The Heresy of Akhenaten Mr. Henderson Mythology

Who was Akhenaten? Born Amenhotep (“Amun is satisfied”) during the 18 th dynasty of Egyptian rulers, he was the younger son of Amenhotep III, but became his father’s heir after the death of his elder brother Thutmose. For the first five years of his reign, he ruled as Amenhotep IV, but changed his name to Akhenaten (“living spirit of Aten”). He married his queen Nefertiti a few years before the death of his father.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti in Art

The Cult of the Aten In the fifth year of his rule he founded a new capital called Akhetaten (“Horizon of the Aten”) at a site now called Amarna. He established a cult worshiping the Aten (the solar disk) and began excluding mention of other gods in documents. Though many of his court attendees changed their names to reflect the new cult, there is archeological evidence to show that many citizens continued to worship the old gods.

Changes under Akhenaten Akhenaten was a prolific patron of arts, commissioning many carvings and statues to spread the worship of his god. During the reign of Akhenaten, Egyptian art, which for centuries displayed a stylistic conformity, became noticeably looser. Worship of the Aten was in effect an early monotheism, Akenaten and Nefertiti are often shown bathing in the Aten’s light.

The Aten in Art

Aftermath of Akhenaten’s Rule Akhenaten, had eight children two sons and six daughters. The eldest son was named Smenkhare, and he followed his father, but only ruled a few years before he died of uncertain causes. He was followed by his younger half-brother Tutankhaten, who later changed his name to Tutankamun.

Restoration of Polytheism Under Tutankhamun, the worship of the old gods was restored. The cult of the Aten was slowly abandoned. Tutankhamun died at age 18 with no living children, under his reign and the reign of his successors, Akhenaten’s reforms were eventually undone. The first pharaoh of the 19 th dynasty, Ramses I, attempted to remove Akhenaten’s name from history.

Rediscovery of Akhenaten The site Akhetaten at Amarna was rediscovered in 1714 by a French Jesuit priest. Akhenatens tomb was discovered 1907, though it had been plundered long ago. Though Akhenaten’s mummy has never been positively identified, a number of candidates exist, and DNA testing may lead to an identification some day.

Akhenaten’s Tomb