 years after his death. The process required a rigorous scientific approach: lacking definitive information about the hairstyle, skin tone, or eye color of the pharaoh, the team initially created a “raw” and objective 3D image. This depicted Amenhotep III with closed eyes and a grayish complexion, based solely on skeletal data.
Subsequently, the team produced a second version that was more artistic and detailed, envisioning the pharaoh with clothing, ornaments, and physical features inspired by his historical period.
The Reign of Amenhotep III
Ruling for approximately 40 years, from 1388 to 1351 BCE, Amenhotep III governed during a period of extraordinary prosperity for Egypt. He is renowned for constructing monumental works such as his mortuary temple, now primarily remembered for the Colossi of Memnon—two gigantic statues that stand guard over the remnants of Thebes. He is also credited with building significant portions of the Temple of Luxor.
His historical legacy extends beyond architectural achievements: Amenhotep III is remembered as the father of Akhenaten, the "heretic pharaoh" who introduced the worship of the god Aten, and as the grandfather of Tutankhamun, one of Ancient Egypt's most famous rulers.
A Deteriorated but Valuable Mummy
Despite his significance, the mummy of Amenhotep III has not survived in good condition. The less traditional used embalming method, combined with damage from humidity and tomb robbers, compromised the pharaoh’s body. However, the detailed notes of Australian anatomist Grafton E. Smith, who examined the mummy in 1905, were instrumental for the project. His analyses, including measurements of the eye sockets and nose width, enabled the creation of an accurate model of the skull.
The team then overlaid modern tomography scans onto the skeletal model, adding realistic details to make the face of Amenhotep III as faithful to the original as possible.
Technology at the Service of History
Cícero Moraes’s work is not new in the field of historical reconstruction. The artist has previously brought iconic faces to life, including the earliest discovered Homo sapiens, a Stone Age woman, and the hominid known as the “Dragon Man.”
The authors of the study emphasize that future genetic and chemical investigations of the embalming materials could reveal additional details about the life and legacy of Amenhotep III, shedding new light on one of the most fascinating periods in Egyptian history.
Thanks to the synergy between science, art, and technology, the face of the Magnificent Pharaoh once again looks upon the world, a silent witness to an era of grandeur and splendor.
source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ca.24251
