Religion of Akhenaton

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Religion of Akhenaton

Amenhotep IV was the tenth king of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty and was perhaps the most controversial because of his break with traditional religion. It has been said by some that he was the most remarkable king to sit upon Egypt's throne. Amenhotep IV was traditionally raised by his parents, Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy by worshipping Amen. Amenhotep IV, however, preferred Aten, the Sun God that was worshipped in earlier times. Early in his reign he changed his name to Akhenaton, meaning "He Who is of Service to Aton" and renamed his queen to Nefer-Nefru-Aten, which is "Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten." The king and his queen, leaving Thebes behind, built elaborate buildings at Akhenaten (Amarna) "The Horizon of Aten." He then sent his officials around to destroy Amen's statues and to desecrate the worship sites. These actions were so contrary to the traditional that opposition arose against him. The estates of the great temples of Thebes, Memphis and Heliopolis reverted to the throne. Corruption grew out of the mismanagement of such large levies. Akhenaten died in the 18th year of his reign. His successor, Horemhab, claimed his reign began from the date of Amenhotep III, thus wiping out the entire rule of Akhenaten.

The young prince was at least the second son of Amenhotep III by his chief wife, Tiy: an elder brother, prince Tuthmosis, had died prematurely. There is some controversy over whether or not the old king took his son into partnership on the throne in a co-regency there are quite strong arguments both for and against. A point in favor of a co-regency is the appearance during the latter years of Amenhotep III's reign of artistic styles that are subsequently seen as part of the 'revolutionary' Amarna art introduced by Akhenaten; on the other hand, both 'traditional' and 'revolutionary' Art styles could easily have coexisted during the early years of Akhenaten's reign. At any rate, if there had been a co-regency, it would not have been for longer than the short period before the new king assumed his preferred name of Akhenaten ('Servant of the Aten') in Year 5.

The beginning of Akhenaten's reign marked no great discontinuity with that of his predecessors. Not only was he crowned at Karnak (temple of the god Amun) but, like his father he married a lady of non-royal blood, Nefertiti, the daughter of the vizier Ay.

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