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In "Light of Aten: Echnaton's Revolution - The Emergence of Monotheism" by Benjamin C. Roberts, readers are invited on a compelling journey back to the heart of ancient Egypt, to the reign of one of history's most revolutionary figures, Pharaoh Echnaton. Defying centuries of traditional Egyptian polytheism, Echnaton embarked on an audacious quest to redefine the spiritual landscape of his time, establishing the worship of a single deity, the Aten. Roberts meticulously unravels the story of Echnaton's radical reforms, exploring how this enigmatic leader attempted to concentrate divine, political, and artistic expression around the worship of the sun disk. Through a blend of historical facts, archaeological evidence, and engaging narrative, this book paints a vivid picture of a tumultuous period marked by intrigue, power struggles, and a profound ideological shift that would echo through the ages. From the construction of the new capital, Akhetaten, to the suppression of the traditional pantheon, "Light of Aten" delves into the motivations behind Echnaton's bold moves, the societal upheavals they caused, and the legacy of his religious revolution. Roberts critically examines how Echnaton's monotheism influenced future generations and the development of monotheistic religions, making this book essential reading for anyone fascinated by the origins of monotheism, ancient Egyptian history, and the enduring power of faith to transform societies.
Akhenaten, also known as Amenhotep IV, was king of Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty and reigned from 1375 to 1358 B.C. E. Called the "religious revolutionary," he is the earliest known creator of a new religion. The cult he founded broke with Egypt's traditional polytheism and focused its worship on a single deity, the sun god Aten. Erik Hornung, one of the world's preeminent Egyptologists, here offers a concise and accessible account of Akhenaten and his religion of light.Hornung begins with a discussion of the nineteenth-century scholars who laid the foundation for our knowledge of Akhenaten's period and extends to the most recent archaeological finds. He emphasizes that Akhenaten's monotheistic theology represented the first attempt in history to explain the entire natural and human world on the basis of a single principle. "Akhenaten made light the absolute reference point," Hornung writes, "and it is astonishing how clearly and consistently he pursued this concept." Hornung also addresses such topics as the origins of the new religion; pro-found changes in beliefs regarding the afterlife; and the new Egyptian capital at Akhetaten which was devoted to the service of Aten, his prophet Akhenaten, and the latter's family.
An excellent historical overview of the gods... It is a recommended necessary reading for those studying Ancient Egyptian religion.―Frankie's Reviews in Egyptology A work of extraordinary distinction, Hornung's book will appeal to anyone interested in ancient Egypt, in ancient religion, and in the history of religion, as well as students and scholars of ancient history, anthropology, and archaeology. Osiris, Horus, Isis, Thoth, Anubis - the many strange and compelling figures of the Egyptian gods and goddesses seem to possess endless fascination. The renowned Egyptologist Erik Hornung here studies the ancient Egyptians' conceptions of god, basing his account on a thorough reappraisal of the primary sources. His book, now available in English for the first time, is the most extensive exploration yet undertaken of the nature of Egyptian religion. Hornung examines the characteristics, spheres of action, and significance of Egyptian gods and goddesses, analyzing the complex and changing iconography used to represent them, and disentangling the many seemingly contradictory aspects of the religion of which they are a part. He seeks to answer two basic questions: How did the Egyptians themselves see their gods? Did they believe there was an impersonal, anonymous force behind the multiplicity of their deities? Throughout, he attempts to evoke the complexity and richness of the religion of the ancient Egyptians and of their worldview, which differs so greatly from our own. Sensitively translated by John Baines and with a new preface by the author, this edition has been amplified and updated with an English-language audience in mind.
The shift from polytheism to monotheism changed the world radically. Akhenaten and Moses--a figure of history and a figure of tradition--symbolize this shift in its incipient, revolutionary stages and represent two civilizations that were brought into the closest connection as early as the Book of Exodus, where Egypt stands for the old world to be rejected and abandoned in order to enter the new one. The seven chapters of this seminal study shed light on the great transformation from different angles. Between Egypt in the first chapter and monotheism in the last, five chapters deal in various ways with the transition from one to the other, analyzing the Exodus myth, understanding the shift in terms of evolution and revolution, confronting Akhenaten and Moses in a new way, discussing Karl Jaspers' theory of the Axial Age, and dealing with the eighteenth-century view of the Egyptian mysteries as a cultural model.
First published in 1992. This book includes research and excavation in the Royal Necropolis at Thebes presented a meeting to mark seventy fifth anniversary of 1915 when the Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter had embarked upon their search for Tut'ankhamiin, a search destined to be crowned with such stunning success eight years later. What has happened in the Valley of the Kings since that discovery was the theme of our meeting, a theme addressed over the following two days by an international panel of leading Egyptologists.
The move to a new capital, Akhenaten/Amarna, brought essential changes in the depictions of royal women. It was in their female imagery, above all, that the artists of Amarna departed from the traditional iconic representations to emphasize the individual, the natural, in a way unprecedented in Egyptian art.
A generously illustrated collection of John Baines's influential writings on the role of writing and the importance of visual culture in ancient Egypt. Investigation of these key topics in a comparative study of early civilizations is pursued through a number of case studies, and characterized by a radically interdisciplinary approach.