Pharaoh Akhenaten Revolutionaries in ancient Egyptian history
In the late 15th century BC
The ancient Egyptian empire reached its peak
Expanding from the northern Euphrates River
To most of what is now Sudan
Egypt's greatness and wealth enabled Pharaohs to build massive temples
Throughout the kingdom, dedicated to various gods including "Amun-Ra"
The supreme god above all gods. However, a century later
These temples were abandoned, faces and names of gods destroyed
And erased during the reign of Pharaoh
Named Akhenaten
In this clip, Abdulthaitube presents ancient Egyptian history
During a period of dramatic upheaval
Including changes in spiritual beliefs deeply rooted
In Egyptian minds for thousands of years
As well as building a new capital and developing new art forms
Challenging traditional Egyptian culture's unique identity
1. From "Amenhotep IV" to "Akhenaten"
Amenhotep IV was the 10th Pharaoh of Egypt's 18th Dynasty
His queen was the famous Queen Nefertiti
Shortly after ascending to the throne after his predecessor
Pharaoh Amenhotep IV clearly demonstrated
His desire to break decisively from the long past through revolution
From old to new, leading to political, religious changes
And ideological shifts that didn't happen gradually
But through rapid and extreme transformation
Before the full revolution took place
The Pharaoh started with what seemed minor
But was very interesting - changing his name from Amenhotep IV
To Akhenaten, meaning "Spirit of Aten"
Connected to the name of the sun god
The name change symbolized that from the traditional role of Pharaoh
As ruler of lands and worshipper of many gods
Especially Amun-Ra according to ancient tradition
Of dynasties spanning thousands of years, he changed his role
Fully establishing himself as the representative of god
Believing it would earn people's respect and faith
And supreme power over the land
2. The 'Heretic' Pharaoh Creates New Religion and Capital
During Akhenaten's first 5 years of reign
Dramatic changes occurred beyond just the name change
He abolished the worship of multiple gods
To worship only the god Aten
He also built his own temple
And revolutionized all forms of Pharaonic expression
Especially in the fifth year of his reign, changes became more intense
Leading Egypt onto a completely new path
These actions later earned Pharaoh Akhenaten the title
The Heretic Pharaoh
Additionally, the Pharaoh announced the building of a new city called "Akhetaten"
Meaning "Horizon of Aten" dedicated to the god Aten
Declaring it would be a city of happiness
With festivals and offerings, and no other cities would be built
Beyond what was designated, intending to make this city
An eternal resting place for his family and followers
This caused the former capital, Thebes at that time
To be abandoned and lose its capital status
The city of Akhetaten, now known as Amarna
Was built in 4 years with a population of 20,000
Later excavations revealed the city sat on a plain surrounded by cliffs
Buildings spread over six kilometers along the river
Arranged north to south, including bakeries and breweries
For preparing offerings, temples to Aten, and many small houses
Including villages for craftsmen and tomb builders of the Pharaoh
A royal road served as the main city route, with the city center at its middle
This route held symbolic importance
Showing the movement of the Pharaoh's chariots and family
There was also an administrative palace for the Pharaoh
While the larger Great Palace was used for ceremonial activities
Both buildings were made of mud bricks and beautifully decorated
With painted walls and floors. These were significant advances
Bringing new results during Akhenaten's reign
That might lead to writing new history
For complete transformation of the ancient Egyptian kingdom
3. The End of Strange Rule
After 12 years of reign, the major reorganization
Of Egypt was completely successful
People in the new capital lived happily and believed in the ideology
Of Pharaoh Akhenaten throughout. But after 5 years
There were many losses within the dynasty
Due to epidemic, including the Pharaoh's daughters and mother
Causing the dynasty to become unstable
People began to think these events might be because
Of neglecting worship of the old gods. Interestingly, after the turmoil
Historians found no further trace of Queen Nefertiti
The queen who stood by Akhenaten's side. According to inscriptions
Akhenaten appointed a new queen, and Nefertiti's disappearance
Late in his reign remains a mystery
Subsequently, Akhenaten died in 1336 BC
In the 17th year of his reign, and three years later
There's evidence that worship of previous gods like Amun-Ra
Had returned to Egyptian life
The new Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, announced the restoration of everything
That was destroyed, reversing what his father Akhenaten had initiated
Sacred places were restored and idols rebuilt
To replace those destroyed, resuming construction
That had stopped after Amenhotep III's death
And moving the capital back to Thebes
Thereafter Egypt returned to normalcy under the rule
Of Tutankhamun, after a period of alienation
Throughout Akhenaten's reign, and it seems the Aten religion
Continued for some time before Aten
Became merely a word meaning the physical sun
4. Unsolved Mysteries
In a brief period, Akhenaten established new perspectives on beliefs
And dramatic changes in ancient Egyptian society
Moving the capital to an uninhabited location
Attempting to erase certain gods from Egyptian memory
These were rare occurrences in other cultures
Why did the Pharaoh called 'heretic' choose this path?
Scholars have explained these events
Concluding that Akhenaten intended to create the Aten cult
To consolidate power, but some historians argue
He was a true believer in Aten
However, the true motivation behind the ideological revolution
Of Akhenaten remains a mystery, but he was among the first
In history to attempt changing people's faith
A profound matter, especially the concept of monotheism
Or worship of a single deity
Also interesting is that during the final 5 years, until 3 years
After Akhenaten's death
Before Tutankhamun's ascension, very little information remains
After Akhenaten's death, a power struggle occurred
With a mysterious Pharaoh named Smenkhkare
Reigning briefly for 1-2 years
Before dying, with no clear evidence of their identity or origin
Thus various hypotheses
About this mysterious Pharaoh remain debated
And one interesting theory claims that actually
Pharaoh Smenkhkare was Queen Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife
Who ruled briefly as regent
But there's hardly any evidence to clearly prove this
5. Amarna Art: Akhenaten's Unique Artistic Style
Ancient Egyptian art
Often showed relationships between gods, Pharaohs
And religious activities, where artists used systematic drawing techniques
Human figures appeared in distinctive poses
Often with unrealistic body features, like heads turned sideways
While other body parts faced forward
But art in Akhenaten's era was distinctly different
From past traditions
Depicting family life scenes, private life
Like sitting with wife and embracing children, or dining
Instead of battles or communication with gods
Like art from Amenhotep III's time or previous Pharaohs
This era's art is called Amarna Art or Amarna style
Human figures were depicted surreally
With elongated heads on thin necks, tall slim bodies, thick lips, slanted eyes
And protruding chins. Akhenaten's statues differed from other Pharaohs'
Which typically showed strength and masculinity
Sometimes Akhenaten's paintings showed wide abdomen and hips
And feminine-like breasts. In particular
The bas-relief portraits of Akhenaten revealed facial features
Uniquely resembling "alien-like" characteristics
And one of the most famous Amarna style artworks is
The bust of Queen Nefertiti, which is beautiful
But still has unnatural features: neck, face, and head
Noticeably elongated, leading to many strange theories
Trying to explain the art of this era, but the true reason remains unknown
6. Solving the Mystery of Akhenaten's Appearance Through Tutankhamun
Most scholars agree that the depiction of the Pharaoh
And his family in Amarna style
Stemmed from genetic disorders and physical defects
Of Akhenaten himself. Since in ancient Egypt
Sibling marriage was common
Pharaohs often married their sisters to maintain blood purity
Causing genetic defects in subsequent generations
Many scientists suggest Pharaoh Akhenaten may have had Gynecomastia
Caused by estrogen hormone imbalance
Causing enlarged breasts in males
While others suggest he may have had Craniosynostosis
A skull abnormality. There are also other possibilities
Of diseases that might have caused physical defects
Including consideration of mental abnormalities
From studying Tutankhamun's mummy
With current advanced technology
We know he died at just 18 years old
And faced many genetic diseases, making him physically weak
Modern CT scans show
Tutankhamun had physical disabilities, a deformed left foot with bone death
Requiring a walking stick. These problems, Akhenaten his father
May have faced similarly
However, no tomb or mummy of Pharaoh Akhenaten has been discovered
So the mystery of his true physical appearance remains concealed
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