Anth.310 Ppt. lecture-15: Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV), part-1: his reign, new royal capital...

ANTH 310:

Imperial & Post-Imperial Egypt: 1550 – 332 BCE

(Amarna period: Akhenaten)

Lecture 15: A.IV / Akhenaten,His early reign and shift to Tell el-Amarna (Akhetaten).

© Gregory Mumford 2021

CONTENTS: Amenhotep III / Akhenaten.

(1). Background 4

(2). Co-regency issue 7

(3). Sequence of events during his early reign (as Amenhotep IV) 17

(a). Year one 19

(b). Years 1-4 constructing initial Theban tomb 22

(c). Year two: Radical changes in art & theology … 24

(d). Explaining Akhenaten’s strange physique (in statuary & depictions) 30

(e). Emulation of royal portraiture and realism in art 48

(f). Portrayal of intimacy in royal art 57

(g). The royal family (and the Aten …): E.g., Forms of the sun-disk 63

(h). Years 2-4: Building program in Thebes, etc. 67

(i). Early reign: Queen Nefertiti and her role as queen 75

(j). The rise of the Aten cult 85

(k). Other Aten temples in Egypt and Nubia … 88

(4). Year five: Royal name change (Amenhotep IV →Akhenaten) 90

(a). New solar triad 92

(b). Selecting a new residence and capital 94

(c). Potential reasons behind shifting royal residence/capital & affiliated changes 102

(d). Years 5-8/9: Building and moving into the new capital city 106

(5). Years 9-12: New and increasingly radical measures 109

(6). Selected SOURCES on Akhenaten’s reign: 123

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DYNASTY 18:

Ca. 1550 – 1295 BC

(1). BACKGROUND:

no.11. Amenhotep IV

(renamed: Akhenaten)

Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

Amenhotep IV

The Aten

(sun-disk)

A-IV → Akhenaten

Akhenaten (A4)(ca. 1352-1336 BC)

• A visionary

• The “1st monotheist”?

• A reactionary?

• A megalomaniac

• A despot?

DYN.18 no.10: Amenhotep IV:

Background.

- A-IV = born to Amenhotep III

& Queen Tiye

- His elder brother, Thutmose V,

died before ascending the throne.

Probably around year 30.

- A-IV reigned 17 years.

- Married non-royal person: Nefertiti

(daughter of Ay: brother of Qn.Tiye)

- Earlier theories for a co-regency

A-III & IV essentially “disproved”

(but still debated).

- At most, A-IV may have served

as co-regent for a few months to

a year or so at the end of A-III’s

reign.

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(2). Co-regency issues …

DYN.18 no.10: Amenhotep IV:

Co-regency issues ...

- A-IV born to Amenhotep III

& Queen Tiye

- His elder brother, Thutmose V,

died before ascending the throne.

- A-IV reigned 17 years.

- Married non-royal person: Nefertiti

(daughter of Ay; brother of Qn.Tiye)

-Earlier theories for a co-regency btw

A-III & IV essentially “disproved”

(but = still debated).

- At most, A-IV may have served

as co-regent for a few months to

a year or so at the end of A-III’s

reign, but topic = reopened again

https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/greatheresy11/files/

15240438.pdf

https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/greatheresy11/files/15240438.pdf

https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/greatheresy11/files/15240438.pdf

Karnak Temple Pylon III dec. by Amenhotep III: Smaller, erased figure behind him

(a) One idea suggests co-regent Amenhotep IV; (b) Dodson says = Tutankhamun(!)

Amenhotep IV(?)

as co-regent?

Tushratta writes Amarna Letter 27

to Amenhotep IV regarding the over-

due promised gold statues:

“Say to Naphurreya, the king of Egypt,

my brother, my son-in-law, whom I love

and who loves me: Thus Tushratta …

[Ma]ne, my brother’s messenger, [came

and I heard the greeting o[f my brother]

and I [r]ejoiced greatly. I saw the goods

that my brother [sen]t and I re[jo]iced

greatly.

My brother said this: ‘Ju[st] as you have

always showed love to my father,

Mimmureya (A-III), so now show love

[to me.’ Af]ter my brother is desirous of

my love, shall I not be desirous of my

brother’s lo[ve]? At this very moment

I show you 10 times more l[ov]e than I

did your father!” …. Etc.

(Moran 1992: 86-87 EA.27)

Generic

letter

EA27 contains an added docket (=note)

in Egyptian hieratic on it that may be

read either: “[Yea]r 2” or “[Yea]r 12”

The text of EA27, along with letter EA26

appear to have been sent to Egypt soon

after Tushratta hears about A-III’s death:i.e., 1-2 seasons-worth of travel, or more?

→ =No co-regency/minimal co-regency,

versus 10+ year co-regency?

Did queen

Tiye act as

a regent for

Amenhotep IV?

EA.26

Theban Tomb of Kheruef: early & still traditional year-1? of Amenhotep IV

Depiction of A4/Akhenaten+mother Queen Tiye (regent?) offering to Re-Horakhty

Queen Tiye definitely lives into A-IV’s reign and is recorded visiting Amarna

Balance of the evidence reveals A-III prob. died near the advent of A-IV’s reign

Queen

Tiye

Tomb of Huya at Amarna: depicting Tiye dining with Akhenaten & his family: yr.12

Dyn.18: Amenhotep IV

Co-regency issue:

• House R.44.2 of

Panehesy at Amarna

has yielded a slab

stela depicting both

Amenhotep III and

Queen Tiye.

• The art style is in the

later Amarna-style of

year 9+

• The cartouches avoid

writing AMEN-hotep.

and replicate twice his

prenomen Nebmaatre.

• Some scholars argue

A-III & A-IV co-ruled

for 10-12 years

• BUT, the stela could

easily be honourific!

2014: recent discovery claiming ‘proof’ of

a co-regency between A.III & A.IV:

“The Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Mohammed

Ibrahim declared the discovery of architectural

remains (of walls and columns) in the tomb of

the Vizier Amen-Hotep Huy N° 28 in Asasif

Area –Luxor.

Some of these remains carry scenes showing

both Amenhotep III & Amenhotep IV (father

and son) in the same space, and one following

the other. The remains also show hieroglyphic

inscriptions of the names of both kings beside

each other.

The importance of this discovery, Dr. Ibrahim

says, is that it presents the definitive evidence

of the co regency between Amenhotep III and

Amenhotep IV because it dates exactly at the

beginning of the first Heb-Sed of Amenhotep

II<I>, in the 30th year of his reign.”http://www.egyptologyforum.org/bbs/MSA_Asasif_Feb2014.pdf

See also: Dr. Francisco J. Martin, the Field and

Scientific Director of the Spanish Mission

working in the Asasif Project.

https://mail.ad.uab.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=gMCT7b5C706FF6nH9PjO0AuAY122BdEI44jQPmYx5TmzWmMBs3BJn5mpkqc2Hke9W1mo3VAsOb4.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.egyptologyforum.org%2fbbs%2fMSA_Asasif_Feb2014.pdf

Dodson (2020: 6) says the balance

of the evidence currently favoursAkhenaten ascending throne after A3

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(3). Sequence of events

during his early reign …

(as Amenhotep IV)

Amenhotep IV (later →Akhenaten):

• Known sequence of events and changes

during his reign …(also see lectures 16-18)

• Omitting trying to place the last 8-10

years of Amenhotep III into this scheme

i.e., A.III year 30 Sed-festival = argued as

being year 8+ of Akhenaten …

• May also discuss co-regency issues here

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(a). Year one …

Amenhotep IV:

Year-one: Business as usual

- A-IV crowned at Karnak Temple

following traditional ceremonies

in presence of Amun.

- A-IV continued decorating pylons

built by A-III in Karnak Temple

(dedicated to Amun-Re).

- Uses regular sized wall blocks, unlike

his later use of small blocks (talatat yr.2+)

- A-IV portrays sun-god Aten in guise of

falcon-headed deity with solar disk & uraei.

- Aten identified by caption: “Re-Horakhty

who rejoices on the horizon in his name of

Shu (light) which is the sun-disk (Aten).”

- A-IV appears in Karnak Temple in

traditional manner as “First prophet of

Horakhty”

Change in the portrayal of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten):

• Tomb of Ramose: Early and later convention for depicting Amenhotep IV.

Traditional-style portrayal of

Amenhotep IV in Theban tombRadical new style of portraying

Amenhotep IV in same tomb.

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(b). Years 1-4 constructing

initial Theban tomb

Amenhotep IV:

Theban royal tomb.

- Years 1-4: A-IV initiated burial site in

Valley of the Kings (W Valley tomb 25)

- This tomb remained incomplete

when Akhenaten (A-IV) abandoned

Thebes in yr-5+

Some burial equipment later reused

by and buried with Tutankhamun.

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(c). Year 2: Radical changes

in art & theology …

Amenhotep IV:

Year-two.

- Beginning in yr-2,

and over yrs 3-4,

A-IV introduces some

radical changes in

art & theology …

Royal relief & sculpture:

- A-IV & Queen Nefertiti

shown in more ‘naturalistic’

art style:

a. Long jaws

b. Long fingers

c. wider hips

d. long neck

20-square grid vs. 18-sq. grid

Karnak Temple, Pylon X: Early, traditional forms & names of Amenhotep IV & Nefertiti

Akhenaten:

Akhenaten’s pursuit of Maat/Truth:

- Begins portraying himself in an

extremely bizarre fashion, breaking

radically from trad. royal portraiture.

- Now displays more intimate scenes

of family life in public settings.

- During peak years of reign, he

portrays self in androgynous form:

a. Elongated digits (toes & fingers)

b. Spindly lower legs

c. Thick upper thighs & buttocks

d. Large abdomen

e. Sunken chest

f. Narrow shoulders

g. Long, arched neck

h. Elongated jaw

i. Narrow face

j. Protruding, bulging, slit-like eyes.

k. Elongated skull (bulging at back)

Akhenaten:

Akhenaten’s pursuit of Maat/Truth:

- Begins portraying himself in an

extremely bizarre fashion, breaking

radically from trad. royal portraiture.

- Now displays more intimate scenes

of family life in public settings.

- During later peak years of reign,he

portrays self in androgynous form:

a. Elongated digits (toes & fingers)

b. Spindly lower legs

c. Thick upper thighs & buttocks

d. Large abdomen

e. Sunken chest

f. Narrow shoulders

g. Long, arched neck

h. Elongated jaw

i. Narrow face

j. Protruding, bulging, slit-like eyes.

k. Elongated skull (bulging at back)

Early to later years …

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


during his early reign …(d). Explaining Akhenaten’s

strange physique

(in statuary & depictions)

Explaining Akhenaten’s “strange” physique:

Earlier suggestion = he had Froehlich’s Syndrome

No!

No!

No!

No!

Akhenaten:

Explaining his ‘deformities’:

- Despite many earlier theories

regarding his form,

the best argument is the one

by Alwyn Burridge … (See

JSSEA 23 1993: 63-79):

- Namely, her proposal that

Akhenaten had Marfens

syndrome.

- Extreme Marfens syndrome

accounts for each/all of the

above-listed deformities:

- People with extreme Marfens

syndrome:

a. tend to die in mid-thirties,

b. generally = very intelligent,

c. can produce children

Akhenaten (above)

A person suffering

from Marfens

Syndrome (left)

Example of Amarna princess

More regular feet

More regular fingers

Marfens

syndrome

Marfens

syndrome Akhenaten / royal family

fingers & feet display poss. MS

Example of Amarna princess

Akhenaten’s daughters’ may have MS

Akhenaten:

Emulation of royal portraiture:

- Royal family members portrayed

like Akhenaten (Marfens syndrome

in royal family versus emulation?)

- High officials emulate new royal art,

portray themselves in private stelae

and sculpture like Akhenaten.

Realism of Amarna art:

- Bek, chief sculptor and master of works,

wrote in a rock text that Akhenaten taught

him his craft and that court sculptors

were instructed to represent what they saw.

- Introduction of realism in Amarna art,

- Total break from more rigid, traditional art.

- Royal art now shows king and family

in intimate displays of affection:

e.g., kissing, hugging, caressing, holding

hands, looking after royal children.

Amarna

princess

Nefertiti

Elongated digits = typical of depictions of Akhenaten (& others)

Portraying the

king’s traits &

elite emulation

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


during his early reign …(e). Emulation of royal

portraiture and realism in art

Akhenaten:



















Change in the portrayal of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten):

• Tomb of Ramose: Early and later convention for depicting Amenhotep IV.

Change to new art form in

the same tomb at Thebes

Akhenaten:



















Artist’s sketch on limestone slab

found in Great Palace at Amarna

Artist’s trial & reference piece

Bek

Amenhotep IV → Akhenaten:

Transition to a new royal art form:

A text from the granite quarry at Aswan:

- The sculptor Bak and his father Men.

- Part of the rock text illustrates a

colossal statue of Amenhotep III,

Akhenaten offering to the sun-disk,

and a figure of the sculptor Bak nearby:

Text above Bak:

“Giving adoration to the Lord of the

Two Lands and kissing the ground to

Waenre by the overseer of works

projects in the Red Mountain (Aswan),

a disciple whom his Person himself

instructed, chief of sculptors in the big

and important monuments of the king

in the House of Aten in Akhet-Aten,

Bak, the son of the chief of sculptors

Men and born to the housewife Ry of

Heliopolis.” Another monument of sculptor Bak

Rock-text at Aswan granite quarry: Part of a rock-cut text,

illustrating a colossal seated statue of King Amenhotep III,

with Akhenaten offering to the sun-disk & figure of the sculptor Bak:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Men_and_Bek_in_Aswan.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Men_and_Bek_in_Aswan.png

Amarna block with relief showing realistic portrayal of older man with wrinkles.

Amarna relief fragment illustrating a foot in a attempt to be realistic

Amarna period block reused at Hermopolis:

Most realistic portrayal of horse from Anc. Egypt

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(f). Portrayal of intimacy

in royal art

Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) Queen Nefertiti

Akhenaten:



















Display of affection between royal couple in public procession

Display of affection between royal couple & daughters

Slab stela placed in a private person’s garden shrine

Portrayal of intimate moments from royal family life:Karnak: talatat temple wall block showing Akhenaten & Nefertiti in bedchamber

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(g). The royal family

and the Aten …

Royal family of Akhenaten:

• During the course of his reign,

at least six daughters are known

for Akhenaten by year 12+:

1. Ankh-es-en-pa-aten (*)

2. Nefer-neferu-aten – Tasherit (*)

3. Nefer-neferu-re (*)

4. Meryet-aten (*)

5. Meketaten (*)

6. Setep-en-re (R)

• Akhenaten also had at least one

son (“of his body”):

7. Tut-ankh-aten (→ Tut-ankh-amun)

mother = Kiya?;

• Akhenaten has a co-regent briefly:

8. Smenkh-ka-re (neferneferuaten)

Is this another son??? Nefertiti???

A younger brother? Ephemeral fig.

Amenhotep IV:

Form of Sun-disk (Aten):

- Falcon-headed form of Aten disappears

- Aten → shown as sun-disk with rays

projecting downwards ending in hands

extending life (ankh) & dominion (w3s)

to A-IV & Qn. Nefertiti.

- Aten's name now in 2 cartouches

- Aten celebrates sed-festival like king.

Years 2-4 building program:

- Builds temples to Aten at Thebes in years:

2: Gemet-pa-aten “The Aten is found”

3: Rwd-menu “Enduring in monuments”

3: Teni-menu “Exalted in monuments”

4: Hwt-Benben “Mansion of the benben-stone”

Karnak

Temple

Pylon X:

Amenhotep IV:



- Aten shown as sun-disk with rays







- Builds temples to Aten at Thebes in years:




4: Hwt-Benben “Mansion of the benben-stone” Years 6-9 cartouches of the Aten

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC



(h). Years 2-4: Building

program in Thebes, etc.

Amenhotep IV:



- Aten shown as sun-disk with rays







- Builds temples to Aten at Thebes in years …:




4: Hwt-Benben “Mansion of the benben-stone”

The Aten also receives

a royal uraeus:i.e., a protective cobra

placed below the sun-disk

Uraeus (protective cobra)

Akhenaten in Sed-robe

Amenhotep IV:

Gemet-pa-aten:

- East of Karnak Temple

- Attached to king's palace

- Dedicated to Aten

- Celebrated king's sed-festival.

- 25+ colossal statues

- Blocks later used in Pylons II, IX

(Horemheb and Ramesses II)

- Amenhotep IV = chief priest & mediator.

- Qn. Nefertiti dominates official royal

scenes alongside A-IV.

- Nefertiti appears in Gem-pa-aten temple

wearing new queen's cylindrical crown

smiting an enemy with a macehead

and grasping hair of kneeling enemy.

A-IV → Akhenaten at Karnak: Gemet-pa-aten

Amenhotep IV:

Gemet-pa-aten:



- Dedicated to Aten












Example of Akhenaten’s building blocks

being used in core of Horemheb’s pylon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talatat#/media/File:Luxor_Museum_Relief_Talatat_06.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Amenhotep_IV#/media/File:Gempaaten_talatats.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talatat#/media/File:Luxor_Museum_Relief_Talatat_06.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Amenhotep_IV#/media/File:Gempaaten_talatats.jpg

Karnak Temple environs: reconstructing the adjacent Gemet-pa-aten temple.Matching 1000s of talatat blocks extracted from context & reused as pylon core blocks

Amenhotep IV:

Gemet-pa-aten:



- Dedicated to Aten












Gemet-pa-aten temple at Thebes

Amenhotep IV:

Hwt-benben:

- Another solar temple

open to the sky,

- Dedicated to Aten,

with focus on Nefertiti

- Nefertiti adopts title

Nefer-neferu-aten

(“Beauty of the beauties

of Aten”)

- “Temple of the benben-stone”

reflecting a return to early

forms of solar worship,

albeit with modifications.

- A-III & A-IV adopt royal ancestor

worship, spanning past-future kings,

attempting to elevate king’s power &

reduce growing influence of Amun cult.

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


during his early reign …(i). Early reign: Queen Nefertiti

and her role as queen

Queen Nefertiti and her role as queen:

• Nefertiti appears in a smiting scene

- This is highly unusual & not attested prior to Nefertiti

for a queen (versus a queen assuming the role of king)

- i.e., She assumes the traditional role of a king in this

aspect.

Qn. Nefertiti is elevated beyond any former queen in her role in state & religion

E.g., Frequent participation alongside A-IV in offering to Aten; her own temple; …

Early style depiction of

Queen Nefertiti

Extreme Amarna-style

depiction of Queen Nefertiti

Qn. Nefertiti is elevated beyond any former queen in her role in state & religion

E.g., Depicted variously from traditional to extreme styles; driving her own chariot

Nefertiti

in chariot

Amenhotep IV:

Hwt-benben:

- Another solar temple

open to the sky,

- Dedicated to Aten,

with focus on Nefertiti

- Nefertiti adopts title

Nefer-neferu-aten

(“Beauty of the beauties

of Aten”)

- “Temple of the benben-stone”

reflecting a return to early

forms of solar worship,

albeit with modifications.

- A-III & A-IV adopt royal ancestor

worship, spanning past-future kings,

attempting to elevate king’s power &

reduce growing influence of Amun cult.

Nfrt-iy-ti

Nefertiti

Rare variant

See Dodson (2020: 23-26)

Before/by year 5, Nefertiti adopted this new, expanded cartouche name

Valley of the Kings:

KV35 YL mummy of the

“Younger woman” (YL)

Dyn.18 temp. Amenhotep IV:

- Who is Nefertiti? a commoner?

- Tadukhepa? (Mitannian princess)

- Evidence reveals = Egyptian!

?

= Joann Fletcher suggestion

Many disagree with this ID!

The identity of Nefertiti:

• Still debated, despite

DNA & other analysis.

Dodson (2020: 94-95)

does suggest that Queen

Nefertiti might very well be

identified with the

“Younger Lady” found in

The KV35 cache.

DNA analysis → Younger Lady

= mother of Tutankhamun

Dodson’s (2020: 22) reconstruction of

Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) and his family tree:

“Nefertiti” = contested

as mother. It is KV35YL

(but is this Nefertiti???)

Younger brother?

of Akhenaten

?

DNA analysis shows The “Younger Lady” (KV35 YL) to be the mother of Tutankhamun

HOWEVER,

the DNA

analysis also

disagrees with

identifying Qn

Nefertiti with the

Younger Lady

→ Location of

Nefertiti =?(Hawass & Saleem 2016)

Nefertiti may

be KV21B?

Secondary queen = Tut’s mother

Others argue that

KV55 = Smenkhkare(versus DNA analysis)

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


during his early reign …(j). The rise of the Aten cult

and elevation under Akhenaten

Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten):

Rise of Aten cult debated variously

a. political motives to combat Amun cult?

b. sincere belief in primacy of Aten?

Aten not a new deity; long history in Egypt:

1. Aten appears in Old Kingdom as minor

aspect of sun-god Re-Harakhte.

2. Aten = divine symbol (sun-disk) linked

with royalty since Middle Kingdom.

3. Aten cited on scarab of Thutmose IV.

4. Amenhotep III worships Aten,

but does not set it against Amun cult.

5. A-III promotes Memphite & delta officials

to counteract Amun cult's power.

6. A-III elevates Aten in role associated with

royalty & builds/staffs some temples with

priesthoods devoted to Aten.

7. A-IV (Akhenaten) later raises the Aten to

supreme & virtually sole deity in Egypt.

Amenhotep IV:

Years-2-4:

- Celebrated sed-festival in yr 2/3

(unusually early date for it).

- Does not run the ritual race.

- Although courtiers attend his sed-

festival to affirm their loyalty,

they are shown only through

a list of titles (names = absent).

Other Aten Temples built:

- Early in reign, A-IV built other

temples to Aten:

a. Sesebi (in Nubia)

b. Hierakonpolis(Upper Egypt)

c. El-Amarna (Middle Egypt)

d. Memphis (Lower Egypt)

e. Heliopolis (Lower Egypt)Akhenaten’s Sed festival at Karnak

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


during his early reign …(k). Other Aten temples

in Egypt and Nubia …

Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten):

Years-2-4:

- Celebrated sed-festival in yr 2/3

(unusually early date for it).

- Does not run the ritual race.

- Although courtiers attend his sed-

festival to affirm their loyalty,

they are shown only through

a list of titles (names = absent).

Other Aten Temples built:

- Early in reign, A-IV built other

temples to Aten:

a. Sesebi (in Nubia)

b. Hierakonpolis(Upper Egypt)

c. El-Amarna (Middle Egypt)

d. Memphis (Lower Egypt)

e. Heliopolis (Lower Egypt)

Sesebi: Aten Temple

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(4). Year five:

Royal name change(Amenhotep IV →Akhenaten)

Amenhotep IV

→ Akhenaten:

No later than Year-5:

Royal-name change:

- Amenhotep IV changes

his name to Akhenaten:

“He who is effective

on the Aten's behalf”

Akhenaten now

serves Aten as

a. “Chief of seers

of the Aten”

b. “High Priest.”

- Akhenaten =

now officially

the sole earthly

representative

of the Aten.

Some argue that Amenhotep III may have died in yr 2

prior to sed-festival & introduction of radical reforms

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(4). Year 5: Royal name change

(Amenhotep IV →Akhenaten)

(a). New “solar triad” …

Akhenaten:

New solar triad:

(1)Aten,

(2) Akhenaten,

(3) Nefertiti.

- Duplicates Heliopolitan

solar religion triad

based upon …

a. creator-god Nefertum

(now = Aten), who begat

b. Shu (= Akhenaten)

c. Tefnut (= Nefertiti).

d. 4 daughters → Ennead of nine deities?

- New emphasis upon Maat ("truth","order")

(now NOT usually a deity [det. = removed];

= more of an abstract concept).

- Great Hymn to Aten emphasises

all men equal regardless of race

(similarities to Psalm 104: Linked via Canaan).

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


(b). Selecting a new residence

and royal capital

Akhenaten:

Selection of new

residence & capital:

- Year-5: Akhenaten

decides to abandon …

a. administrative capital

of Memphis

b. religious, economic,

& royal residence

centre of Thebes.

- Selects a new site at

Tell el-Amarna,

a. 320 km. south of Memphis

b. 400 km. north of Thebes

- Named Akhetaten:

“Horizon of the Aten”

(dedicated solely to the Aten).

Akhenaten claims to have been guided to the site of Amarna directly by the Aten

Tell el-Amarna: View from the north, looking across the plain.

Akhenaten:

First boundary stela inscriptions:

a. Akhenaten relates trip to Amarna

b. Aten decreed founding of city.

c. Akhenaten denies any other advice.

d. Asserts city site devoid of existing

temples, tombs, and houses.

e. Relates Aten's wishes for city to be

controlled by Akhenaten & Nefertiti.

f. Courtiers agree & confirm tax dues.

e. City located on east side of Nile,

- reflecting notion of “rebirth” (sunrise)

- natural Akhet-sign symbolism in E.

hills (location of royal tomb)

- Thebes to be drained of most residents,

although many “undesirables” remained.

Akhenaten’s inspired location of

an ideal site for city of Akhet-Aten,

plus an Eastern wadi for royal tomb

Boundary Stela example:

An emphasis is made on keeping the settlement within the boundary stelae

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


(c). Potential reasons behind

shifting royal capital / residence

& affiliated changes

Akhenaten:

Why did Akhenaten adopt radical move?

- Some clues in year 5 boundary stelae:

- Reees believes Akhenaten alludes to

some horrific incident, said to be worse

than anything that happened

a. in his 1st – 4th fourth regnal years

b. in the reign of Amenhotep III

c. in the reign of Thutmose III

d. in the reign of any kings

receiving White Crown.

- It is likely/possible the incident not only

challenged his authority, but

possibly even his physical safety(?).

- The incident likely had links to the

established nobility & Amun cult in Thebes.

- Reeves: Poss. failed assassination attempt?

Paranoia(?) versus necessity(?)

At Akhetaten (Amarna), Akhenaten is portrayed surrounded by

the military, who line the processional king’s highway, etc.

Akhenaten:

Royal patronage:

- Akhenaten promotes many

new persons to high posts:

a. no ties to established elite families

b. owed promotion to Akhenaten

- He bolsters his regime’s stability

by intensifying military presence.

- He later campaigns to destroy the

cults & priesthoods of Amun etc.

Military support:

- Ay (brother of Qn Tiye)

- Horemheb (later controls army)

- General Ramose

Clergy:

- Parennefer

("Overseer of prophets of all the gods")

Administration:

- Maya (chancellor)

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC


(d). Years 5-8/9:

Building and moving into

the new capital city

Akhenaten:

Years 5-8/9:

- 4-5 years building city of Akhetaten

- More boundary stelae in yrs 6 & 8

(demarcating the city’s hinterland).

- City opened officially in year 9.

Boundary stelae emphasizes building:

1. House of the Aten

2. Mansion of the Aten

3. Sunshade of great royal wife

Neferneferuaten (Nefertiti)

4. House of Rejoicing

5. Residence of pharaoh

6. Residence of great royal wife

7. Royal tombs in E. mountains for king,

queen (Nefertiti), princess (Meritaten).

8. Mnevis Bull cemetery.

9. Chapels for chief of seers,

and god's father of Aten.

Akhenaten:

Years 8-12:

- Aten’s name = modified to include

references only to sun-god Re:

“Long live Re, ruler of the two horizons,

he who rejoices in the horizon

in his name as Re the father

who returns as Aten.” (= year 9)

- Akhenaten represented as sole

intermediary between Aten & Egypt

- All access to Aten, its cult, the cult's

income and estates = via Akhenaten.

Note:

- Although Amun cult is “destroyed”,

Akhenaten does not make adequate

provision for his successor.

- He makes too many enemies for his

religion to survive his reign.

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(5). Years 9-12:

New and increasingly

radical measures

Akhenaten:

Year 9: Aten receives modified name:

“Re, horizon ruler, who rejoices

on the horizon in his name of

Re the father, who has returned

as the sun-disk.”

Post-year-9: Akhenaten

1. closes down other cult centres,

2. all cultic estates & revenues → Aten

3. begins erasing name of Amun from

all monuments & items in Egypt,

4. erasing plural word (3 lines = plural)

for “gods” (ntjrw): is this monotheism?

5. Akhenaten did tolerate non-Atenistic

elements & other deities in new cult

(e.g., Hathor; Mnevis bull; Re; etc.)

→ Hence, his cult = henotheism

(i.e., worship of mainly one deity,

without denying existence of others).

If a co-regency occurred and

lasted to years 8/9,

this would represent the best

point to make such a radical

move …

Post-Year 9: Akhenaten ordering the erasure of “Amun” from ALL monuments,

including as elements in names: e.g., His father’s name Amenhotep

Erased then re-inscribed

Akhenaten:





as the sun-disk.”














Hieroglyphic

determinative

often added

to netjer

(for “god”)

Hieroglyph netjerw: “gods”

Akhenaten:





as the sun-disk.”














Hathor-sistra

Ancestral jackal deities in scene with Aten

Akhenaten:

Yrs 9+ prohibits name of Amun & gods:

- Stelophorous statue of Hednakht

with traditional deities erased from

line 4.

- Saqqara tomb of Merneith: altered

his name in year 9 to Meritre in

2 places, but missed a third place

(where it remained in original form).

Amenhotep IV


Ca. 1352 – 1336 BC

(5). Years 9-12:New and increasingly radical measures

(a). ALSO tolerating some

non-Atenist worship …

Various traditional deities continue at Amarna during the core period of Atenism:

E.g., Hathor, goddess of music, appears in sistra throughout A-IV’s reign

This particular example

illustrates a Hathor-sistrum

held by a more traditionally

depicted Queen Nefertiti.

Retention at Amarna of A-III period menat-necklace counter weight, depicting Isis

Akhenaten:

Yrs 9+ prohibits name of Amun & gods:

- Stelophorous statue of Hednakht

with traditional deities erased from

line 4.

- Saqqara tomb of Merneith: altered

his name in year 9 to Meritre in

2 places, but missed a third place

(i.e., where it remained in original

form). = overlooked / …

Akhenaten:

Tolerating traditional cults of poor:

- In contrast, material culture

evidence from the poorer population,

at Amarna, and elsewhere,

reveal traditional domestic cults.

- Some scholars interpret this

as signifying that Akhenaten's

motives were more political?

and not purely intellectual,

religious, or monotheistic.

- BUT the poorer populace

would have noticed …

a. cessation of major festivities

and processions,

b. loss of income of persons,

relatives, or friends

(employed by cults of

non-Aten complexes).

Tolerance of non-Atenist traditional Egyptian deities in private sphere:

i.e., Moulds for deities and statuettes of deities in city of Amarna

Nile deity Hapy Hippopotamus

Deity Taweret

(childbirth deity)

Cobra (Meretseger?)

Protecting household

City of Amarna: minor non-Atenist

household deities = state toleration

Bes-figure

moulds

Worship of Taweret:

Protectress of women

in labour/child birth

Bes

from

Amarna

Unfinished limestone statuette from Amarna of a couchant ram:

= Traditional animal manifestation of the god Amun-Re(!)From household setting: i.e.,post-year 9 → tolerance for minor household cults?

(6). Selected

SOURCES ON

AKHENATEN’S

REIGN …(see next 2 lectures on other aspects

of Akhenaten/reign for further sources)

Amenhotep III-IV in Selected studies on various rulers of Dynasty 18

1967

Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten in studies on pharaohs from Predyn.-Dynasty 20

2008

See Baker (2008) entry on pp.13-18

and bibliography for full references

Sterne Library reference section

Akhenaten in Studies on pharaohs and people in Ancient Egypt

Sterne Library (3rd Floor): DT61 .B66 2006

2006

Amenhotep IV in studies on pharaohs from Predyn. To Dynasty 20

1995

Some translated texts from Amenhotep III’s reign,

But mostly Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten+ in this fascicle …

Important studies on the reign of Akhenaten and related matters

19841988


19991988


20142001


20151995


20002006


1996 (Do. Arnold, et. al. eds.)1973


20041998


20202018

2018

Nefertiti in Studies on female rulers in Ancient Egypt


2012 (Friederike Seyfried ed.)2010


1988 (D. B. Redford): E. Karnak1976 (D. B. Redford): E. Karnak

Selected historical & related sources on Late Dyn.18 Karnak Temple

2006

Anth.310 Ppt. lecture-15: Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV), part-1: his reign, new royal capital...

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