The pharaoh, described by one archaeologist as “one of the richest men who ever lived,” led Egypt through a period of unprecedented prosperity and international power.
He is considered one of the greatest pharaohs, with more statues preserved than any other. However, a scientific reconstruction of his face has never been carried out.
Using data from the skull of the mummy of Amenhotep III, which is stored in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, an international group of scientists recreated his appearance.
The authors of the project included archaeologists and a 3D graphics expert, the British agency Pen News reported.
According to Michael Habicht, an archaeologist at Australia's Flinders University, Amenhotep III looked quite different from the pharaoh depicted on statues.
“This is the calm face of a man who promoted peace and lived in a time of great economic prosperity. He may well have been one of the richest men who ever lived, at least in his era. It is difficult to determine the cause of death by analyzing the available remains,” the scientist said.
Since the late seventies of the last century, the grandfather of the legendary pharaoh Tutankhamun was presented as an obese and sedentary man, with diseased teeth.
Earlier in Egypt scientists dug up the missing part of the giant statue of Ramses II.