Ahkmenrah

Ahkmenrah

Ahkmenrah

Ahkmenrah in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Lost Tablet

Full Name

Ahkmenrah, 4th King of the 4th King

Born

Around 4,000 years ago

Known for

King of Egypt

Home

Formerly: Museum of Natural History, New York

Current: British Museum, London

Occupation

Pharaoh

Portrayed by

Rami Malek

“You would not believe how stuffy it is in there.”

― Ahkmenrah about his dusty mummification wrappings

Ahkmenrah is a fictional Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh who, with his tablet, came to the Museum of Natural History in 1952. More specifically he is thought to be the 5th Pharaoh of Egypt based on his older brother, Kahmunrah's statement in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian when he states he would be "The rightful 5th ruler" not his younger brother, Ahkmenrah. Ahkmenrah is also thought to be in his late teens or early 20's based on the fact his character was inspired by King Tut, the boy king, who died very young. It is also known that the reason of his death is directly linked towards his sadistic older brother, Kahmunrah. It is officially unknown but highly thought that Ahkmenrah does not remember any detail of how he died or why. 

Ahkmenrah is portrayed by American actor Rami Malek who is of Egyptian descent. He is a major character in Night at the Museum , a supporting character inNight at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian , and a major character in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Lost Tablet. 

Ahkmenrah seems to be a kind and just Pharaoh and an overall good-natured person who is loved by everyone. It is officially unknown why the previous night guards kept him locked in his tomb or why they told the other free-roaming exhibits not to let the young pharaoh out no matter how loud he screamed.

Pharaohs were known in history for not being the nicest of people and that is why many believed the previous night guards refused to let Ahkmenrah out. That and the fact Ahkmenrah was a real person and not only made of wax. Because the previous night guards didn't let Ahkmenrah out (granted they locked others too) other exhibits were fearful of Ahkmenrah's freedom. Such as when Theodore Roosevelt told Ahkmenrah as he wailed in his tomb "Yell all you want Pharaoh, you've been in there for 54 years, you're not getting out tonight!" Because of this, It is a popular belief that Ahkmenrah is terrified of upsetting anyone and tries very hard to be non-threatening because he fears being locked up again.

It is thought by people that Ahkmenrah is claustrophobic because of his time trapped in his sarcophagus, wrapped tightly in the bandages. And because of the fact he screams, scratches and throws the lid of his sarcophagus across the room every night. It has been known since the end of the first movie that Ahkmenrah is afraid of waking up and no one letting him out of his tomb, having to scream and scratch at the lid again for another 54 years. Most of the other characters express the same feelings about being locked up and where happy that Larry had no intention of doing that to any of them.

Family Ties

Ahkmenrah is the second born son of Merenkahre and Shepseheret and the younger brother of Kahmunrah

Parents

Akhmenrah is favored by his parents in all aspects of life even though he is the second son and in Egyptian time that was not suppose to be the case. The first born was suppose to be favored and given the throne. However, there are prominent reasons as to why Akhmenrah was favored. His brother Kamunrah was a sadistic tyrant and an overall bad person opposed to his good-hearted younger brother. Based on this and the fact that it is hinted that Kahmunrah killed a servant his parents gifted Akhmenrah the throne rather than his brother, who they thought to be unfit. It is also mentioned that Akhmenrah's father specifically forged the tablet for Akhmenrah. He was loved by his parents

Kahmunrah (Older Brother)

On the other hand, he was hated by his older brother Kahmunrah who is not a loving character. In Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Larry and a few signature characters meet Akhmenrahs older brother Kahmunrah. Jedidiah specifically tells Larry over the phone that Kahmunrah "is here and trust me not a friendly, not a friendly!" This is not surprising news as there are subtle hints dropped in all the movies that Akhmenrah does not like his brother. Kahmunrah is the main villain in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian that the main characters fight. Kahmunrah wants the tablet, which he thinks rightfully belongs to him so that he can bring back his dead army and rule the world. 

When he first meets Larry they have this conversation. 

"It's funny, uh... I actually know your brother, Ahkmenrah."

"Do you?" "Yeah."

"He knows baby brother. The favorite son."

" Yeah, good kid."

" Oh, isn't he just. You know, mother and father always gave him the best of everything, and I do mean everything. They even gave him the throne. The throne which was rightfully Mine!" 

Kahmunrah was and is still jealous of the fact Ahkmenrah always got better things and that people liked Ahkmenrah better, including his parents. Along with this and the fact his throne was taken from him and given to Ahkmenrah, is what fueled his hate for Ahkmenrah. It was previously mentioned that Kahmunrah was thought to be directly linked to Ahkmenrah's death and that since has been proven. In early versions of the script for Battle of the Smithsonian, during a conversation with Larry, Kahmunrah reveals that he murdered Ahkmenrah. It is not discussed how, when or if Ahkmenrah knew what was happening to him.

In Museums

Ahkmenrah was dug up near the Nile River in Egypt, in 1938, during the Nile Expedition. His mummy, along with his 24-carat gold tablet, was brought to the Egyptology Department of Cambridge University to be displayed. During that time he learned (British) English from hearing the students and staff conversating. Afterwards, he was brought to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The tablet brought everything to life that night. He is guarded by two 20-foot-tall Jackal Guards.

His tablet was given to him by his parents some 4,000 years ago, entrusting him with one of his people's most prized possessions. 

"I was on display in the Egyptology Department at Cambridge University."

When Larry tells Ahk his tablet is missing

Larry and Ahkmenrah after arriving in the British Museum

Appearances

Night At The Museum

Ahkmenrah's tomb is first seen during daylight as Cecil the previous night guard shows Larry. Larry is then showed the 24 kart gold tablet behind Ahkmenrah that Cecil says is Ahkmenrahs "Most prized possession" and that it was "Worth a fortune". Later when Larry is confused on how everything in the museum is coming to life Theodore Roosevelt shows him the tablet in Ahkmenrah's tomb and explains that it is what brings them all to life. While he does this you can hear Ahkmenrah wailing from inside his sarcophagus and Theodore tells him "Yell all you want Pharaoh, you been in there for 54 years, you're not getting out tonight!" It is thought that the previous night guards told all the free-roaming exhibits not to let Ahkmenrah out with no explanation as to why. That is what lead the other exhibits to fear Ahkmenrah.  The next time Larry is at Ahkmenrah's tomb is when he and his son are locked in the tomb by the previous night guards as they steal artifacts. The Anubis, Ahkmenrah's protectors start to attack Larry and his son, Nick.  To save their lives Larry slides the stone holding Ahkmenrah in his tomb off and lets the pharaoh out. At first, as Ahkmenrah gets up from his tomb he seems scary with the rags covering his face, however, upon removing the wrappings from his head, Ahkmenrah states " You would not believe how stuffy it is in there" in a British accent, which of course confuses Larry and Nick. Ahkmenrah then explains he was on display at the Egyptology Department at Cambridge University and learned English there. From that point on Larry can tell Ahkmenrah isn't dangerous and has Ahkmenrah help them out of his tomb. later Ahkmenrah translates Hun so that Larry won't be ripped apart by Huns and uses his tablet to summon all the exhibit's back to the museum before dawn so they won't turn to dust. He helps Larry tally up all the animals and exhibits.  Then there's a huge dance party the next night where you can see Ahkmenrah playing soccer and dancing. 

Battle of the Smithsonian

He makes a brief appearance at the start but has a bigger part at the end where he is giving a lecture on the Tablet to visitors of the Museum. During the film, it is revealed that he had an older brother named Kahmunrah. It's also revealed that his parents favored him more than his older brother, to which Kahmunrah told Larry Daley that their parents gave Ahkmenrah "the best of everything", including the throne, which Kahmunrah was supposed to inherit first. After Ahkmenrah's death, presumably caused by his jealous brother, Kahmunrah ascended to the throne. It can be assumed that his reign had not lasted long due to his sadistic nature.

Secret of the Tomb

Ahkmenrah and the rest of the Museum residents start acting strangely due to the Tablet losing its magic. The symptoms include freezing back to wax, normally peaceful characters becoming violent, Teddy losing his memory and babbling unintelligibly and Ahkmenrah becoming ill. Ahkmenrah is affected more than anyone else because it is his tablet and is later revealed by his father that the tablet was made with Khonsu's magic to keep the royal family together, even after death, which is why the tablet brings the museum to life. Larry, his son Nick, and a few of the favourites of the NYC gang travel to London, England and to the British Museum to find Ahkmenrah's parents, who know the secrets of the tablet and possibly what is wrong with it. During the film, the young pharaoh steadily gets worse with every tablet flare-up and toward the end he almost reverts back to his dead, full-mummy form.

Both of Ahkmenrah's parents are introduced in this film.

Ahkmenrah as he makes his tablet work

The gang in the British Museum

Too dark?

Real Life Basis

Ahkmenrah wasn't an actual pharaoh in Egyptian History and is not visibly based on any specific pharaoh. It is conceivable that some inspiration was taken from King Tutankhamun, the Boy King, another very young pharaoh who ruled and died suddenly from some unexplained cause.

Trivia

• The first film mentions that his tomb was discovered and brought to New York in 1956, however, the third film shows that Robert and Cecil discovered his tomb in 1938.
  • However, those 18 years may have been the time in which he was on display at Cambridge University.

• In an early version of the script for Battle of the Smithsonian, during a conversation with Larry, Kahmunrah reveals that he murdered Ahkmenrah. He would have been an Egyptian counterpart of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" character, Claudius, if this information was in the final film.

• It's never explained why Ahkmenrah was sealed in his coffin since arriving at the museum. One theory is those night guards before even Cecil Fredericks thought that letting a real person out and about, not a stature or other fake figure, was more unpredictable and dangerous. Besides, pharaohs weren't known for their kind spirits and agreeable natures.
• Although not mentioned in the movies, it is a popular fan theory that Ahkmenrah is claustrophobic because of his time trapped in his sarcophagus, wrapped tightly in the bandages.