Difference between revisions of "Akhenaten"

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The earliest Egyptian gods were nature gods. Such gods were typically associated with a particular city or other locality. With the rise of the pharaonic state, these gods were organized into a pantheon headed by a chief god, analogous to the structure of the royal court. The wars of Thutmose III (r. 1479-1425 B.C.) had exposed Egyptians, particularly those who had served in the army, to a variety of religious experiences. Each nation, it was learned, had its own gods. But the Sun was everywhere. Beginning with the reign of Amenhotep III (r. 1390-1352), the Sun was promoted as a universal god under the name "Aten." The powers of this god transcended national boundaries, just as pharaoh's authority now stretched across nations. "In the ancient East, monotheism was but imperialism in religion," wrote Egyptologist James Breasted.<ref>Breasted, James, ''A History of Egypt''</ref>
 
The earliest Egyptian gods were nature gods. Such gods were typically associated with a particular city or other locality. With the rise of the pharaonic state, these gods were organized into a pantheon headed by a chief god, analogous to the structure of the royal court. The wars of Thutmose III (r. 1479-1425 B.C.) had exposed Egyptians, particularly those who had served in the army, to a variety of religious experiences. Each nation, it was learned, had its own gods. But the Sun was everywhere. Beginning with the reign of Amenhotep III (r. 1390-1352), the Sun was promoted as a universal god under the name "Aten." The powers of this god transcended national boundaries, just as pharaoh's authority now stretched across nations. "In the ancient East, monotheism was but imperialism in religion," wrote Egyptologist James Breasted.<ref>Breasted, James, ''A History of Egypt''</ref>
  
Akhenaten began his revolution by enclosing the name of Aten in a cartouche identical to his own. Aten would be a pharaoh among the gods. The word "gods" was hacked out of monuments and inscriptions. The capital was moved from Thebes to Amarna, a previously uninhabited location the was uncontaminated by any association with the old gods.  
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Akhenaten began his revolution by enclosing the name of Aten in a cartouche identical to his own. Aten would be a pharaoh among the gods. The word "gods" was hacked out of monuments and inscriptions. The capital was moved from Thebes to Amarna, a previously uninhabited location that was uncontaminated by association with any of the old gods.
  
 
==Nefertiti and Tut==
 
==Nefertiti and Tut==

Revision as of 03:49, December 31, 2015

Pharaoh Akhenaten

Akhenaten (known variously as Akhenaton or Ikhnaton; previously as Amenhotep IV) was pharaoh of Egypt from 1352 - 1336 B.C. as part of the 18th dynasty. He led a religious revolution, rejected the traditional gods of Egypt, and worshiped the Sun, which he called Aten. He moved the capital from Thebes to Akhenaten (modern Amarna) to escape the influence of the priests of Amun.

Statues of him show an artistic form new in Egypt, including various deformities which have led some scholars to conclude he had some kind of deformity or genetic disease. A thorough examination of the royal mummies did not uncover evidence of unusual diseases or deformities, so the depictions are most likely an artistic style.[1] In addition, various courtiers were depicted in a similar style.[2]

Monotheistic revolution

The earliest Egyptian gods were nature gods. Such gods were typically associated with a particular city or other locality. With the rise of the pharaonic state, these gods were organized into a pantheon headed by a chief god, analogous to the structure of the royal court. The wars of Thutmose III (r. 1479-1425 B.C.) had exposed Egyptians, particularly those who had served in the army, to a variety of religious experiences. Each nation, it was learned, had its own gods. But the Sun was everywhere. Beginning with the reign of Amenhotep III (r. 1390-1352), the Sun was promoted as a universal god under the name "Aten." The powers of this god transcended national boundaries, just as pharaoh's authority now stretched across nations. "In the ancient East, monotheism was but imperialism in religion," wrote Egyptologist James Breasted.[3]

Akhenaten began his revolution by enclosing the name of Aten in a cartouche identical to his own. Aten would be a pharaoh among the gods. The word "gods" was hacked out of monuments and inscriptions. The capital was moved from Thebes to Amarna, a previously uninhabited location that was uncontaminated by association with any of the old gods.

Nefertiti and Tut

A bust of Akhenaten's beautiful primary wife, Nefertiti, has made her one of the best-known Egyptian queens. In Akhenaten declining years, she served as a regent with the reign name Nerferneferuatan. She continued to rule under this name "Akhenaten-less" for a short time after Akhenaten's death.[4] This is followed by the reign of Smenkhkare, a brother of Akhenaten. Within a year of Akhenaten's death, both Nerferneferuatan and Smenkhkare disappeared from the records and Tutankhamun, a boy of 10 or 11 at this time, ascended to the throne.[4] Real power in this period may have been 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 by rulers of the following 19th dynasty. An inscription from the reign of Ramses II denounces Akhenaten as, "that criminal from Akhetaten."[5]

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 must be either Akhenaten[6] or Smenkhkare.[7] Numerous portrayals of Akhenaten's family have survived, but none of these include Tut. Akhenaten is depicted as having relations with his daughters as soon as they came of age (13 in ancient Egypt).[4] That Akhenaten named Nefertiti as his successor implies that these well-advertised efforts to produce a male heir of pure royal blood were not successful.[4]

References

  1. Hawass, Zahi, PhD, et al., "Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun's Family", JAMA
  2. John Ashton & David Down. Unwrapping the Pharaohs, chapter 21'
  3. Breasted, James, A History of Egypt
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Allen, James, "The Amarna Succession, Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, University of Memphis, 2007.
  5. Reeves, Nicholas, Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet
  6. Lost Pharaoh Akhenaten Found After Further DNA Testing Of Tutankhamun
  7. DNA Shows that KV55 Mummy Probably Not Akhenaten