- History -

Mentuhotep III was the son and successor of Mentuhotep II. He is attested as "eldest son of the king" in his father's mortuary temple in Deir el-Bahari.

Because of his father's long reign, he may already have been relatively old by the time he reached the throne. The Turin King-list has recorded 12 years for this king.

After the military reign of his father, Mentuhotep III's reign was peaceful. The king's main concern was no longer the conquest of new territory, but the protection of Egypt against foreign states and roaming Bedouin. The cult for this Mentuhotep in the eastern Delta is probably related to his policy to fortify the north-eastern border against the Asian nomads.

The most important event during this king's reign was an expedition, led by a man named Henenu, through the Wadi Hammamat to the Red Sea and from there to the legendary land of Punt, from where many exotic products and incense were brought to Egypt.

Despite its relatively short duration, this reign has produced several temples throughout Upper-Egypt, from the southern most border in Elephantine, over Elkab, Tod and Armant to Abydos, as evidenced by a relief found in Armant.

A tomb was apparently started for this king, near Deir el-Bahari, but it was left unfinished.

Titulary

• Horus-name

Hr, sanx tA.wj=f

Horus, the one who feeds his Two Lands or: Horus, the one who allows his Two Lands to live.

• Nebti-name

nb.tj, sanx tA.wj=f

The Two Ladies, the one who feeds his Two Lands or: The Two Ladies, the one who allows his Two Lands to live.

• Golden name

	Hr nbw Htp	The Golden Falcon is satisfied
	Hr nbw mnx	The Golden Falcon is excellent.

• Prenomen

sanx-kA-ra

The one who feeds the Ka of Re

• Nomen

mnTw-Htp

Mentuhotep. "Mentuhotep" means Montu (the war-god) is satisfied.

• King-lists

snfr kA ra

Seneferkare ("The one who embellishes the Ka of Re"). This variant is probably a writing-error for the king's prenomen.

• Alternative names in modern-day literature

Montuhotep III, Mentouhotep III, Mentuhetep III, Mentouhetep III, Mentuhotep Sankhtawire, Montuhotep Sankhtawire, Mentouhotep Sankhtawire, Mentuhetep Sankhtawire, Mentouhetep Sankhtawire

- Reliefs -

Mentuhotep III continued his father's building policy, as is shown by this relief, found in Armant and now in the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

It represents the king wearing the Red Crown of Lower-Egypt (left) or wearing the nemes head-dress (right). In the part of the relief to the left, the king is performing a ritual run, often associated with the Heb-Sed festival. This scene is interpreted by some as an indication that Mentuhotep III at least celebrated one such festival, which would imply that his reign must at least have lasted 30 years. It must, however, be noted that this type of scene, while associated with the Heb-Sed festival, is a very common theme in temple decoration, that was also used by kings with very short-lived reigns who never got to celebrating their first jubilee.

The scene to the right continues the Lower-Egyptian context, in that the king's name is confronted with the name of the Lower-Egyptian goddess Uto.