How one Pharaoh attempted to rewrite the gods of Ancient Egypt
In short: Discover the radical reign of Akhenaten, a ruler who abandoned polytheism to establish the sun disk, the Aten, as Egypt's supreme deity and moved the nation's capital.
Originally known as Amenhotep IV, the Pharaoh transformed Egyptian life during the Amarna Period. Around the fourth or fifth year of his reign, he changed his name to Akhenaten and relocated the capital from Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten, now known as Amarna. He instituted a monotheistic system where the Aten was the ultimate deity, and the populace could only worship the sun disk through him.
Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti, were presented as living aspects of the Aten. This religious revolution was short-lived; upon the ascension of his son, Tutankhamun, the capital was returned to Thebes and the traditional polytheistic practices were reinstated.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Akhenaten, the Sun Disk and the Amarna Period of Egypt
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