Essay --

Akhenaten and Aten Worship As we know historically Egyptian society was complex and very advanced in comparison to other civilizations. With an advanced civilization also came with a very complex religion, with many different gods such as Re, Khepre, Horus, Harakhti and Atum, all of which is depicted as the sun god1. These gods may represent the same thing throughout the ancient Egypt but they differentiated in the inscriptions by different animals1. Though this rich history would drastically change with the ascension of Akhenaten to the royal throne. Within this body of work we will provide the basis to the Amarna period, as well as the foundation to this religious reform. Also we will attempt to understand and provide evidence for this reform and give insight and conclusion based on this evidence. We will touch on the foreign influences that may have been provided from his mother, as well as the drastic eradication of all other religious deities through his reign. The Foundation for Akhenaten To try to get a proper understanding of Akhenaten’s vision of Egypt’s religious reform, we need to understand the foundation that was laid for him. His father Amenhophis III assumed the throne at a great time for Egypt, in which he inherited a state that was very wealthy in which he exploited2. This stability was brought on by Tutmosis IV, the grandfather of Akhenaten, in which he ended years of conflict with the Mitanni kingdom1. The state was being funded by the gold mines of Sudan, as well as tributes from neighbouring lands, while having merchant’s travelling across the Mediterranean2. The young king which was known as the sun-king, married quite young to a commoner Tiy, who was daughter of a prominent foreigner Yuya2. Tiy who ros... ...at depicts him there is quite the exaggeration of his being6. This exaggeration emphasizing his great separation from the ordinary man and his other-worldly almost godly status6. Once assuming the throne of the state, Akhenaten continued the building of the major complex at Karnak6. This complex was not built in the name of the current god Amun, but to Akhenaten’s new solitary god of the sun Aten6. This version of solar worship in which Amenophis IV was that of an elitists views, he went on early in his reign to show his dedication and had the Karnak Temples constructed6. Akhenaten’s devotion to Aten was so strong he cut his ties with the capital of Egypt Memphis, and created a brand new city known in antiquity as Akhetaten6. This new city was completely dedicated to the worship of Aten, and within year 9 of his rule the eradication of the old gods was underway6.