Changes

__NOTOC__

In 1353 or possibly 1351 BCE, Amenhotep IV ascended to the throne of Egypt. In the fourth year of his reign, he changed his name to Akhenaten. He created a new [[How did Monotheism Develop?| monotheistic religion]] devoted to a single god named the Aten. However, the pharaoh’s loyalty was not enough, and soon Akhenaten required that all of Egypt adopt his new god and abandon their old pantheon in favor of sun worship. This religion consumed his reign, and the changes he made were remarkable. The most notable effects of his conversion included an entirely new religious philosophy and style of artistic expression, the establishment of a new capital city, and a ruinous disregard for foreign policy. His efforts would ultimately prove to be futile, as Akhenaten and his sun cult were all but forgotten in the years following his death.

==Why did Akhenaten try to erase the Old Egyptian Gods?==

In the same year, Akhenaten began a widespread attempt to remove any signs of the traditional Egyptian deities systematically. It appears that Amen was the main focus of the king’s disapproval, and a fleet of semi-literate workers wer=e dispatched to chisel away symbols and words that bore any passing resemblance to his name. <ref>Williamson, <i>UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology</i>: 8</ref> Even private tombs were defaced, including the tomb of Khereuf, where many of the images of Amen were chiseled off the walls. <ref><i>The Tomb of Kheruef</i>, 17</ref>

Especially unusual was the nature of the scenes depicted in Amarna art. Earlier pharaohs were typically portrayed in an austere manner, engaging in official religious duties, hunting, or fighting in battle. The Amarna period is known for depicting Akhenaten and his family in a markedly intimate and informal manner by comparison. A famous example is a royal family portrait dated to approximately Year 8 of Akhenaten’s reign. The king and queen are seated facing each other and nearly equal in height. Akhenaten raises his daughter Meritaten to his lips, kissing her, and Maketaten and Ankhesenpaaten interact playfully with their mother, one seated in her lap and the other leaning up against her in a relaxed posture. Intimate scenes such as this were virtually unknown in Egyptian art up until this time.<ref>Davis, Whitney. “Two Compositional Tendencies in Amarna Relief”. <i>American Journal of Archaeology</i> 82.3 (1978): 388 Web. 05 November 2015</ref>. It is unknown why Akhenaten required that he and his family be portrayed in this way, but the result would have been surprising to his contemporaries.

==Why did Akhenaten relocate the Egyptian Capital?==

====References====

<references/>

Updated March 23, 2021