Circa 1426-1400 B.C.E.
King, Dynasty 18

Life. Amenhotep II was the son of Thutmose III (circa 1479-1425 B.C.E.) and Great Royal Wife Meryetre-Hatshepsut. He married Queen Tiye, who was the mother of the next king, Thutmose IV (circa 1400-1390 B.C.E.). He ruled for twenty-six years, during which Egypt was prosperous and mostly at peace.

Sports and the King. Egyptian kings of Dynasty 18 (circa 1539-1295/1292 B.C.E.) had always presented themselves as warriors. During Thutmose Ill's reign, the beginnings of a tradition of sportsmanship were also presented to the public. The greatest sportsman king, however, was Amenhotep II, who stressed his athletic ability in political propaganda.

Horseman. As a child, Amenhotep II showed a natural aptitude for horsemanship. His father entrusted the royal stable in Memphis to him at a young age. Amenhotep II learned to exercise, train, and understand horses...