NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, REIGN OF AMENHOTEP IV, CIRCA 1350 B.C.

The style and inscription on this relief suggest a date in year 3 of Amenhotep IV's reign (later known as Akhenaten). The Gempaaten temple, mentioned in the inscription, was the largest building project in Thebes during the early period of his reign before he moved his capital to Tel el Amarna (see pp. 55ff. in Freed, Markowitz and D'Auria, Pharaohs of the Sun). Its location was established by modern excavators on previously "unoccupied alluvial land" in East Karnak. The scene depicted, together with the formulaic text, "Great Living Disk Who is in Jubilee, refers to the Pharaoh's first sed-festival, "a royal ritual as old as the monarchy itself" which "re-enacted the king's coronation." For a relief of Amenhotep IV in his jubilee cloak see fig. 37, p. 56, op. cit.