The New Kingdom of Egypt

The New Kingdom of Egypt

The New Kingdom of Egypt, which was from 1550 to 1070 BC, is one of the richest and most powerful periods in ancient Egyptian history within these borders. Militarily, this period was covered by conquests and extensions and exhibited the emergence of Egypt as an important power in the ancient world. Several of Egypt's well-known pharaohs, like Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Ramses II, and Tutankhamun, ruled during the New Kingdom. His extensive works and cultural achievements left lasting legacies. Grand temples and tombs, artistic and religious developments show why the New Kingdom marked the zenith of civilization in Egypt.

Famous Pharaohs of The New Kingdom of Egypt

1. Ahmose I (c.1550-1525 BCE)
Ahmose I is seen as the founder of the 18th Dynasty and the first pharaoh of the New Kingdom. He has expelled Hyksos out of Egypt and reunited it after a long period of foreign rule. Victories paved the way for new empire-emergent forces to dominate the ancient world—New Kingdoms.

2. Hatshepsut (c. 1479-1458 BCE)
An exceptionally successful and unique pharaoh in Egyptian recorded history, Hatshepsut would be famed for her partly longest reign with prosperity. One of the few female pharaohs, Hatshepsut built and dedicated her building project to herself—her famous Deir el-Bahari temple—and established trade routes that brought wealth to Egypt. Then she pushed further Egypt's interest through establishing diplomatic ties, especially with the Kingdom of Punt.

3. Thutmose III (c. 1479-1425 BCE).
The most brilliant military tactician, as well as one of the most extensive conquerors of the Levant and Nubia. Often referred to in history as "the Napoleon of Egypt," Thutmose III expanded Egypt beyond measure at its greatest point, dominating the ancient world. Among his other projects was to start a large number of building programs and to be an active player in the development of the Temple of Karnak.

4. Amenhotep III (c. 1386–1353 BCE)
It was a period of great peace combined with prosperity during the tenure of this king; the opulent period in Egyptian history saw Amenhotep III preside over an extravagant reign. He was diplomatic, having very strong alliances with many outside states like those of Mitanni and Babylon. His reign saw remarkable architectural achievements, including the construction of the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues that still stand at the entrance to his mortuary temple.

5. Akhenaten (c. 1353-1336 BCE)
In fact, Akhenaten was also known as Amenhotep IV, and his best-known act was one of the boldest religious reforms ever attempted within Egypt: conversion to the worship of the disk of the sun, Aten, completely transforming Egyptian worship into a form of exclusive monotheism, in the wake of which the old pantheon had been superseded. He was the first man to fashion a city for the honor of Aten, whose name was Akhetaten (modern-day Amarna), creating a spectacular break with Egypt's religious and artistic traditions. Although these innovations were abandoned after his death, they have had a profound impact upon the history of religion in Egypt.

6. Tutankhamun (c. 1332-1323 BCE)
Immensely famous as the "Boy King," Tutankhamun remains one of the most popular pharaohs worldwide; after all, his tomb was found mostly intact within the Valley of the Kings. He was a pharaoh of reduced reign, lasting 10 years during which he died, but many things of great value are extracted in his lavish tomb, including the famous golden death mask, and he has become one of the most significant figures within the history of Egypt. This is his greatest legacy: that of restoring all of the old gods, which had been lost after Akhenaten's religious reforms.

7. Seti I (c. 1290-1279 BCE)
A strong ruler, Seti I, who fathered Ramses II, had campaigned in both the Levant and Nubia. He did also have a successful reign with all of the developments, ­but most particularly the erection of a great temple at Abydos. His other deeds included the completion of what little work still remained to be accomplished in the repair of the temples and other monuments that had been defaced or destroyed during the Amarna period.

8. Ramses II (c. 1279-1213 BCE)
One of the best-remembered and perhaps one of the greatest pharaohs Egypt ever had was Ramses II. At 66 years, his reign was one of the longest known in Egyptian history. He was engaged in a good many military activities, among which he considered the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites to have been the most famous. He is known to have written one of the earliest peace treaties in the history of the world. The colossal stone works created by Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the Ramesseum will thus make him one of the world's most forcing figures as a builder and soldier.

9. Merneptah (c. 1213-1203 BCE)
Indeed, the most famous pharaoh especially in his campaign to Libya and Levant, who for his record of bringing Israel to the account of history as an early form of Israel in Canaan is none other than Merneptah, the son of the Ramses II. Though his reign wrote the start of the decline of Egypt, he left behind an item—some of Egypt's most important archaeological collections are found on the Merneptah Stele, a very critical record, illustrating many of the politics of the country as well as its enemies during the late New Kingdom.

10. Ramses III (c. 1186-1155 BCE)
The last great pharaoh in the New Kingdom, Ramses III, reigned as the man who defended Egypt against the invasions of the Sea People. A strong ruler, he was also a notable builder, constructing, for example, the temple of Medinet Habu. But his reign marked the beginning of decline for Egypt as internal rebellion and foreign invasions started corroding the land.

The Golden Age of Egyptian Architecture and Monuments in the New Kingdom

1. The Temples of Luxor and Karnak
The Temple of Karnak The temple is located in Thebes, modernly Luxor that's most likely one of the most beautiful and incredibly complex sacred where he was overshadowed the most, if certainly a center of worship for Amun-Ra; New Kingdom pharaohs had the expanded complex over the centuries. This construction covers about a thousand years, but it was only when the New Kingdom adopted the temples that large pylons, monster obelisks, and massive courtyards were added. Another magnificent temple is the Temple of Luxor dedicated to Amun, characterized by preserved statues and very attractive courtyards. Road of the sphinxes connects the gap that separates the two temples and serves as a grand processional walkway that greatly emphasizes the significance and grandeur of New Kingdom buildings.

2. The Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, and consists of series of tombs of some of the more famous pharaohs of Egypt such as Ramses II, Thutmose III, and Tutankhamun. By the era of the New Kingdom, picturesque tombs carved into the cliffs lining the valley were created to guarantee those pharaohs' journeys would continue to the afterlife. Due to the nature of the tomb walls, the murals inside serve as a sort of encyclopedia of Egyptian mythology and the very intricate nature of the funerary goods intended to accompany the pharaoh into the next life are invariably some of this. By far one of the most important archaeological finds in history was the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. 

3. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshapsuit
The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari is arguably the very best example of New Kingdom architecture. This temple was built by a female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, and represents great architectural achievement, foregrounded against the cliffs of Theban Hills. With its terraces and colonnades of the unusual design seen, it might well rank among Egypt's most innovative monuments. It was supposed to honor the reign of Hatshepsut and its legacy but was mainly designed as a veneration to Amun-the walls of the temple were adorned, displayed the traditional trade expedition to Punt for which Hatshepsut is famous, and austerity of her era.

4. Sun Temples of Abu Simbel 
Some of Egypt's spectacular temples are the Abu Simbel temples, which were built by Ramses II in the 13th century BCE. The mountainside temples are dedicated to Ramses and his principal wife, Queen Nefertari. Most prominent of these is the set of statues topping over 65 feet each representing Ramses II at the entrance-an iconic image for ancient Egypt. Furthermore, the alignment of the temples-he had constructed them so that on two days each year, with perfect precision, the rising sun struck deep into the sanctuary in such manner that its golden rays illuminated the god's statue-showcases the Egyptians’ early skill in astronomy and the efforts to translate it into their art.

5. The Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are two gigantic statues that formerly stood at the entrance to the funerary temple of Amenhotep III, located on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor. Each one is more than 60 feet tall and represents a pharaoh seated on a throne. Even though much of them were damaged by earthquakes over the centuries, this pair of statues still reign as an awe-inspiring testimony to the grandeur of New Kingdom architecture. It was a strange phenomenon; the sounds produced a mysterious "singing" at dawn, which the local people could explain by the changes in temperature from nighttime to daytime.

6. The Loggia of Ramses II
Ramses II was one of the mightiest sovereigns in Egyptian history and left behind many monuments, but the temple at Abu Simbel is one of the greatest architectural achievements attributed to this great pharaoh in his regime. There are four very large stone statues of Ramses in the main, 65 feet high, placed on the exterior, and the wall decorations with scenes from his military expeditions and his divine links to some gods are more than splendid. The great alignment with the sun-on two days per year, the sunlight makes its way through the temple and bathes the inner sanctum of the building in sunlight-testifies to some amazing engineering qualities of time.

7. The Temple of Amun at Karnak
The Amun Temple of Karnak is one of the largest religious buildings in the world and has been continuously developed throughout the New Kingdom over several centuries. At its most prominent, it includes a grand hypostyle hall that commands 134 gigantic columns, making the temple one of Egypt's best-known structural landmarks; multiple sanctuaries, pylons, and obelisks celebrate the fact that these were the pharaohs who, over the course of their reigns, enlarged it out of all proportion to its original conception.

8. The Rammeseum
This architectural castle of the scorpion, large as a world, shone in brilliant colors from west of the Nile. Such sanctuaries are known to have included huge columns and an equally imposing statue of Ramses II placed at the old entrance. Many times destroyed by the force of the earthquake or the merciless touch of time, the tomb remains, reminding all of its grandeur and magnitude of New Kingdom buildings.

The Golden Age of Egyptian architecture during the New Kingdom remains one of the most impressive periods in ancient history. The monumental structures built during this time, from the grand temples of Karnak and Luxor to the awe-inspiring tombs in the Valley of the Kings, showcase the advanced engineering, artistic mastery, and deep religious significance of ancient Egypt. These architectural wonders not only reflect the power and prosperity of Egypt's pharaohs but also offer a window into the cultural and spiritual life of a civilization that continues to captivate the world. Today, these timeless monuments stand as enduring symbols of Egypt's remarkable legacy, inspiring wonder and admiration for generations to come.