The destruction of the memory of Akhenaten’s reign became law, and later pharaohs attempted to destroy any evidence of the Aten religion and Akhenaten himself. There was already random vandalism at Amarna, and some of the talaat stone had been used for other building projects, but after Tutankhamun’s death a serious, official campaign of destruction began. As described by Cyril Aldred, “Figures of Amarna royalty had been defaced in reliefs and statuary and their names expunged. Their memorials doubtless stood deserted and unprotected, inviting random demolition. A campaign was now initiated, presumably at a high level, for total destruction of the recent past.” The pharaohs that immediately followed Akhenaten during the 17th Dynasty wanted
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When Amarna was first discovered, archaeologists thought Akhenaten was a woman, and the only thing they could understand was that something very strange had occurred at the site they discovered. James K. Hoffmeier explains in his book that even from his discovery, Egyptologists did not agree on the true nature of Atenism; he writes: “While in recent years, there has been a tendency to consider Akhenaten's religion to be monotheistic, there have been those who reject this interpretation of the data. In his highly respected book, Egyptian Religions, Siegfried Morenz maintained: “It is quite clear that, even in his early radical phase, Amenophis IV was in no sense an advocate of simple monotheism. On the contrary, what he proposes was precisely a Trinitarian formula.”(footnote 83). Morenz's idea of Akhenaten’s Trinitarianism is that it consists, as the didactic name suggests, Re-Harakhty, Shu, and Aten, with Akhenaten being considered their son.” This “Trinitarian formula” already existed in the Egyptian religion, and given the evidence available at the time, was the most likely explanation for the bizzare phenomenon. However, as new evidence continues to come to light, interpretations continue to change. Modern egyptologists still differ in their interpretations this period; certain researchers …show more content…
Akhenaten glorified a single deity, and in doing so committed heresy not only against the ancient religion of his subjects, but against the very institution in which he served as pharaoh. Whether because of a fear of the priesthood of Amun’s growing influence or a genuine faith in the solar Aten, Akhenaten dared to defy tradition in a country devoted to its past. Despite his attempts at a radical revolution in Egyptian life, upon his death the Aten returned from its open pedestals in the sun to its place deep within the temples of Ra. Akhenaten’s very name was removed from monuments, his city torn down, and his legacy all but forgotten. For his heresy, Akhenaten paid the ultimate price. If not for a group of Prussian archaeologists, he would have been lost forever. The Amarna Period has captivated scholars for centuries, and despite years of archaeological discoveries, one of the most bizarre periods in ancient history remains clothed in mystery and myth, stupefying anyone who studies it. The answers to the questions Akhenaten left behind remain buried in the sand waiting to be
When Amarna was first discovered, archaeologists thought Akhenaten was a woman, and the only thing they could understand was that something very strange had occurred at the site they discovered. James K. Hoffmeier explains in his book that even from his discovery, Egyptologists did not agree on the true nature of Atenism; he writes: “While in recent years, there has been a tendency to consider Akhenaten's religion to be monotheistic, there have been those who reject this interpretation of the data. In his highly respected book, Egyptian Religions, Siegfried Morenz maintained: “It is quite clear that, even in his early radical phase, Amenophis IV was in no sense an advocate of simple monotheism. On the contrary, what he proposes was precisely a Trinitarian formula.”(footnote 83). Morenz's idea of Akhenaten’s Trinitarianism is that it consists, as the didactic name suggests, Re-Harakhty, Shu, and Aten, with Akhenaten being considered their son.” This “Trinitarian formula” already existed in the Egyptian religion, and given the evidence available at the time, was the most likely explanation for the bizzare phenomenon. However, as new evidence continues to come to light, interpretations continue to change. Modern egyptologists still differ in their interpretations this period; certain researchers …show more content…
Akhenaten glorified a single deity, and in doing so committed heresy not only against the ancient religion of his subjects, but against the very institution in which he served as pharaoh. Whether because of a fear of the priesthood of Amun’s growing influence or a genuine faith in the solar Aten, Akhenaten dared to defy tradition in a country devoted to its past. Despite his attempts at a radical revolution in Egyptian life, upon his death the Aten returned from its open pedestals in the sun to its place deep within the temples of Ra. Akhenaten’s very name was removed from monuments, his city torn down, and his legacy all but forgotten. For his heresy, Akhenaten paid the ultimate price. If not for a group of Prussian archaeologists, he would have been lost forever. The Amarna Period has captivated scholars for centuries, and despite years of archaeological discoveries, one of the most bizarre periods in ancient history remains clothed in mystery and myth, stupefying anyone who studies it. The answers to the questions Akhenaten left behind remain buried in the sand waiting to be