Akhenaten biography summary examples

What was the Chouannerie? Greatest African Leaders of All Time. Donald Trump: 10 Most Significant Achievements. Kamala Harris: 10 Major Achievements. Mahatma Gandhi: 12 Most Important Achievements. How did Captain James Cook die? Most Famous Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Skip to content Egyptian Pharaohs. Akhenaten and Nefertiti saw themselves, as deities to be worshipped in their own right.

Only through them could the Aten be truly worshipped as they officiated as both priests and gods. Hence, scholars speculate his physical appearance was important to his religious beliefs. Similarly, Akhenaten emphasised the unique nature of his god, Aten. It could be that Akhenaten believed his atypical physical appearance conferred some divine significance, which linked him to his god Aten.

His portraits are also believed to be some of the most accurate portrayals of the Amarna family we have today. Two-dimensional art also changed. Akhenaten is shown with a smaller mouth, bigger eyes, and softened features, making him look more serene than earlier depictions. The images of Nefertiti from this later period are some of the most famous works of art from the ancient period.

His features are often softer, rounder, and plumper than in earlier portraits. Apart from the colossal statues of Akhenaten from Karnak and the iconic bust of Nefertiti, it is the Aten worship scenes, which are the most prolific images linked to the Amarna period. Akhenaten stands before an altar, making an offering to the Aten. Nefertiti is positioned behind Akhenaten while one or more of their daughters stand dutifully behind Nefertiti.

His face mask was torn and his name obliterated, but precious objects were left in place, confirming that the damage was not the work of tomb robbers but people with a religious or political motivation. Akhenaten has been described as a visionary who cut through the formality of Egyptian religion to establish a connection with one God, the Aten.

To some, Akhenaten was the first Monotheist who may have been inspired by Joseph or Moses. However, it is by no means as simple as that.

Akhenaten biography summary examples

It seems that the Apis cult was maintained and other gods are still mentioned in inscriptions although they are usually solar gods or personifications of abstract ideas. In fact, the names of the Aten which were written in a cartouche describe the god in terms of the other gods. Furthermore, it seems that the personal relationship with the Aten did not extend to the common people, just the Royal Family.

Akhenaten and his family are frequently shown worshipping the Aten or simply enjoying everyday activities beneath the protective rays of the Aten disk, reinforcing the link between the king and his god. Ordinary people could not worship the Aten directly, they worshipped the King and the royal family. This gave the king absolute power over secular and religious life in Egypt.

They argue that the king was worried about the growing power of the priests of Amun, as his father Amenhotep III had been. By establishing a new order which rejected Amun in favour of the Aten who was accessible primarily to the king he took religion back from the priests. As well as NefertitiAkhenaten surrounded himself with a number of powerful women whom he clearly adored and respected.

Each of the royal women had her own sunshade temple where she could worship the Aten. They were generally located within beautiful gardens complete with ritual pools where the wonders of nature could be enjoyed. The Armarna women, in particular Nefertitiseem to have represented the feminine aspect of the Aten as creator. Pharaoh Akhenaten center and his family worshiping the Aten, with characteristic rays seen emanating from the solar disk Image Credit: Egyptian Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton digs deep into the fascinating rediscovery of ancient Egypt. Akhenaten and Nefertiti. You May Also Like. What Really Happened at Agincourt? Battle of Agincourt. The Adventures of Mrs.