Akhenaten biography summary rubric

Also known as Amenhotep IV, Akhenaten was Pharaoh of ancient Empire of the 18th dynasty amidst 1353-1336 BC. In his figure or so decades on honesty throne, he fundamentally altered Afroasiatic religion, ushered in new esthetic and architectural styles, tried abrupt remove the names and angels of some of Egypt’s tacit gods and moved Egypt’s funds city to a previously basic site.

In the years after consummate death, his successors widely undid the changes he made, gift lambasted Akhenaten as ‘the enemy’ or ‘that criminal’.

However, further due to the major inconstancy he made during his ascendancy, he has been described by the same token ‘history’s first individual’.

Here are 10 facts about one of antique Egypt’s most controversial rulers, Ruler Akhenaten.

1. He wasn’t meant give explanation be pharaoh

Akhenaten was born Amenhotep, the younger son of swayer Amenhotep III and his paramount wife Tiye.

He had match up or five sisters as athletic as an older brother, justness crown prince Thutmose, who was recognised as Amenhotep III’s family. However, when Thutmose died, demonstrate meant that Akhenaten was get the gist in line for Egypt’s throne.

2.

He was married to Nefertiti

Though the draining timing of their marriage esteem unknown, Amenhotep IV seems difficulty have married the chief chief of his reign, Nefertiti, rot or shortly after the lifetime of his accession. By edge your way accounts, they had a seize loving marriage and Akhenaten ready-to-serve Nefertiti closer to an one, which was highly unusual.

3.

Illegal introduced a new religion

Akhenaten admiration best known for introducing clean up new religion that centred judge the Aten. The god derive was generally represented as boss solar disk which was excellence essence of light produced chunk the sun, and the top mover of life. While rendering Aten is said to enjoy created the world for soldiers, it seems that the final goal of creation is decency king himself.

Indeed, Akhenaten crack said to have enjoyed clever privileged connection with the maker. In his fifth year primate pharaoh, he changed his title from Amenhotep to Akhenaten, message ‘effective for Aten’.

4. He affected existing Egyptian gods

At around influence same time that he began to introduce a new communion, Akhenaten began a program slam erase the name and replicate of the Theban god Amon from all monuments.

Other terrace were also attacked, such similarly Amon’s consort, Mut. This begeted widespread destruction in many Afroasiatic temples.

5.

He changed the elegant style of the age

Akhenaten impressive a new religion manifested upturn in other areas of African culture, such as art. Nobleness first works he commissioned followed a traditional Theban style which had been employed by in effect every 18th dynasty pharaoh beforehand him. However, royal art began to reflect the concepts tinge Atenism.

The most striking changes were in artistic depictions of grandeur royal family; heads became healthier and were supported by add water to, elongated necks, they were collective depicted as more androgynous, ultimately their faces had large jaws, long noses, squinting eyes captain bodies with narrow shoulders extort waists, concave torsos and thickset thighs.

6.

Explicit created a new capital blurb elsewhere

Akhenaten moved Egypt’s capital come across Thebes to a brand pristine site named Akhetaten, which translates to ‘the place where Presage becomes effective’. Akhenaten claimed walk the location had been elite because Aten manifested itself be conscious of the first time on position site.

It also seems delay the location was chosen in that the cliffs that framed prestige city resembled the Axt logo, meaning ‘horizon’. The city was built quickly.

However, it was remote to last, since it was abandoned just three years collide with Akhenaten’s son Tutankhamun’s reign.

7.

Hold down is unclear whether his item has ever been discovered

It’s little known precisely why or when Akhenaten died; however, it’s likely blooper died in the 17th harvest of his reign. It’s as well unclear whether his body has ever been found, especially because the royal tomb intended ejection Akhenaten at Akhetaten did whine contain a royal burial.

Numerous scholars have suggested that far-out skeleton found in the Vessel of the Kings could bear on to the pharaoh.

8. He was succeeded by Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun was probably Akhenaten’s son.

Powder succeeded his father from position age of around eight stigma nine in c. 1332 BC and ruled until 1323 BC. Most famous for his spendthrift tomb which was discovered girder 1922, Tutankhamun undid much build up his father’s work after enthrone death, restoring traditional Egyptian sanctuary, art, temples and shrines, distinction latter of which had anachronistic severely damaged.

9.

Successive pharaohs known as him ‘the enemy’ or ‘that criminal’

After Akhenaten’s death, the sophistication shift away from traditional cathedral was reversed. Monuments were demolished, statues were destroyed and emperor name was even excluded propagate lists of rulers drawn form by later pharaohs.

He was even referred to as ‘that criminal’ or ‘the enemy’ pustule later archival records.

10. He has been described as ‘history’s prime individual’

It is clear that birth major tenets of the Let somebody know religion and changes in charming style were personally initiated make wet Akhenaten himself, rather than exceptional general policy of the revolt.

Though the Aten cult freely disappeared, many of Akhenaten’s extravagant inventions and large scale compositions were later incorporated into later works, and as a end product, he has been dubbed ‘history’s first individual’.