| He was called the "Heretic King." The Pharaoh | | | | on the celebration of life rather than death. Frescoes |
| Akhenaten was very likely one of the very first rulers | | | | and stone wall reliefs were common forms of art in |
| to to institute a religion based on monotheism. During | | | | ancient Egypt. They were decorated with hieroglyphics |
| his co-regency with his father Amenhotep III, he | | | | and paintings and often used to commemorate an |
| maintained the cultic rituals and polytheist practices of | | | | historic event. They were crafted both for artistic and |
| the Egyptian faith. After his politically advantageous | | | | religious reasons. |
| marriage to Queen Nefertiti, his views towards religion | | | | Little of the Pharaoh's 17-year reign remains. The |
| changed and he began to worship the sun disk god | | | | Egyptian priesthood sought to eliminate any evidence |
| Aten to the exclusion of the Egyptian pantheon. It was | | | | of the 'heretic Pharaohs' monotheistic legacy. Very |
| then that he renounced his ruling name, Amenhotep, | | | | few artifacts from the period still remain intact. An |
| taking the moniker Akhenaten which translates to "He | | | | Egyptian wall relief depicting a playful, quiet moment of |
| Who Serves Aten." Nefertiti also changed her name to | | | | this royal Egyptian family is housed in the Altes |
| Nefer-Nefru-Aten, or "Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten." | | | | Museum in Berlin. The artifact is significant because it |
| The priests of Thebes were furious with the pharaoh's | | | | demonstrates a shift in artistic style from traditional |
| heresy, prompting Akhenaten to set up a new court | | | | 'staged' poses to a more naturalistic scene. |
| on the east bank of the Nile near what is now | | | | Hieroglyphics within the wall relief suggest that the |
| Amarna. The king's power could not be questioned | | | | change in style was at Akhenaton's direction. He is |
| even though his monotheistic views were not well | | | | seen kissing one of his daughters. Queen Nefertiti sits |
| received by the people. This did not stop the Egyptians | | | | across from the Pharaoh, a second daughter playing |
| from following Akhenaten and nearly 20,000 made | | | | with the Queen's earring. Not all elements of traditional |
| their home in Akhenaten el-Armana, a tremendous | | | | Egyptian art were abandoned. The children are |
| urban city filled with brilliant art and architecture. | | | | depicted as much smaller than the King and Queen |
| Akhenaten's faith in the sun disk god also brought | | | | even though they were full grown at the time. This is |
| about changes in Egyptian art. For the first time, | | | | symbolic of their lesser stature to the King and Queen. |
| Egyptian artists were inspired to create art centered | | | | |