Amenhotep iv & Egyptian

Amenhotep IV is an Egyptian king who is famous for introducing monotheistic morality in Egypt. Before his reign, Egyptian people pietism many beau ideals and the role of priest in their polytheistic religion. For a short period of time, he initiated a major sacred revolution that affected the correct kingdom. In the early period of his reign, he changed his name from Amenhotep IV to Akhenaton. He changed his name after moving his capital to the newly designed city of Akhet-Aten. (euler. slu. edu) It depicts a major change in their religious belief.Akhenaton means the servant of Aten. In the process of this religious revolution, Akhenaton placed him self as the intermediary between Aten and the people. This helped overhaul the need for the priesthood. As the that one with access to the god, Akhenaten established himself as a god-king and became the first king to be called Pharoah. (Chesser, ehistory) The removal of Amum in his name is an indicant that he is rejecting their ol d religion. Amum is one of their old god who is also known as god of secrets.To have effectively removed Amun from his name seems like an all-but-open closure of warfare against the dominant religious authority in the day, the Amun priesthood based in Thebes (usu. edu) Akhenaten was the son of Nebmaatre Amenhotep III and queer Tiye. He was not the oldest royal son or the heir of the throne. His older brother Prince Tuthmosis was originally the heir of the throne but he died during the reign of Amenhotep III. (euler. slu. edu) Meanwhile, his wife is the famous Nefertiti which some scholars believed as Akhenaten himself or her mother. register suggests she was wed to Akhenaten as the daughter of a high official during Amenhotep IIIs reign, or of Amenhotep himself. Similarly, debate still remains as to whether or not Nefertiti was in fact the actual mother of Akhenaten, and his wife at the same time. The mysteries of Nefertitis origins remain a large topic of debate. (mnsu. edu) On the other hand, it was believed that it was Nefertiti who urged Akhenaten towards religious reformation. (mnsu. edu) Religious Reformation His first step of religious reformation is moving his capital from Thebes to Akhenaten.He imposed a monotheistic religion by placing Aten as the only subject of worship. Later, he went so far as to order the word gods removed and changed to god, wherever it occurred on public inscriptions. (usu. edu) I was believed that the monotheistic belief of Akhenaten was elysian by Judaism through with(predicate) Moses or Joseph. But according to some scholars, Akhenaten belief is not purely monotheistic for the Apis cult maintained other gods. Because Akhenatens religious reformation was not really monotheistic, we cant conclude that it was influenced by Judaism.(ancientegyptonline. co. uk) As part of his religious reformation, he opened Egyptian religion for all instead of being exclusive for Egyptian priest. The reason why he rejected Amun as god is b ecause he is the god of secrets. Instead of worshipping a god of secret, he wanted the Egyptian people to worship a god like Aten which reflects its presence through the rays of sun. (usu. edu) Mark Damen described Akhetatens god as follows The religious iconography of Akhenatens new belief system centered around the aten as a divine presence.Representing the life-giving force of the universe, the sun-disk is often depicted in either abstract or personified form, occasionally both at the same time. Though its most often pictured as a mere caste with rays of light radiating downward, the aten also appears sometimes with little hands appended onto the end of its solar beams holding out to worshipers the ankh, the Egyptian sign of life. In a few instances, the hands are even shoving the ankh rather unceremoniously up the noses of the blessed, a figurative assertion, no doubt, that the sun offers the breath of life. It would seem less comical forthwith if this sacrament didnt look so much like an incontinent ear-swab. (usu. edu) Although Akhenaten desired the entire Egptian people to have a kin with Aten, still the said relationship became exclusive for Akhenaten and his family. Instead of worshipping Aten directly, they just worship the royal family. (ancientegyptonline. co. uk) All this concurs well with Akhenatens religion, where the pharaoh was said to serve as the conduit between humanity and the Aten. In other words, its through and because of him the sun-disk bestows life on the planet.In his own words, a hymn Akhenaten claims to have composed himself about the Aten (usu. edu) i reason for this is the torturing heat of the sun in Egypt. One way of worshipping is standing under its presence and ba fightg in its radiance. On the other hand, priests during his reign did not like his religious reformation. His own imposed religion disrespect the significance of priest in their religious life for Akhenaten served as a priest. Threats in his kingdom During the Amama period, a widespread of famine and diseases affected the Egyptians. Scholars believed that a pesterer or influenza killed thousands of lives during that time.I was also believed that that was the same plague in the book of Exodus that there is no sufficient evidence for that. (ancientegyptonline. co. uk) Egyptians viewed this plague as a consequence of neglecting their other gods. Death According to archeologist, there are indications that Akhenaten died in his middle age. Although the cause of his death is still unknown, there are assumptions that he died because of skin cancer. (usu. edu) As part of his religious duty, exposed himself to the torturous heat of the Egyptian sun that might caused him that disease. References Akhenaten and Monotheism.Usu. edu. Febraury 6 2008 Ancient Egypt Online. FEbraury 6 2008 Bart, Anneke. Ancient Egypt. Euler. slu. edu Febraury 6 2008 Nefertiti Queen of Dynasty XVII. Mnsu. edu. February 6 2008 Preston, Chester. E History Archive. Fe bruary 6 2008