The Pendant of Amenhotep III is a small, solid gold figurine that was discovered in the tomb of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings.
The pendant depicts a squatting king wearing the Blue Crown and holding the symbols of pharaonic power, the sceptre and flail. The figure is just over 5 cm high and is strung on a heavy, woven gold chain.
Many believe that the pendant represents Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun’s grandfather, although there is some debate about this identification.
Tutankhamun never met his grandparents, as they both died around five years before he was born. However, at the time of Tutankhamun’s reign, Amenhotep III was a well-respected and revered figure, and it is possible that those who prepared Tutankhamun’s tomb wanted to associate the young king with his grandfather.
Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered the tomb, believed that the pendant and the lock of hair were included in Tutankhamun’s burial as a way of honoring his grandparents.