How Did Akhenaten Change Ancient Egypt

In 1375 B.C.E. a young Pharaoh ascended the throne named Amenhotep IV, but just five years into his rule he changed his name to Akhenaten and with this change he went against tradition and the culture of his people, moving his capital, and declaring a new religion. This change affected every aspect of the Egyptians life, how they worshiped, lived and even the art that was so important to the culture. Though Egypt had a long history of tradition and respect of the past, Akhenaten’s radical behavior did not last, it was just ten short years after his death, that his city was demolished and his name almost obliterated from history, and the old ways brought back. During his rule he opened up a renewal and renaissance of culture and beliefs,

The temple in which the axis of the worship for Aten complex, was facing east, the rising of the sun was the focus. This ignored the west where Egyptians believed the underworld to be. To worship Aten as one god implied no one ruled the dark, it just meant Aten was not present during the night. Considering much of the Egyptians life was spent preparing for the afterlife and facing the gods who would judge them, being told they no longer existed, was a huge shock to them. Egyptians believed in the multiplicity of deities, as they differed in power and status, just as the people themselves did. Individuals would have gods they worshiped in the home or cities would have gods they thought watched over them, as well as the state ceremonies that brought them all together, there was no discrimination or persecution for one’s beliefs, only in monotheism does this

He took an artistic system that had been in place for many years, and brought realism, freedom of movement and expression to the art and culture. Before Akhenaten Egyptian art was stiff and reserved, the statues were formal, we can see daily life, or battles, but little emotion. With Akhenaten and Nefertiti, we are shown the royal nuclear family, their six daughters not just represented, but shown climbing on, and kissing their father, this intimacy had not been seen before. There is also the relief of the royal couple kissing in a chariot while basking in the sun’s rays. Not only are we shown the family, there is a change in how we see them. During this time people are seen with cone shaped heads, skinny limbs, thick lips, and pudgy bellies. Some say that these represent a deformity, and a realistic view of Akhenaten, but these differences are seen on others as well, we do not know the reason for these changes but that a freedom of expression has evolved, and this shift in art work did seem to out last his