The Pharaoh as Warrior
It was essential in any Pharaoh’s reign to present themselves as a warrior and protector of Egypt; this was in order to uphold their duty in maintaining maat throughout their Kingdom.
In the reigns of Amenhotep III's predecessors this role was carried out with battles and campaigns to the various neighbours of Egypt, such as Syria-Palestine, Nubia and Babylon. However, in Amenhotep’s reign this was not fulfilled like in years gone by. This was due to the peaceful relations that Egypt now held with its neighbours; the need for war was unnecessary. This of course left the army with little occupation, something the Pharaoh put to his own use in his administrative structure. Although the Pharaoh only made one military campaign in Year 5 of his reign, the King still presented himself as a warrior, hunter and protector of Egypt, as was custom.
The Pharaoh used an early form of propaganda in order to promote the view of his strength as a warrior and hunter of Egypt; these were his commemorative scarabs that were issued throughout his reign. The scarabs were used to commemorate a variety of events, but all were to promote the Pharaoh’s power and wealth. Scarabs from his 2nd and 10th year advertised his skills as a hunter of wild animals, showing his as a master sportsman; skills which are believed to have been passed onto his grandson Tutankhamun. The earlier issued scarabs detailed a hunting excursion that took place somewhere in the delta region, where, the scarab states, the King rounded up a total of 75 wild bulls, with the assistance of a few soldiers. The scarab states: “His Majesty appeared in his chariot with his whole army behind him. The commanders and enlisted men of the entire army, with the young recruits, were commanded to keep watch over the wild cattle. Behold His Majesty ordered that these wild cattle be driven within a walled enclosure. His Majesty proceeded against all these wild cattle. Tally thereof: 170 wild bulls. Tally of His Majesty’s bag in the hunt of this day: 55 bulls… tally of these cattle which he captured in the hunt: 20 wild cattle. Total 75 wild cattle.” The Historian Aldred suggests that since the King was still young at the time this was meant to have happened, it is more likely that it was a military expedition that the King was in attendance of.
In the other scarab from year 10 of his reign it states that during the decade the Pharaoh had “brought down with his own arrows… fierce lions, 102.” This statement is more believable than the previous scarab.
Another contribution that Amenhotep III made to the military at the time was his campaign to Nubia, which was exaggerated as a great victory for the King. This campaign in Nubia took place in the 5thyear of Amenhotep’s reign, making him still only a youth at the time, which is why it is believed that the viceroy of Kush, Merimose, led the action to crush the rebellion of the Nubians at Ibhet. Although depictions of the campaign state the King “mighty bull, strong in
might… the fierce- eyed lion” was there to defeat them, it is believed that the young king was probably not present. “Nevertheless, 150 Nubian men, 250 women, 175 children, 110 archers, and 55 servants- a total of 740- were said to have
been captured, to which was added the 312 right hands of the slain.” (Peter A. Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs,1994)