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Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) heretic Egyptian pharaoh
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Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) heretic Egyptian pharaoh
Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) heretic Egyptian pharaoh. Relief originally in the Temple of the Sun, Thebes, showing Akhenaten with his wife Nefertiti and their two daughters offering gifts to the Sun. After he ascended to the throne in c1353 BC Akhenaten set about transforming the religion of Ancient Egypt, replacing the existing polytheism with a monotheistic cult of worshipping Aten, the god of the disc of the Sun. In addition, he decreed that Egypts capital was to be moved from Thebes to a new site 180 miles to the north, to be named Akhetaten (modern El-Amarna). These massive upheavals generated growing opposition to Akhenaten, particularly amongst the priesthood. In c1334 BC Akhenaten died and Egypt turned its back on his reforms. The city of Akhetaten was abandoned and Egyptians returned to worshipping their traditional gods
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Media ID 14841925
© Ann Ronan Picture Library / Heritage-Images
Akenaten Akenaton Akhenaten Akhenaton Akhnaton Amenhotep Iv Aten Heresy Heretic Hieroglyphic Hieroglyphics Nefertiit Nefertiti Nofretete Offering Pharaoh Relief Royal Family Worship Worshipping Ancient Egyptian Ann Ronan Pictures
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This print captures a remarkable moment in ancient Egyptian history. Depicted in this relief, we see Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of Egypt, alongside his wife Nefertiti and their two daughters as they offer gifts to the Sun. This scene originally adorned the walls of the Temple of the Sun in Thebes. Akhenaten ascended to power in 1353 BC and embarked on a radical transformation of Egypt's religion. He abolished polytheism and established a monotheistic cult centered around worshipping Aten, the god represented by the disc of the Sun. To further solidify his reign, he moved Egypt's capital from Thebes to a new city named Akhetaten (modern El-Amarna). However, these revolutionary changes faced growing opposition from both within and outside his kingdom. The priesthood particularly resisted Akhenaten's reforms, leading to increasing unrest during his rule. Upon his death in 1334 BC, Egypt swiftly abandoned his religious practices and returned to venerating their traditional gods. The deserted city of Akhetaten stands as a testament to this brief but significant period in Egyptian history. This relief offers us an insight into not only royal family life but also into an era marked by religious upheaval and social change.
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