Akhenaton, or by his birth name IV. Amenhotep is one of the most important and controversial pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Akhenaten, the father of Tutankhamen, husband of Nefertiti, and pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th dynasty, rejected traditional polytheistic beliefs and adopted the monotheistic Aton religion and tried to impose this new religion on his people.
This radical change radically affected not only the religious structure of Egypt, but also its cultural and social structure. However Akhenaten Discussions about him are not limited to religious reforms. According to Egyptian historian Ahmed Osman, Akhenaten’s grandfather royal vizier Yuyawho saved Egypt from famine and is mentioned in the holy books Hz. Joseph is the Prophet.
While this claim brings a new perspective on the origin of Akhenaten’s monotheistic belief system, it also suggests that a belief system he inherited from his grandfather may have been effective behind the pharaoh’s reforms.
Akhenaten: Egypt’s Innovative Pharaoh
Akhenaten, aka IV. Amenhotep, He is one of the important pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty, which ruled during the New Kingdom Period of Egypt. Queen Tiye and III. He was born as the youngest child of Amenhotep. After the early death of his elder brother Thutmosis, he first co-ruled with his father and then remained on the throne for 17 years between 1353-1336 BC or 1352-1334 BC. Spouse, famous nefertitiis.
Name of the pharaoh who was named Amenhotep at birth “Amon is pleased” means. It is known as Amenophis in Greek sources. He changed his name to Akhenaten in the fifth year of his reign, when he implemented a new religious reform that moved away from traditional beliefs and focused on the Aten. Akhenaton means “servant of Aten.” This name is written in different ways such as Akhenaton, Akhnaten, Ikhnaton.
Akhenaten, He rejected the idea of himself being considered a god. During his time on the throne, he emphasized that neither he nor Amon was the god. According to him, the true god was a single being that existed in the sky and was the creator of everything.
Monotheistic Aten Religion and Reforms
The family name in the first years after ascending to the throne Amenhotep’Akhenaton, who continued to use the term, made a major transformation in the fifth year of his reign. He banned the traditional polytheistic Egyptian religion and started a new religious system that recognized Aten as the only god. During this reform process, he abandoned the city of Thebes and established a new capital at Tel el Amarna. He had the names of traditional gods erased from temples and Temples dedicated to Aten he had it built.
With the death of Akhenaten, who remained on the throne for approximately 15 years, his reforms rapidly declined. The new religious system collapsed, its capital was abandoned, and all records related to it were attempted to be destroyed. Horemheb During the reign of Akhenaton, “great heretic” It became known as. Its name was forgotten for nearly 3000 years until it was discovered by archaeologists in the 19th century.
Heirs to the Throne and Akhenaton’s Legacy
It is debatable whether Akhenaten had a son or not. However, the common view is TutankhamunIt is said that he is the son of Akhenaton. After Akhenaten’s death, the throne passed to Smenkhkare, who was thought to be his son-in-law, for a short time. After Smenkhkare’s sudden death, the throne passed to Tutankhamun, who was probably Akhenaten’s son. With the death of Tutankhamun, the 18th Dynasty ended. As pharaoh, army commander Horemheb returned Egypt to the traditional order.
Amarna Period: The First Planned City in History
Akhetaten, founded by Akhenaten as a shelter away from the traditional religious order and enemies in Thebes, is today Amarna It is known as. This city was designed as one of the first planned settlements in history, with temples, roads and buildings dedicated solely to Aten. Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti settled here near the completion of the city. However, during this period, Egypt was dragged into great instability.
Amarna PeriodIt is a period in which great changes took place in Egyptian art. Pharaoh and his family are depicted in realistic details, not in a godly and idealized way as in the past. In daily life, the Pharaoh was depicted eating, kissing his wife, or taking part in ceremonies. Depictions with long necks and pot bellies are characteristic elements in the art of this period. This process in which art separated from traditional religious patterns shows the impact of Akhenaten’s reforms.
Change of Akhenaton’s Name and the Beginning of Monotheistic Religion
On the thirteenth day of the eighth month of the fifth year of his reign, Akhenaton took his name from IV. He changed from Amenhotep to Akhenaten (servant of Aten). This change symbolized his reforms of the monotheistic Aten religion. In the same period, he moved to the new capital, Akhetaten, and completely severed his ties with the old religious order.
Akhenaten’s first year on the throne Atenism He started a religious revolution known as He rejected all traditional Egyptian gods and made it law that only Aten should be worshiped. This reform was a radical step to limit the power of the priests of Amon and get rid of the influence of old beliefs. However, this situation caused great turmoil in the country.
Akhenaten’s mother’s father is Yuya’s Prophet. The Claim That Joseph Is the Prophet
Egyptian historian Ahmed Osman, Akhenaten’s mother’s father YuyaMentioned in the Old Testament and the Quran Hz. Prophet Joseph He claimed that he was. Also Sigmund Freud Hz. Moses He put forward an important thesis that bases the connection between monotheism and monotheism on Atenism. According to Freud, Hz. Moses was an Atenist cleric who left Egypt after Akhenaten’s death. Freud also traced the origin of the circumcision tradition in Judaism to Ancient Egypt.
Even though Yuya is not from the royal family to the valley of the kings He was a highly respected vizier in Egyptian history who was deemed worthy of burial. According to Egyptian historian Ahmed Osman, Yuya was actually the Prophet Muhammad who saved Egypt from famine. Joseph was none other than the prophet. According to this claim, Akhenaten was influenced by the monotheistic belief of his grandfather Yuya and directed his people to worship Aten.
The name of God Aton, Akhenaten’s father, III. It is known that during the reign of Amenhotep, he was distinguished from other gods and brought to the fore. It is claimed that this development took place under the influence of Yuya, who was the vizier at that time. It is claimed that Akhenaten followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and led his people to the monotheistic belief of Aton.
Some researchers believe that Akhenaten Hz. Moses Although some suggest that it might be possible, most experts reject this theory. This connection is thought to be impossible due to historical differences between them.
Akhenaten’s reign, which lasted approximately 15 years, was noted for his efforts to spread the monotheistic Aten belief. However, after his death, the people returned to their old polytheistic religion under the pressure of the priests. The city founded by Akhenaton was abandoned, his name was erased from monuments and efforts were made to forget it for generations.
The following statements, stated to have been written in the mouth of Akhenaton, bear a surprising similarity to monotheistic religions:
“God is great, one, single. It was there when there was nothing. He created everything. Its existence has existed since eternity and will continue until eternity.”
These statements reflect the depth of Akhenaten’s monotheistic belief system and religious reforms.
Legacy of Tutankhamen and Akhenaten
10-year-old boy who ascended the throne after Akhenaten’s death TutankhatonHe changed his name to Tutankhamen, paving the way for a return to Amon and other pagan deities. However, the young pharaoh only lived to be 18 years old.
The priests of Amon restored the old order and tried to erase Akhenaten from history by removing his names from the temples. Although Akhenaton’s reforms were largely rejected, it is frequently argued that his monotheistic approach to religion had an impact on Judaism and other monotheistic religions.
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