This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called “Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠” and while small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 for a couple of reasons!
The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. While the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation:
𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra
𓌸 – Beloved
So the full translation would be “Nebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.
The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown 𓋛 that is characteristic of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.
Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son 𓅭 Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 religious revolution.
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.