AKHENATEN

AMENHOTEP III AND THE ATEN

1355 BCE

During the reign of Akhenaten’s father, Amenhotep III the sun-disk became increasingly associated with royalty and particularly with the status of the king and developed into a God with its own temples and priests. Also during Amenhotep III’s reign, a shrine to the Aten was built near the Karnak temple of Amun and that a priesthood was established, this lead to Akhenaten abandoning the tradition gods and closing temples: having one god only, called Re-Horakhte.

BEGINNING OF AKHENATEN

1353 BCE

The reign of Akhenaten began in 1353 BCE

NEFERTITI

1353 BCE

It is believed that Akhenaten was already married to Nefertiti when he came to the throne.

IMAGE OF AKHENATEN

1353 BCE

Early in his reign, the images of Akhenaten were grossly exaggerated, although later in his reign they were less extreme. He was represented with:
A large head, long neck, narrow face and chin, pouting lips and elongated eyes, narrow upper torso, lower torso of obliviously feminine proportions - prominent buttocks, swelling thighs, drooping belly and no evidence of genitals and short lower legs

MERITATEN WAS BORN

1349 BCE

One of many Akhenaten's daughters, Meritaten was born.

CHANGING OF AKHENATEN'S NAME

1348 BCE

In 1348, the fifth year of his reign, Akenhaten changes his name from Amenhotep IV to Akenhaten. Nefertiti's name was also changed from Nefertiti to Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti. He officially broke with Amun by changing his name. (He who is Serviceable to the sun)

AKHENATEN CELEBRATED HIS FIRST JUBLIEE

1348 BCE

Depictions on the temple of Karnak show Akenhaten at the celebration of his jubilee (Sed festival). This would have been a new experience for Akhenaten consider he was excluded from this events as a child.

BIRTH OF ANKHENSPAATEN AND MEKETATEN

1346 BCE

The daughters of Akhenaten and Neferiti were born in 1346 BCE.

NEW CITY, NEW AKHENATEN!... well same unproductive Akhenaten

1346 BCE

Akhenaten moved the capital city from Thebes to uninhabited desert and called this new city, Akhetaten. This was located midway between Memphis and Thebes at a site never before claimed by any other god. The new city was 300km north of Thebes on the east bank of the Nile River. Boundary texts dated in these early years of his reign state that his primary intention in building this city was to worship at Aton

BEGINNING OF THE ROYAL TOMB

1344 BCE

Work on the royal tomb of Akenhaten begins. The royal tomb was very similar to the tombs constructed in the Valley of the Kings, and it featured a straightforward design of corridors and rooms along a single axis.

BUILDING PROJECTS

1344 BCE

Akhenaten built sun temples at Aten at the cult centres of Amun at Thebes, of Ptah at Memphis and of Re at Heliopolis.

AKHENATEN'S VIEW OF THE ATEN

1344 BCE

According to the hymn, Akhenaten’s view of the sun-disk is:
-Creator of all life: You made the earth as you wished, you alone, all people, herds, flocks, all upon earth that walk on legs, all on high that fly on wings. You made millions of forms from yourself alone, towns, villages, fields, the river’s course.