Changes

Akhenaten died young and was succeeded by a ruler, or pair of rulers, who used the reign names Nerferneferuatan and Smenkhkare. There has been much speculation concerning their identity. Nerferneferuatan may have been a name Nefertiti used as a regent during Akhenaten's final years. Smenkhkare is portrayed as unambiguously male. So "he" was either a brother of Akhenaten, or Nefertiti again, this time posing as male pharaoh.<ref name=Reeves>Reeves, Nicholas, ''Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet''</ref> Within a year, both names disappeared from the records and Tutankhamun, still a boy at this time, ascended to the throne. Real power in this period was probably held by Ay, a vizier appointed by Akhenaten. Tut reversed many of Akenaten's policies. Egypt reverted to [[polytheism]] and the priests of Amun regained power.

Akhenaten died young and was succeeded by a ruler, or pair of rulers, who used the reign names Nerferneferuatan and Smenkhkare. There has been much speculation concerning their identity. Nerferneferuatan may have been a name Nefertiti used as a regent during Akhenaten's final years. Smenkhkare is portrayed as unambiguously male. So "he" was either a brother of Akhenaten, or Nefertiti again, this time posing as male pharaoh.<ref name=Reeves>Reeves, Nicholas, ''Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet''</ref> Within a year, both names disappeared from the records and Tutankhamun, still a boy at this time, ascended to the throne. Real power in this period was probably held by Ay, a vizier appointed by Akhenaten. Tut reversed many of Akenaten's policies. Egypt reverted to [[polytheism]] and the priests of Amun regained power.

Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, and Tut are omitted from the Abydos king list. This suggests that they were viewed as illegitimate rulers. An inscription from the reign of Ramses II denounces Akhenaten as, "that criminal from Akhetaten."<ref name="Reeves" /> Genetic testing in 2010 established that mummy KV55 is both a son of Amenhotep III and Tut's father. An inscription in Tut's tomb identifies him as the son of a pharaoh, so the mummy could be either Akhenaten<ref>[https://oblogmasense.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/lost-pharhoh-akhenaton-found-after-further-dna-testing-of-tutankhamun/ Lost Pharaoh Akhenaten Found After Further DNA Testing Of Tutankhamun]</ref> or Semenkhkare.<ref>[http://www.kv64.info/2010/03/dna-shows-that-kv55-mummy-probably-not.html DNA Shows that KV55 Mummy Probably Not Akhenaten]</ref>

Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, and Tut are omitted from the Abydos king list. This suggests that they were viewed as illegitimate rulers. An inscription from the reign of Ramses II denounces Akhenaten as, "that criminal from Akhetaten."<ref name="Reeves" /> Genetic testing in 2010 established that mummy KV55 is both a son of Amenhotep III and Tut's father. An inscription in Tut's tomb identifies him as the son of a pharaoh, so the mummy could be either Akhenaten<ref>[https://oblogmasense.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/lost-pharhoh-akhenaton-found-after-further-dna-testing-of-tutankhamun/ Lost Pharaoh Akhenaten Found After Further DNA Testing Of Tutankhamun]</ref> or Smenkhkare.<ref>[http://www.kv64.info/2010/03/dna-shows-that-kv55-mummy-probably-not.html DNA Shows that KV55 Mummy Probably Not Akhenaten]</ref>

== Akhenaten and Moses ==

== Akhenaten and Moses ==