Amarna Period

By Surata Garratt
  • Period: 1391 BCE to 1292 BCE

    Amarna Interlude

  • 1349 BCE

    Birth of Meritaten

    Akhenaten and Nefertiti have their first of six daughters in the first year of Akhenaten's reign.
  • Period: 1349 BCE to 1332 BCE

    Akhenaten's reign

  • 1348 BCE

    Work starts at temples to the Aten

    The first 4 temples to the Aten begin construction in Thebes, they were built to celebrate Akhentaten's Jubilee festival.
  • 1346 BCE

    Building of Akhetaten starts

    Construction of the new city of Akhetaten begins
  • 1346 BCE

    Births of Meketaten and Ankhenspaaten

    In the fourth year of his reign, Akhenaten and Nefertit have two more daughters.
  • 1345 BCE

    Work at Karnak is completed

  • 1344 BCE

    Amenhotep IV changes name to Akhenaten

    Amenhotep IV changes his name to Akhenaten, meaning Effective for Amun, or Amun is Satisfied.
  • 1339 BCE

    Birth of Neferneferuaten

    Akhenaten and Nefertiti's fourth daughter is born
  • 1338 BCE

    Birth of Neferneferure and Setepenre

    Akhenaten and Nefertiti have their last two children, meaning they have six daughters total.
  • 1335 BCE

    Death of Nefertiti

    There is no record of Nefertiti dying, but she disappears from records and therefore either dies or takes over as co-regent under the name Neferneferuaten.
  • 1335 BCE

    Meritaten becomes Queen

    Akhenaten's oldest daughter, Meritaten, becomes Queen.
  • 1334 BCE

    Meritaten marries Smenkhkare

    Meritaten marries Smenkhkare who is either the brother or son of Akhenaten
  • 1334 BCE

    Coregency between Akhenaten and Smenkhkare

    Smenkhkare has been depicted both as a king and son-in-law to Akhenaten and therefore it is considered that he was a co-regent to Akhenaten. There was however only one depiction stating this, so there might not have been an official co-regency.
  • 1332 BCE

    Death of Akhenaten

    After ruling for approximately 17 years, Akhenaten dies.