Aten

Examples of Aten in the following topics:

• Akhenaton and the Amarna Period

  • During his reign, Akhenaten built a city for Aten that is known today as Amarna, and ushered in a period of art, known as the Amarna Period.
  • The Amarna Period is noted for its artistic style, which drastically shifted away from conventional styles of art and centered around the worship of Aten.
  • Although the worship of Aten was completely suppressed after Akhenaten's death, the artistic legacy had a more lasting impact.
  • Some scholars suggest that the presentation of the human body as imperfect during the Amarna period is in deference to Aten.
  • Decorations clearly worshiped the Aten, with excerpts from the Hymn to the Aten often present in the tombs; there is an absence of other gods and goddesses and no mention of Osiris or the underworld.

• Painting of the New Kingdom

  • Some scholars suggest that the presentation of the human body as imperfect during the Amarna period is in deference to the Aten.
  • Decorations from the Amarna Period clearly worshiped the Aten, with excerpts from the Hymn to the Aten often present in the tombs.

• The New Kingdom

  • One of the best-known Eighteenth Dynasty pharaohs is Amenhotep IV (c. 1353-1336 BCE), who changed his name to Akhenaten in honor of Aten and whose exclusive worship of the deity is often interpreted as the first instance of monotheism.
  • He rejected the old Egyptian religion and promoted the Aten as a supreme deity.

• Tutankhamun and Ramses II

  • In his third regnal year, he ended the worship of the god Aten and restored the god Amun to supremacy, also changing his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.

• Sculpture of the New Kingdom

  • Some scholars suggest that the presentation of the human body as imperfect during the Amarna period is in deference to Aten.

• Ancient Egyptian Religion

  • There was even a period of time where Egypt was monotheistic, under Pharaoh Akhenaten, and his patron god Aten.