Introduction
Hello and welcome to The Kemet Curator. If there was a "golden age" in ancient Egyptian history, it was undoubtedly the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE). This period saw Egypt's rise as a global superpower, with an empire that stretched from the Euphrates to Nubia. At the heart of this era were a series of extraordinary pharaohs whose ambition, vision, and legacy continue to fascinate us today.
The iconic gold funerary mask of Tutankhamun, a famous pharaoh of the New Kingdom.
Queen of the Nile: Hatshepsut (c. 1479–1458 BCE)
Long before there was a Cleopatra, there was Hatshepsut. As one of the few female pharaohs to rule in her own right, Hatshepsut defied tradition by taking on the full regalia of a king, including the false beard. Her reign was not defined by military conquest but by incredible prosperity and monumental building projects. Her masterpiece, the terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, stands as a testament to her power and sophisticated taste. Her peaceful expeditions to the Land of Punt brought back exotic goods that enriched Egypt beyond measure.
The Napoleon of Egypt: Thutmose III (c. 1479–1425 BCE)
Following Hatshepsut's reign, her stepson Thutmose III took the throne and became one of history's greatest military commanders. Often called the "Napoleon of Egypt," he led at least 17 military campaigns, expanding Egypt's empire to its greatest extent. He was a master tactician who secured Egypt’s borders and brought immense wealth and tribute back to Egypt, funding the construction of massive temples and monuments at Karnak and Luxor.
The Heretic King: Akhenaten (c. 1353–1336 BCE)
Few pharaohs have been as revolutionary or controversial as Akhenaten. He attempted to change the fundamental religious beliefs of Egypt, abandoning the traditional pantheon of gods to worship a single deity, the sun disk Aten. He moved the capital from Thebes to a new city called Amarna and ordered the erasure of old gods’ names from monuments. While his religious revolution was short-lived, it gave rise to a unique and naturalistic style of art known as the Amarna period, which stands apart from all other Egyptian art.
The Boy King: Tutankhamun (c. 1332–1323 BCE)
Tutankhamun, son of Akhenaten, came to the throne at just nine years old. His reign was brief and relatively unremarkable. Yet, he is arguably the most famous pharaoh today. Why? Because his tomb was discovered in 1922 almost completely intact. The treasures found within—from his iconic gold death mask to his solid gold sarcophagus—provided an unparalleled glimpse into the wealth and funeral customs of a pharaoh, sparking a global fascination with ancient Egypt that continues to this day.
Conclusion
The legacy of the New Kingdom’s pharaohs is immense. From Hatshepsut’s peaceful prosperity to Thutmose III's military might and Akhenaten's religious revolution, they shaped a "golden age" that produced some of the most iconic images and stories in all of human history.
☆ Which of these New Kingdom pharaohs do you find most intriguing? Let us know in the comments below! If Akhenaten's story has piqued your interest, you might enjoy our post on Amarna: The City of the Sun God.