Wonderful article yet again. All your articles are marvelous, engaging and informative.
While in Egypt, I was shocked to see her defaced statues and hieroglyphics. I was told the reason why.
Thutmose 11 was ahead of his times I think. His monotheism, worship of Amun, didn’t endear him to his people!
Cairo museum statues of him are rather unattractive, unlike other pharaohs. I believe he was scorned for his female-like build! His face is interestingly different from other generic pharaoh statues. Lean and disconcerting!
After seeing Ramses death mask and statues… no one comes close.

While wandering streets of Cairo I would search for pharaonic faces. I finally literally bumped into a girl who was a Nefertiti double! Gorgeous. In my broken Arabic I paid her many compliments. I must’ve looked demented to her, brimming with excitement.

Frankincense resin! Like our kohl. I love these little nuggets of info.

🙏🏽🌟 I hate the new medium setup. It won’t let me edit my own comment. Annoying. It’s the bit about monotheism. Pharaonic pantheon of gods is immense in its beauty. Like all pantheons it makes perfect sense. Nūt the night goddess is my favorite.
Ahead of his times is the wrong term to use.
Mugul emperor Akbar did the opposite- his amalgam of subcontinental religions made perfect sense. Din-eIlahi didn’t work, alas.