11th January 2013
Amenhotep III Palace – Malqata - West Bank
Amenhotep III Palace – Malqata - West Bank
The palace was also known as “The Palace of the Dazzling Aten” and “The House of Rejoicing”
Malqata meaning “The place where things are picked up” On a map it is shown as Birket "meaning great lake" and is a place today where you can pick up pieces of coloured pottery, items of jewellery and seal stamps. There are many children that live nearby who are only too willing to sell you a few items that they have found.
The site covers a massive thirty thousand square meters and there are just a few places where you can still find some coloured mud brick walls.
The Palace was build by Amenhotep III 14th century BC. The site was occupied up to the Roman/Byzantine period. The Palace was Amenhotep's main residence in Thebes (the capital of ancient Egypt) and most likely in the whole country.
Malqata was abandoned by Akhenaten (Amenhotep III’s son and successor when he moved to Amarna and to break from the influence of the powerful priests. It may have been re-inhabited by Tutankhamen when the traditional religion was restored.
Tutankhamen’s successor, Ay, most likely inhabited the palace for a while and then Horemheb after him. By Ramses II time, it was a minor residence as the capital was moved to Pi-Ramesses in the north.
Directions to get there:
When you face the front of Rameses Temple at Medinet Habu, turn left and walk past the car park towards the police. At the Desert Rose Cafe (worth a visit) go right and walk on the left inner side of the wall and follow the pathway until you get to the end of the wall. Take the pathway ahead of you, you will see the banks, Just climb onto the bank to see the Palace site. This site is still an Archaeological area, visitors will not be allowed to walk around it.
JANUARY 2017 UPDATE