The Co-Regency of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II Revisited

Abstract

The aim of the article is to reconsider the question of the co-regency of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II in the light of recent research casting into doubt the existence of this institution in the Middle Kingdom. The author re-examines the sources cited in favour of the co-regency, showing that the co-regency hypothesis generates more problems than it allegedly solves. Instead of searching for one simple solution for all seemingly insurmountable problems raised up by the available evidence, the author proposes to explain each problem individually. As a result, it seems that questions such as the alleged double coronation date of Amenhotep II, the problem of his two ‘first victorious campaigns’, or the presence of the images of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II in the temple of Amada can be satisfactorily explained without any necessity to maintain that both pharaohs ever ruled together, even for a brief period of time.