Akhenaton (1352 BCE-1336 BCE)

By ashleydibello
  • 1380 BCE

    Born as Amenhotep IV

    Son of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye
  • 1355 BCE

    Married Nefertiti

    The couple had six daughters together
  • 1352 BCE

    Came to power

    In his first years, not much had changed.
  • Period: 1352 BCE to 1336 BCE

    Influence on Egyptian art

    In many artworks, Akhenaton was depicted very differently from other pharaohs. In some pieces of art, he was seen with his wife and children, something very rare at the time. Also, he was given a more feminine looking body that included a slim torso with wide hips, large stomach and forehead, and also long arms and fingers. Many modern people believe that he had some type of illness that made him look like that.
  • 1350 BCE

    Started Atonism

    He began to push the polytheistic beliefs of Egyptians to a monotheistic belief. He focused heavily on the sun god, Aton.
  • 1346 BCE

    Moved the capital city

    Akhenaton moved the city from Thebes to a new city called Akhetaton, modern day Amarna
  • 1345 BCE

    Wrote hymns

    Akhenaton wrote hymns dedicated to Aton that covered walls of private tombs. These date back to around 1345 BCE.
  • 1344 BCE

    Preparation for the afterlife

    His tomb and sarcophagus began to be constructed
  • 1344 BCE

    Changed his name

    He changed his name from Amenhotep IV to Akhenaton
  • 1341 BCE

    Tutankhaton is born

    His sister gave birth to his son, Tutankhaton, who later changed his name to Tutankhamen
  • 1336 BCE

    Death

    He ruled for approximately seventeen years until his death.
  • 1335 BCE

    Death of Nefertiti

    This was a year after her husband's death. The two ruled Egypt equally.

  • Tomb

    Akhenaton was buried in tomb KV55, found in 1907 by archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton.