Visionary or Tyrant???

AKHENATON

Someone who is characterized by new ideas

VISIONARY

TYRANTAn oppressive, harsh, ruler who governs without restrictions

DEPICTIONS OF FAMILY IN EGYPTIAN ARTAkhenaton, his Wife Nefertiti and Three

daughtersStatue of Nykara and His Family

Study Blue. Last modified March 2004. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Akhenaten+And+His+Family&view=detail&id=8F0757365CEA5EEB2D3B278581BC83CCF55CB40C&FORM=IDFRIR

Akhenaton• Born Amonhotep IV

• Spent his reign changing Egyptian religion

• Opposed the worship of Amon-Re (sun god)

• Sponsored the worship of Aton

• Became Akhenaton (he who serves Aton)

AKHENATEN’S HYMN TO ATEN

Symbol Ankh. Last modified Nov 21, 2010. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=akhenatons+egyptian+art&view=detail&id=128828B9DDC8307929476BA03F213CD6292070F5&FORM=IDFRIR

Aten – the Sun Disk with protruding rays that have hands

BBC History, Ancient Egyptian Gods Gallery, Aten, 2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/gods_gallery_11.shtml (Feb. 29, 2012); British

REFORMS

• Closed the temples of all other gods and took their possessions (first monotheist? – not really because the people still worshipped the pharaoh)

• Built a new capitol far north called Akhetaton (in the desert!)

• Complete and shocking break with religious tradition!

• Left him little time to govern – Empire suffered from neglect

TEMPLE AT AMARNA

University College London, Digital Egypt for Universities, Amarna: the main temple, 2002, http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/amarna/temple.html (Feb. 29, 2012).

WIFE

Metropolitan Museum, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Relief of Nefertiti, 2012, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/61.117 (Feb. 29, 2012).