The Mummy of Thutmose IV: Secrets of a Forgotten Pharaoh

The Mummy of Thutmose IV: Secrets of a Forgotten Pharaoh

The sands of Deir el-Bahari held secrets for millennia, until 1881, when the veil of time was lifted to reveal a poignant discovery: the mummy of Thutmose IV.

Son of the formidable Amenhotep II and father to the magnificent Amenhotep III, Thutmose IV’s earthly remains offered a tangible link to a pivotal era of ancient Egypt.

For decades, his mummy resided in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a silent testament to a reign that, though brief, left an indelible mark. Then, in 2021, Thutmose IV, alongside his royal brethren, embarked on a grand procession, the Royal Mummies Parade, to his new, permanent resting place: the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

Beyond his physical presence, Thutmose IV is famously associated with the “Dream Stela.” Carved between the colossal paws of the Great Sphinx at Giza, this stela recounts a divine encounter.

As a young prince, resting in the shadow of the Sphinx, he dreamt that the deity Horemakhet (represented by the Sphinx) promised him kingship if he would only clear away the encroaching desert sands that buried the majestic monument. Thutmose fulfilled his promise, and in return, claimed the throne.

Though he passed in his early thirties, a tragically young age for a king, Thutmose IV’s legacy endures. His dream, his efforts, and his very being, unearthed from the sands of time, continue to captivate archaeologists, historians, and enthusiasts, painting a vivid picture of a fascinating chapter in Ancient Egypt’s illustrious history.