Sphinx of Amenhotep II

This is a sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪! Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 18th Dynasty and was the son 𓅭 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. He ruled 𓋾𓈎𓏏 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for about 26 𓎆𓎆𓏿 years and the first two 𓏻 years of his rule might have been a co-reign with his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀. 

Why do so many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 represent themselves as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦? A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 is a mythical creature and is the combination of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (the body) and a human (the head 𓁶𓏺).  In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself. 

Sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 loved to portray himself as powerful (as all pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 did), but Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 is actually most known for his athletic abilities! Many depictions show him as an accomplished archer!

Amenhotep II’s birth name is actually the same as Amenhotep I, which is 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪. Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Satisfied

So the name translates to “Amun is Satisfied.”

We can tell pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 with the same name apart based on their throne name! Amenhotep II’s throne name is “Aakheperura 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓏦!” Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

𓇳 – Ra

𓉻 – Great 

𓆣𓏦 – Manifestations

The name translates to “The Great Manifestations of Ra.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.