The Unparalleled Power of Akhenaten
Part 5: A Bad End? And, in fact, Akhenaten sat on the throne of Egypt for only 16 years. They were 16 years of monumental change in most segments of Egyptian society, but they were 16 years nonetheless (from 1353 B.C. to 1336 B.C.), not nearly as long as some of the pharaohs who came before and after. As with many things, though, the influence can be seen throughout subsequent generations and, indeed, by examining previous generations. A study of pharaohs before Akhenaten reveals a mounting struggle between king and priests and a radical shift, from time to time, of just whom the Egyptians worshiped as their chief god. Akhenaten's boldness, then, was actually a reactionary return to the days of Narmer, the first pharaoh, who united the tribes of his people into a cohesive fighting force that dominated its neighbors for hundreds of years. Narmer (who was also known as Menes) was all-powerful, as was Akhenaten. Narmer was the people's gateway to the next life, as was Akhenaten. Narmer didn't have the benefit of a lovely wife, as did Akhenaten, but he is revered as the uniter and creator of the ancient Egypt that we all now study, just as Akhenaten is held up as a revolutionary in political and religious thought. Pharaohs who came after, for the most part, were not nearly as successful in uniting the people to a common cause; and none took so many pains to disenfranchise the religious ruling class.
The name Akhenaten reverberates throughout the story of ancient Egypt, a bolt out of the blue infused with vitality, audacity, and strength of will. Other pharaohs' stories pale by comparison. His son Tutankhamen is more famous, perhaps, to the common imagination, but that son also reverted to the old ways, including in choice of name, and didn't rule all that long himself. We can also find in Akhenaten the idea of worshiping one god, the Aten. Such an idea—monotheism—can be found at the heart of many modern religions, among them Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. First page > Born into Loyalty > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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Did Akhenaten go too far? Was he murdered by jealous priests or political rivals? Historians don't think so. The common wisdom says that he died of natural causes, his wife at his side, and that his followers took his body from its normal resting place at El-Amarna and hid it away, so that his enemies would not have the opportunity to deface it and rob him of peace in the next life. His importance lies in his audacity and tenacity, both to take Egypt by the throat and remake it in his image and to enforce his new way of life in as grand a way as possible, so that his people would have no doubt who their master was, in this life and the next. (Yes, Akhenaten even usurped the role of Osiris, god of the dead, by requiring his people to consult him on matters of the next life and pray to him when they were preparing for their journey.)
Social Studies for Kids
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David White