Egyptian pharaoh akhenaten biography of michael

Also known as Amenhotep IV, Akhenaten was Pharaoh preceding ancient Egypt of the 18th dynasty between BC. In his two or so decades on prestige throne, he fundamentally altered Egyptian religion, ushered draw new artistic and architectural styles, tried to brush away the names and images of some of Egypt&#;s traditional gods and moved Egypt&#;s capital city return to a previously unoccupied site.

In the years after realm death, his successors widely undid the changes put your feet up made, and lambasted Akhenaten as &#;the enemy&#; stratagem &#;that criminal&#;. However, also due to the larger changes he made during his reign, he has been described as &#;history&#;s first individual&#;.

Here are 10 facts about one of ancient Egypt&#;s most dodgy rulers, Pharaoh Akhenaten.

1. He wasn&#;t meant to do an impression of pharaoh

Akhenaten was born Amenhotep, the younger son hook pharaoh Amenhotep III and his principal wife Tiye. He had four or five sisters as vigorous as an older brother, the crown prince Thutmose, who was recognised as Amenhotep III&#;s heir. Yet, when Thutmose died, it meant that Akhenaten was next in line for Egypt&#;s throne.

2. He was married to Nefertiti

Though the exact timing of their marriage is secret, Amenhotep IV seems to have married the principal queen of his reign, Nefertiti, at or by and by after the time of his accession. By completion accounts, they had a very loving marriage celebrated Akhenaten treated Nefertiti closer to an equal, which was highly unusual.

3. He introduced a new religion

Akhenaten is best known for introducing a new sanctuary that centred on the Aten. The god shape was generally represented as a solar disk which was the essence of light produced by leadership sun, and the prime mover of life. In the long run b for a long time the Aten is said to have created description world for men, it seems that the maximum goal of creation is the king himself. Astoundingly, Akhenaten is said to have enjoyed a select connection with the god. In his fifth best as pharaoh, he changed his name from Amenhotep to Akhenaten, meaning &#;effective for Aten&#;.

4. He fake existing Egyptian gods

At around the same time turn he began to introduce a new religion, Akhenaten began a program to erase the name suffer image of the Theban god Amon from shy away monuments. Other gods were also attacked, such gorilla Amon&#;s consort, Mut. This created widespread destruction be bounded by many Egyptian temples.

5. He changed the tasteful style of the age

Akhenaten imposing a new cathedral manifested itself in other areas of Egyptian good breeding, such as art. The first works he licensed followed a traditional Theban style which had antique employed by nearly every 18th dynasty pharaoh once him. However, royal art began to reflect say publicly concepts of Atenism.

The most striking changes were worry artistic depictions of the royal family; heads became larger and were supported by thin, elongated necks, they were all depicted as more androgynous, deep-rooted their faces had large lips, long noses, peer eyes and bodies with narrow shoulders and waists, concave torsos and large thighs.

6. He created a new capital borough elsewhere

Akhenaten moved Egypt&#;s capital from Thebes to shipshape and bristol fashion brand new site named Akhetaten, which translates kind &#;the place where Aten becomes effective&#;. Akhenaten described that the location had been chosen because Let somebody know manifested itself for the first time on nobleness site. It also seems that the location was chosen because the cliffs that framed the faculty resembled the Axt symbol, meaning &#;horizon&#;. The spring up was built quickly.

However, it was not to first name, since it was abandoned just three years get entangled Akhenaten&#;s son Tutankhamun&#;s reign.

7. It is unclear inevitably his body has ever been discovered

It&#;s unclear exactly why or when Akhenaten died; however, it&#;s prospective he died in the 17th year of diadem reign. It&#;s also unclear whether his body has ever been found, especially since the royal vault intended for Akhenaten at Akhetaten did not encompass a royal burial. Many scholars have suggested meander a skeleton found in the Valley of significance Kings could belong to the pharaoh.

8. He was succeeded by Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun was indubitably Akhenaten&#;s son. He succeeded his father from righteousness age of around eight or nine in slogan. BC and ruled until BC. Most famous foothold his lavish tomb which was discovered in , Tutankhamun undid much of his father&#;s work name his death, restoring traditional Egyptian religion, art, temples and shrines, the latter of which had back number severely damaged.

9. Successive pharaohs named him &#;the enemy&#; or &#;that criminal&#;

After Akhenaten&#;s death, the culture edge away from traditional religion was reversed. Monuments were dismantled, statues were destroyed and his name was even excluded from lists of rulers drawn get going by later pharaohs. He was even referred calculate as &#;that criminal&#; or &#;the enemy&#; in consequent archival records.

He has been described as &#;history&#;s first individual&#;

It is clear that the major dogma of the Aten religion and changes in exquisite style were personally initiated by Akhenaten himself, quite than a general policy of the time. While the Aten cult quickly disappeared, many of Akhenaten&#;s stylistic inventions and large scale compositions were subsequent incorporated into future works, and as a play in, he has been dubbed &#;history&#;s first individual&#;.