Akhenaten: His Reign, Religious Reforms, and Impact, Study notes of History

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Egypt - Akhenaten

• Egypt - Akhenaten
  • Survey
    • Geography of Egypt
    • Overview of the eighteenth dynasty
    • Overview of social, political and economic status of Egypt.
    • The role of the Amun and the Amun priesthood.
    • Roles of the King
    • Relationship to the Gods.
    • Overview of Religious Beliefs, Cults and Practices of the 18th Dynasty.
  • Akhenaten → Focus of study
    • Family background
    • Marriages
    • Titles
    • Changes to Royal Image Over Time
    • Early building program
    • Transfer of Capital to Akhenaten
      • Political motives
      • Religious motives
      • Economic motives
    • Akhetaten; Function and layout
      • Function
      • Layout
    • Religious policy
      • What was the Aten?
      • How were religious reforms implemented
      • Importance and Impact of Aten Worship:
    • Artistic innovations and development
      • Representation of the Aten
      • Akenaten and the royal family
      • The natural world
    • Changes to afterlife and funerary customs
    • Foreign policy
    • The role of nefertiti and the issue of co-regency
      • Co -regency
  • Evaluation
    • Impact and influence on his time
    • Assessment of his life and reign
    • Legacy
    • Ancient and modern images and interpretations of his reign.
• Assessment task sources

Relationship to the Gods.

With Amun (interdependent relationship) right to rule from Amun (chose pharaoh) Amenhotep III claimed divine child of Amun (relief scenes for Amun at Luxor), warrior pharaoh, Amun inspired campaigns, assured victory, treasures dedicated to Amun (Karnak)

• If the pharaoh wasn't doing ‘his job right’ this was reflected in the state of Egypt in general (ie. if the nile flooded)

Overview of Religious Beliefs, Cults and Practices of the 18th Dynasty.

Polytheistic: (Greater, Domestic, Local, Royal). People took part in worship only at great festivals, cult temples ensured relationships, offerings made in temples (wages for govt employees, syncretism (combine two gods: Re-Harakhte), pharaoh was intermediary (people/gods), only path to worship to gods from people. 18th dynasty kings promoted Amun-Re, Re became unique (role of sun god), Thutmose IV (sun disc=victory), Amenhotep III: Referred himself as “Dazzling sun disk: Malkata”. New idea of magnanimous love, Amenhotep III promotes Aten. Priesthood represented conservative forces (retain aggressive empire/traditional religion.

Akhenaten → Focus of study

Family background

Akhenaten became pharaoh in 1377 BC, ruled for 17 years, second son of Amenhotep III/Tiye (Great Royal Wife) Was king because of the death of Thutmose. (8 sisters: Sitamun, Isis, Henettaneb, Nebetah/Baketaten. Little known about childhood/education, was a family outcast, maybe due to disease/physical deformities (he was not shown in many family depictions). Trained as priest at Heliopolis in the temple of Re. Redford: Does not explain Akhenaten’s devotion to the sun-cult. (Maybe built a temple at Heliopolis, built Aten temple there-expression of attachment) 3rd pylon at Karnak where relief shows figures of two kings. Co-regency used to strengthen claim to throne, Akhenaten was a junior co-regent, unclear how he acceded the throne, maybe shared to strengthen his unable claim to throne, came immediately after father’s death. () Historians opinions; Redford : came to the throne in the 38th year of his father’s reign. Gardiner : Claims his reign from 1367 to 1350 BC. Letter to Akhenaten from Tushratta refers to Amenhotep’s funeral, and sees continuation of the good relations between Egypt/Mitanni, possibly sharing time on the throne with his father. evidence → inscribed on the wall of the Luxor tomb of vizier (found in 2014)

Marriages

Nefertiti: Akhenaten married Nefertiti (chief royal wife) (daughter of Ay) – distant relation, famous

women of ancient world (origin debatable), descended from Ahmose-Nefertari (prominent queen

in 18th^ Dynasty) ‘the Heiress’, very in love with Nefertiti ‘the mistress of happiness’, possibly shared

reign with Akhenaten (powerful woman with influence over Akhenaten) Kiya was ‘greatly beloved

wife’, known from block at Hermopolis across the Nile from Akhetaten, mother of Tutankhamun

(mother of Meritaten Tashery/Ankhesenpaaten Tashery, her name identified with items associated

with North Palace, the Great Palace and the Great Temple of Akhetaten. Tadukhepa was a

Mitannian princess from Niharin, sent to originally marry Amenhotep III transferred to Akhenaten

after his father’s death; it was a diplomatic marriage to secure international relations.

Historical resource - Co -regency Finger Ring depicting King Akhenaten and

Queen Nefertiti as Shu and Tefnut

reliefs and statues show different depiction: (Long thin heads, long neck, fat lips, almond eyes, breasts, broad hips, plump thighs and narrow legs, Tomb of Vizier Ramose at Thebes show changes. Images of Amenhotep IV: Earliest representation for Re-Horakhty at Karnak, 10th pylon shows him in traditional style of early New Kingdom worshipping him (falcon-head) Unfinished Karnak relief shows him ‘smiting the enemy, Akhenaten followed same representation. Explanation for Akhenaten: Elliot Grafton Smith/Alwyn Burridge: Fröhlichs/Marfan syndrome: Eugene Lefèbrve thought Akhenaten was a drag queen.

Early building program

Gem Pa-aten The largest temple, had a large open court (possibly to appease the sun god) and housed 28 statue bases and 25 colossal statues of himself in the new style of art. Rewed-Menu The function of this building is unknown, the decorations demonstrated the king making offerings in roofless kiosks as well as armed troops or police bowing down to the Pharaoh. Teni - menu No inscriptions on the building shows its actual purpose, but royal activities are illustrated (making break and storing wine) Hewet - benben This building was quite peculiar as it consisted of a roof-less structure, decorated with scenes of Nefertiti and two of her daughters (Meritan and Meketaten) =. Even more peculiar was the fact that she was accompanied by her husband, leading historians to believe that this temple was reserved for her personal worship of Aten.

Architectural Features Significance

Gem Pa-aten

(the aten is

found)

• Roofed colonnade

surrounded by a rectangular

court about 130m x 200m in

size

• Supported by square piers in

front of colossal statues of the

king holding crook and flail

• Window of appearance
  • Contains scenes of

Akhenaten’s sed festival (like

his jubilee)

• Largest and probably the first

to be erected, it was oriented

to the east. King received

visitors or distributed rewards

to his followers

Rewed-Menu • King making offerings in

roofless kiosks

• Interest is the frequently

depiction of armed troops and

police running besides

Akhenaten’s chariot

Teni-Menu • Wall decorations • Royal domestic apartments

and activities that took place

there e.g. baking bread +

storing wine

Hewet -

benben

● No roof decorated with scenes of Nefertiti

and two of her daughters (Meritan and Meketaten) =. Even more peculiar was the fact that she was accompanied by her husband, leading historians to believe that this temple was reserved for her personal worship of Aten. Historians opinions

• According to Gardiner the decision to build a new capital was ‘doubtless promoted by the recognition that the cults of Aten and Amun - Re could no longer be carried out side by side.’

Layout

● Unusual �� located on a barren site, fertile soil was on the western side of the Nile ● Central City housed the key religious and administrative buildings including the Aten Temples, Kings House and Great Palace �� it appears this area was planned and built first ● Unusual Tombs (royal and non-royal) were built on the eastern side of the town to reflect Akhenaten’s reforms to religion. ● Suburbs for both royals, nobles and ordinary people appear to be in the north and the south, and these areas grew more organically (not planned) ● Specifically: ○ North : North Suburb (middle and lower class estates), North City (upper class villas, admin complex), North Riverside Palace (main royal residence), North Palace (residence of Kiya (Ak’s Wife) and Meritaten (Ak’s Daughter) ○ East : Tombs of royals and nobles (now on east where the sun rises) ○ South : Maru Aten (royal retreat with shrines), Kom el-Nana (large stone temple include gardens and a bakery), South Suburb (upper class members of society e.g. vizier and generals), Workers Village (64 houses, chapel outside the walls), ○ Central : main administration area, North road connecting north and central areas of the city, Kings House (with window of appearances), Great Palace of state receptions. Great Aten Temple, Small Aten Temple (may have been Ak’s mortuary temple (temple built near or associated with a pharaoh’s tomb burial site, for a deceased pharaoh) Historians Opinions: Layout and Function

• Ak Has to devise innovative architectural forms to provide suitable contexts for the worship of aten (J.Shaw)
• The structures of Aten were positioned in a say to look like a huge temple (M.Mallison)
• the housing areas grew organically as the rich and poor lived closely together (Wilson) - the city possessed no economic divide with houses scattered throughout the city regardless of wealth (Kemp) - “Because aten, the sun disk, became the only God to converse with, temples were built without roofs, bathed by the ‘divine rays’” (Robert Vergnieux)

Religious policy

What was the Aten?

• Sun disk/god
• An aspect of the sun god RE
• Creator of the universe
• There was NO other god but Aten → the sole deity
• Aten is all of time

How were religious reforms implemented

Reforms: Religious revolution has an effect on temple architecture, decoration, ritual, art, king jubilee, site/layout of new capital of city of Akhetaten, economy, funerary practices and social life of the ordinary Egyptians. Years 1-4 • Other gods shown in King’s reliefs

• Aten depicted as falcon-headed Re-Horakhty ‘living sun-disc’
• First representation of Aten: Disc of sun with downward-extending arms
• Aten’s name appears in a double cartouche to indicate Aten’s kingship and spiritual co-regency of Akhenaten and Aten
  • Re-Horakhty
  • Aten disc with hands
  • Early form of Aten cartouches Years 5-8 • Fewer gods depicted
• ‘Gods’ no longer used in religious inscriptions Years 9-12 • Persecution of Amun – Name chiselled off monuments
• Other gods’ names randomly removed
• Maat now spelt phonetically within female hieroglyph
• Atenism completely replaces Amun religion as state cult
• New version of Aten’s name: ‘Living Disc, Ruler of the Two Horizons, rejoicing in the Horizons’; ‘Within his name who has come as the Aten’ Nature : Worship of Aten not completely new, sun being worshipped at Heliopolis through Re, mentioned in Tale of Sinuhe in Middle Kingdom, Thutmose IV highlighted Aten after successful battle. Amenhotep III promoted the Aten, a new idea of magnanimous love. Break from traditional, regional religion. Hymn to the Aten: Found in Ay’s tomb, eloquent statue of doctrine of one god, stresses Aten’s beauty/power as universal creator god, emphasises uniqueness of Aten as sole god, strong contrast between Aten’s brightness/beauty shining on his creation during the day, only Akhenaten could worship Aten (intercessor to people), role played by Akhenaten/Nefertiti expressed. Assmann ``Hymn as evidence of what he calls a ‘new solar theology’ or new way of thinking about the sun religion”. Aten arose in the middle of the 18th Dynasty, Aten was used to describe where god’s lived, actually to sun’s disc in the Amarna Age. Tiye, Amenhotep III, Thutmose IV referred to Aten as a god, possessed a temple at Thebes before the revolution, not a new concept, it was to be the only god, it lived on truth: ma’at, imposed close relationship between himself and Aten, was source/preserver of life and should be seen in the context of general popularity. Method of worships: Changes to concept that king was only person whom prayers and petitions to deity be delivered, Akhenaten and royal family became sole focus of worship, private houses replaced images of gods to royal family: Shrines to royal family in private homes of all classes excavated, picture of personal religion at Amarna during Akhenaten’s reign (indicates representation of both traditional cults/new one) Concept of deity’s kingship (Aten had co-regency with king), divine family concept modelled on traditional divine family (Aten, Akhenaten, Nefertiti [twin children of Atum] There was a procession of king/royal family replaces great festivals of New Kingdom, removed ethical aspect in god’s make-up, change in architecture (roofed temples/open courtyards, ben-ben stones in Atenist temples.

worship practices as now Akhenaten, the royal family and the Aten were worshipped instead of the other traditional gods. ● Through the reliefs, it depicts only the royal family being in contact with Aten → removing personal piety and making the Aten worship unrelatable ● The art reflects his agenda and reign as it primarily showed the Aten and no other gods especially during his fifth year of rule. Reflecting his change to monotheism. ● The Aten was shown as a symbol rather than the traditional way of representing gods through anthropomorphic form → this made is harder for the Egyptian people to develop a personal connection to the Aten meant that there was only one time and place, ‘ the here and now’ and no afterlife at all → the dead would dwell with the Aten during the day and alone in the tomb at night ● Scenes of tombs worshipping funerary gods were gone, now the deceased person is shown to worship the Aten ● There were no funerary gods → replaced by images of both Akhenaten and Nefertiti Evidence of change

• “Concept of a sole god and banning other gods and traditional temple rituals new” - Aldred (FC)
• “suggests that many ordinary citizens may have felt in exile in Amarna , so then retired to their ancestral homes to die and be buried”- Reeves (FC)
• “concept of a sole god was new, as well as the banning of other gods and traditional temple rituals” - Aldred (FRW)
• “cessation of temple festivals harmed population” - Kemp (FRW)

Artistic innovations and development

The artwork in Egypt was regarded as ‘Egyptian’ due to its revolutionary changes.

Representation of the Aten

In the early radical phase (East Konark) the Aten was shown in disk form, with outstretched hands holding ankles. This type of representation of the king was extremely unusual. In depictions teh Aten was always shown in his disk form, but the king was more realistic.

Akenaten and the royal family

The royal family was depicted in a variety of domestic poses/situations. (including nursing children and showing expressions of grief). Emotional royal scenes were shown with Akenaten and Nefertiti playing with their children. Nefertiti was extremely unusual, as she was seen smiting the enemy in a traditional pose often reserved for pharaohs. Although there were many radical changes, it's important to note that other than small exceptions from Nefertiti, Akenaten is still depicted as the most powerful in these reliefs.

The natural world

Changes to afterlife and funerary customs

Royal tombs - Tombs of royals showed dependency on the king for an afterlife. Evidence → Royal tombs

• Faces to the east where the Aten rises each day
• No Amduat scenes or texts (funerary text for the pharaoh.
• Burial Chamber had scenes of..
  • the ceremonies of offerings to the Aten, which the royal family officiated show enormous quantities of food, drink and flowers piled up on the altars of the Aten.
  • Pieces of furniture and funerary equipment destined for the use of the deceased also appeared in these scenes.
  • Great frequency of the cartouche of the queen Nefertiti, which shows her very important religious role.
• Image of Ak & Nef mourning the loss of their daughter
• The badly damaged sarcophagus of Akhenaten, recovered from the royal tomb at Akhetaten, is unique in that Nefertiti replaces the traditional protective deities on each corner.
• Martin and Luhner suggest that the change in tomb design to a single, straight corridor may have been to allow uninterrupted access to the sun’s rays Non - Royal tombs - Evidence → Non-Royal tombs
• 45 non-royal tombs found in Akhetaten → officials with a close connection to Ak o North tombs = king’s closest advisors and favoured associates - South tombs = executive and administrative arms of court e.g Tomb of Ay
• Tombs of Amarna nobles featured AKhenaten and the royal family worshipping Aten → dependence on Akhenaten for their existence in the afterlife - No longer the traditional representation of the tomb owner at work and place, or joining the gods in scenes from the Book of the Dead
• Tomb reliefs → no longer spells from the Book of the Dead to help the deceased enter the afterlife = absence of other gods
• The tomb owner is now depicted as a smaller figure and in a subservient role, either attending upon the royal family or being rewarded by them for services rendered.
• A prayer in the Tomb of Ay petitions Akhenaten for a successful afterlife
• Tomb of Parannefer – royal craftsman
  • The Royal family are depicted worshipping the Aten at the entrance to the tomb
  • The Window of Appearances is shown in the hallway with the king and queen standing and ruling Egypt
• Tomb of Mahu – chief of police o Images of the Royal family offering trays of food to the Aten while Mahu kneels before the king to pray. Afterlife beliefs - Abolished the traditional afterlife gods to reflect his new policy of monotheism
• There was no longer a ‘Field of Reeds’ for ordinary Egyptians or a journey for the pharaoh to go on → the souls of the dead would rejoice with the Aten during the day and return to dwell in their tombs at night (time of danger and chaos)
• Focus is on the ‘here and now’ rather than the afterlife

first 5 years of region”. He also came to Aziru of Amurru’s aid (took advantage of Hittite

destabilisation to increase property. Then summoned to Egypt to answer complaints, then

detained, defection to Hittites shows difficulty Egypt faced in control over distant parts of its

sphere of interest in Syria-Palestine. Followed Amenhotep III’s policy of maintaining diplomatic ties

to avoid warfare (marriage of Mitannian princess continued diplomacy in vassals) Unfeasible

expansion due to policy of limited military action/containment (limited influence in Syria/Levant)

Nubia: Traditional foreign policy through town and military campaigns, founded towns of Kawa

and Sesebi for Amun/Aten. In Year 12 under Thutmose, army sent to put down rebellion recorded

on a stela in Buhen, Viceroy’s tomb biography records campaign were intended to punish Nubians.

The role of nefertiti and the issue of co-regency

• Promoted atenism
• Works of the aten - making offerings to Aten
• She was often depicted in art worshipping aten w/without Akenaten
• She was a key part of the divine triad

Co -regency

• Ak was succeeded by his co-regent, Ankheperure Neferneferuaten = Nefertiti adopted a new kingly title with pharaonic iconography (Harris & Samson)
• Neferneferuaten could be either Nefertiti, Meritaten, Kiya, or their daughter named Neferneferuaten
• Debate on WHO Neferneferuaten was, was she a co-regent, did she rule on her own after Ak’s death = Nefertiti is a key contender
• She was often depicted in iconography as the same size as the pharaoh Smenkhane: rumoured to be nefertiti, this is the person that ruled egypt before after the death and Akenaten and before king tut. Evidence of Smenkhane
• Could have been Nefertiti who ruled as Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare after Ak’s death
• Could have been a young man of uncertain parentage, maybe son-in-law of Ak or brother of Tutankhamun
• Presumed he married Ak’s eldest daughter, Meritaten, and it may be his skeleton in Tomb 55
• Believed they ruled for 3 years between Ak and Tut’s reign – but who they are is debated?

Evaluation

Impact and influence on his time

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gGnMBcqdbtKyp5cBCC5W7QIlnODSCg8u9XQKflZvM9E/edit#headin g=h.tk2dz1mb5vrc → Page 12-13.

Assessment of his life and reign

Restlessness in Egypt, Horemheb recorded that order needed to be restored, economy under stress, nobility/priests less influence, In Year 12, economic difficulties, zeal had weakened, sent Smenkhkare to Thebes to discuss terms with priesthood of Amen-Re, Tiye noted for lukewarm acceptance of Aten worship. Revolution failed beach didn’t reach of affect the people, opened religion/removed secretiveness and mystery of cult religions, people rejected Aten because they remembered old gods, empire endangered under Aten, powerful under Amen-Re, Aten worships not widespread, priests considered revolution heretical, many court supporters uncommitted, Amarna Art considered anti-cultural by traditionalists.

Legacy

Tangible (sources), Intangible (ideas), deliberate attempt to leave mark on his time, Court returned to Memphis, traditional cults came back, Tutankhaten/Ankhesenpa’aten changed names, moved to Thebes, Tutankhamun’s restoration stela and Horemheb’s Coronation Edict show reign “land was in confusion, the gods forsook the land..their temples and shrines had fallen into neglect”. Aten cult continued, Tomb of Tutankhamun had Aten’s name preserved (Golden throne had amun/aten cartouches) Sun-disc ray featured in back panel of throne, Reign was effecting Egypt 15 years after death, Horemheb destructed Akhenaten’s monuments, restored traditional cults, dismantled temples at East Karnak used talatat blocks to fill in pylons for Amun temple. Ramesside Period saw more destruction, almost destroyed whole of Akhetaten, Amun restored as chief god, reaction against his reign shown when list of pharaohs erase his name and immediate successors (goes straight to Horemheb)

Ancient and modern images and interpretations of his reign.

Treatment of Akhenaten’s legacy and reforms by his Tutankhamun, Ay and Horemheb reveal

attempt to return Egypt to religious orthodoxy, policies to erase the memory of Akhenaten’s reign

from NK history, Restoration Stelae produced during Tutankhamun’s reign demonstrates

willingness to return Egypt to a polytheistic society, Legalising worship of gods other than Aten,

Horemheb: “Religious heresy” destroying buildings/monuments erected by Akhenaten, 19th

Dynasty: Akhenaten referred to as “Heretic” and “that criminal of Akhetaten” In ‘Hymn to the

Aten’ that citizens of Akhenaten were subjected to and indoctrinated with the Aten religion and all

concepts, reflected in people’s forced conformity/fear of uprising/protest against Akhenaten/Aten

Cult.

Modern Positive: Haynes and Aldred: Paints picture of Akhenaten as a humanist who was

genuinely concerned with implementing spiritual and religious reforms. Kemp and Thomas: Paints

Akhenaten as a tragic and weak leader who had no commitment to implementing his policy

effectively. Ray: Sees Akhenaten as merely a naïve, religious fanatic intent on imposing his own

‘truth’ regardless of the consequence. Redford and Hornung: Akhenaten’s religious revolution

largely a political ploy designed to strike at the power base of institutions such as the Amun cult.

Assessment task sources

1 “Had there in short been an attempt on the life of the royal person?” (Reeves)

• Political motive
• Suggests that Ak faced a possible assassination attempt and was a key reason for the move of cities because of his radical religious reforms
• Highly controversial pharaoh
• Reeves suggests another possible explanation for the transfer and it revolves around the notion that the capital was moved due to Akhenaten's fear of safety due to an assassination attempt
• His large-scale changes to religion and to society caused a lot of turmoil within society which therefore may have lead to people trying to assassinate him to restore previous traditions → this further shows how he would have been disliked in society and many people did not support the changes he 2 “You are in my heart, There is no other who knows you Only your son, Neferkheprure, Sole-one-of Re, Whom you have taught your ways and your might” (Hymn to the Aten) This highlights akhenaten's particular relationship with the aten. Here he is referred to as the son of the Aten and the only one who understands the Aten. The hymn provides insight into the religious ideology that underpinned Akhenaten’s reign, emphasising monotheism centered around the aten. Can be viewed as a doctrine of what beliefs they are worshipping, The hymn is a poetic tribute to the sun disk, which Akhenaten believed was the one true god. The hymn praises the Aten's power and glory, its role in creation, and its role in sustaining life on Earth. The Hymn also touches on funerary customs, highlighting what would happen to the souls of the dead. 3 Two scenes from the Tomb of the Vizier Ramose → on page 16 workbook The contrast in scenes before and after religious reforms of akhenaten provides a visual representation of shifts in Egyptian society during this time period → scenes reflect changes in titles and royal imagery over time.

DOT POINT: Changes to royal title and image.

Akenaten presented as a traditional pharoh, in the tomb of Vizer, Ramose (Left side)

• This relief presents akenaten as a traditional pharph, this was created within the early kingdom when Akenaten and his kingdom were still conforming to traditional styles and relief.

Relief from Ramoses tomb, shows Akenaten and his great royal wife, Nefertiti, standing at a window of appearance, giving gifts to the tomb owner.

• This source presents the new way of the Aten and akenaten
  • ie. large stomachs, feminine build, sun disk with outreached hands to the royal family. Ramose was a governor of Thebes and vizier of Egypt under both Amenophis III and Amenophis IV (better known as Akhenaten).
• He was integrated into royal relations Before and after Dot point: Titles and changes to his royal image over time. 4 Tomb 7 at Akhetaten - Tomb of Parannefer (Akhenaten’s noble) IN TEXTBOOK → BOOKMARKED PAGE A scene from the tomb of Parennefer is shown in the lower right hand corner funeary customs and afterlife beliefs
• The tomb of Parennefer, a noble during akheign, located in Amarna
• The tomb’s decorations and inscriptions provide insights into religious practices and beliefs about the afterlife during this period