Mutemwiya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mutemwiya
|
|
|---|---|
Mutemwiya in relief at a Luxor temple
|
|
| Title | King's mother |
| Spouse(s) | Thutmose IV |
| Children | Amenhotep III |
| Relatives | Akhenaten (grandson) |
Mutemwiya was an important queen in ancient Egypt. She was a wife of Pharaoh Thutmose IV and the mother of the famous Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Her name, Mutemwiya, means "Mut in the divine barque." Some historians think she might have helped rule Egypt when her son Amenhotep III was still young.
Mutemwiya's Life
| Mutemwiya in hieroglyphs | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mwt m wiA Mut in the divine barque |
||||||||||||
Mutemwiya was not very well known when her husband, Thutmose IV, was pharaoh. Other queens, like Nefertari and Iaret, were more important at court. Mutemwiya became much more important after her son, Amenhotep III, became pharaoh.
People have wondered where Mutemwiya came from. Some thought she might have been a princess from another country, like Mitanni. Others suggested she was related to a powerful Egyptian family. However, there is no clear proof for any of these ideas. Her background is still a bit of a mystery.
Mutemwiya received many important titles during her son's rule. These included "God's Wife" and "Lady of The Two Lands." She was also called "Great King's Wife, his beloved" and "God's Mother." These titles showed her high status. The title "God's Mother" meant she was the mother of the reigning pharaoh, Amenhotep III, who was seen as a god.
Divine Birth Story
Mutemwiya is shown in the Luxor temple in special carvings. These carvings tell the story of her son Amenhotep III's "divine birth." This story shows that Amenhotep III was not just a human king. It suggests he was also partly divine, meaning he had a connection to the gods.
In these scenes, Mutemwiya is shown on a bed meeting the god Amun. Amun had taken the form of her husband, Thutmose IV. This part of the story shows that Amenhotep III was born from the union of his mother and the god Amun himself. Later, a pregnant Mutemwiya is led to the birthing room by the goddesses Isis and Khnum.
Statues and Monuments
A part of a granite statue of Mutemwiya was found in Karnak. This statue is now in the British Museum. It is shaped like a puzzle, showing the goddess Mut sitting in a boat. This shape actually spells out Mutemwiya's name. Her name is also written on the side of the boat.
Mutemwiya is also shown on the famous Colossi of Memnon. These are two giant statues built by her son, Amenhotep III. She appears alongside her daughter-in-law, Tiye, on these huge monuments.
When Did She Die?
We don't know the exact date Mutemwiya died. However, it seems she lived for a long time during her son's reign. One clue is her presence on the Colossi of Memnon, which were built many years into Amenhotep III's rule. Another clue is a wine-jar label found at Amenhotep III's palace. This label mentions her estate, showing she was still active.
See also
In Spanish: Mutemuia para niños
