Malkata

Malkata (also written Malqata) is an archaeological site of a New Kingdom royal palace complex on the west bank of the Nile near Thebes, associated with Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC. The complex served as a royal residence and festival centre during Amenhotep III’s reign.

Visible remains include foundations of large residential and ceremonial buildings arranged around courts and garden spaces, together with traces of an artificial lake that formed part of the palace precinct. Pottery, architectural fragments and administrative material recovered by excavations illustrate the palace’s scale and function.

The palace complex was used as a major royal residence in the New Kingdom and later fell into disuse, leaving archaeological remains that were investigated by archaeological teams in the 20th century. Finds from the site are dispersed between local museums and international collections.

Malkata lies on the west bank of the Nile opposite modern Luxor in Upper Egypt, on the floodplain near the ancient Theban necropoleis and close to other New Kingdom sites.

• Date and association: The site is primarily associated with Pharaoh Amenhotep III and dates to the 14th century BC during Egypt's New Kingdom.
• Excavations: Excavations in the 20th century revealed palace structures, courtyards and decorative fragments that document the scale of the royal complex.

What to See #

• Royal palace complex: The palace complex of Amenhotep III at Malkata includes foundations of residential and administrative buildings laid out around courtyards and garden areas from the 14th century BC.
• Palace lake and landscape: An artificial lake and associated landscape features formed part of the palace precinct and are visible in the archaeological footprint of the site.