Amenhotep III was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt from around 1388 BC until around 1350 BC. During his reign over Egypt, it was a period of unprecedented prosperity and artistic splendor (Wiki: Amenhotep III). The art of this era showed several gods that the ancient Egyptians worshiped, such as Amun, Anubis, Aten, Ra, and many others. Most of the artwork was drawn so that most body parts were sized according to standard proportions, but the poses were so rigid that they appear to have little sense of movement, if at all. Many of these designs were reliefs on walls and pottery. This art was known for its audacity and controlled vitality. Most architecture and sculpture was made from heavy materials, mainly stone, which helped to emphasize mass, solidity and impersonality. Some examples would be the temple of Luxor and the Colossi of Memnon. This was the art of the New Kingdom, which combined the monumental forms of the Old Kingdom and the dynamism and inspirations of the Middle Kingdom. Amenhotep III had two sons Thutmose (“Thoutmosis V”) and Amenhotep IV. Thutmose being the eldest of the two, it was he who was recognized as his father's heir. Unfortunately, Thutmose died very young and the cause of death is still unknown. Due to the death of Thutmose, after the death of Amenhotep III, his second son, Amenhotep IV, took his place as pharaoh. Amenhotep IV was crowned in Thebes, where he began to rule. Once crowned, he began building programs, just like many pharaohs of ancient Egypt. He decorated the temple of Amun-Re (or “Amon”, King of the gods and god of the Wind), with himself worshiping Re-Harakhti (or “Ra” god of the Sun) (Wiki: Akhenaten). Soon after, he decided to build a temple dedicated to Aten (...... middle of paper ...... and also with him. Works Cited Phaidon Press Inc. "Amarna Period." Shanahan, Karl. Egypt: 400 Years of Art. New York: Phaidon Press Limited, 2003. Redford, Donald B. “Akhenaten: The Heretic King” /redford, Donald B. Akhenaten: The Heretic King Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. , 1984. 71-72. Scala Publications. “Head of Amenhotep IV – Akhenaten.” Scala Publications, London: Harper & Row, 1987. 104-107 Wiki: Akhenaten, 25 4 2014. : Amarna Heresy. April 25, 2014. .Wikipedia 24 4 2014. .Wilkinson, Richard H. “Meaning in Substance: The Symbolism of Materials.” Wilkinson, Richard H. Symbol and Magic in New York Egyptian Art. Thomas and Hudson, 1994. 82-103.