Now, let us search for these foreign rulers in those scenes of the tombs of Thebes. In the tomb of Menkheperreseneb (TT 86), dated to the later reign of Thutmose III, there is a large scene depicting the occasion of the New Year’s Festival. The upper register is dedicated to the Syrian and Aegean figures. The first figure of the first register is prostrating and accompanied by a text identifying him as “chief of Keftiu wr n Kftjw” (Crete). The Annals of Thutmose III record Aegean diplomatic gift–giving in year 42, when the “Prince (wr) of Tanaja ” (the name used for the Greek land) sent silver and copper gifts. The following two figures are also Syrian figures identified by their accompanying texts as “chief of Ḫatti” (wr n Ḫt[ȝ]) and “chief of Tunip” (wr n ṭnpw).

Facsimile of a painting from the Tomb of Menkheperraseneb (TT86) depicting Aegean and Syrian rulers at the court of Thutmose III. The third figure from the left is the prince of Tunip presenting his son to the court. Painting by N. M. Davies, published in Ancient Egyptian Paintings Vol 1, Pl. 21. University of Chicago Press, 1936. Courtesy of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of the University of Chicago.

Also depicted in the scene above is the chief of Tunip bringing his son and presenting him to the court. One of the ways that Thutmose III endeavored to maintain control over his empire with a minimum use of force was by having chiefs bring/send their children and their brothers to be detainees in Egypt; and whenever any of these chiefs died, the Pharaoh would have the son/brother return home to assume his position. This practice was embraced by other late 18th–Dynasty rulers as well. Amenhotep III boasted of this practice, and the presence of foreign heirs at court is also attested in the Amarna archive. 

A chief from western Asia presents his son (fragmentary figure on right), preceded by a tribute bearer. Tomb of Sebekhotep (treasury official in the reign of Tuthmose IV). British Museum EA37987. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Iamnedjeh, the “overseer of the gate” under Thutmose III, gave a prominent place in his tomb (TT 84) to the theme of foreign delegations. They are depicted presenting their gifts to the Pharaoh during the ceremonial appearance of the king in the palace of Heliopolis at “the beginning of the year” (tpy rnpt). The right-side of the wall commemorates in two registers the presentation of a Syria-Palestinian delegation to the gifts.  One of the two prostrating figures of the lower register is named with the superscription as “chief of Naharin ” the most common Egyptian designation for the land of Mitanni).  

In some other tombs, foreign ruler figures and their emissaries are represented bearing different objects and piling them in front of Egyptian officials themselves; this is attested in the tombs of Puimre (TT 39), Amenmose (TT 42), Sobekhotep (TT63), Senenmut (TT 71), Amenemheb (T T 85), Rekhmire (TT 100), Useramun (TT131), Intef (TT 155), and (TT119). 

Rekhmire (vizier under Thutmose III and Amenhotep II) receives tribute and gifts from the “great ones” of Punt, Crete, Nubia, and Syria-Palestine. Drawing of a tomb painting from the Tomb of Rekhmire (Thebes, TT100). By Norman de Garis Davies, Paintings from the Tomb of Rekh-Mi-Re at Thebes (1943), Pl. XXII. © Metropolitan Museum of Art. www.metmuseum.org. 

Two pairs of men in western Asian dress do obeisance to Sebekhotep, followed by men carrying vessels, some gold and inlaid with precious stones. Tomb of Sebekhotep (Thebes, TT63; reign of Thutmose IV). British Museum EA37991.  © The Trustees of the  British Museum.

Evidence dating to the late 18th Dynasty period is less abundant but continued to be celebrated during the reign of Akhenaten, even though this king has been criticized by many scholars for his negligence of foreign affairs. Two sets of scenes from the Amarna tombs of Meryra II (AT2) and Ḫuya (AT1) commemorate the gifts ceremony celebrated in the 12th regnal year of Akhenaten, whereby the king received foreign delegations from the Levant.

The presentation of gifts and tribute ceremony, celebrated in the 12th regnal year of Akhenaten. Drawing by N. de G. Davies, The Rock Tombs of El Amarna: Part II: The Tombs of Panehesy and Meryra II (London, 1905), pl. 37. Public Domain. 

Foreigner delegations in the presence of Akhenaten and Nefertiti at the “Awarding of Gold” ceremony. Drawing from N. de G. Davies, The Rock Tombs of El Amarna: Part III: The Tombs of Huya and Ahmes (London, 1905), pl. 33. Public Domain.

The depiction of foreigners at Akhenaten’s court indicated an interest in making his court appear cosmopolitan, and indicates continuity with the practices of his 18th dynasty predecessors. This is despite accusations of negligence by his Levantine vassals and the prevailing scholarly opinion that he lacked interest in foreign affairs.

It seems that this tradition continued until the end of the 18th Dynasty, as there is a scene of Libyan and Asian envoys bowing and scraping before Horemheb. However, after the end of the 18th dynasty, scenes of foreign chiefs and their delegates carrying gifts to the Egyptian king disappear from the repertoire of private tomb decoration. 

Foreign envoys from Libya and the Near East bow and scrape before Horemheb. Relief from his tomb in Saqqara, ca. 1333–1323 BC. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden. CC0 license.