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Akhenaten
ruled Egypt with his wife Nefertiti, who herself was
a remarkable figure. Akhenaten’s apparent love and devotion for
his wife is illustrated in the Amarna artwork of the
period in which the couple are depicted exchanging affectionate
embraces. Akhenaten promoted Nefertiti to co-ruler of
Egypt, to sit at his side as an equal. Renowned for
her beauty and wisdom it is suggested that
after Akhenaten’s reign ended mysteriously and abruptly
after 18 years as pharaoh, Nefertiti took over for a
time as sole ruler of Egypt.
 Akhenaten
and Nefertiti had six daughters and Egyptologist are
still debating as to whether Akhenaten was also the
father of Tutankamun, who followed shortly after him.
Current theories suggest that Tutankamun was the son
of Akhenaten by a previous wife, Kiya, who died whilst
giving birth. Ironically, although only a minor pharaoh
as far as history is concerned (Tutankamun died aged
18 years of age – he became Pharaoh at 9), the discovery
of Tutankamun’s tomb in 1922 instantly made him the
most well known pharaoh in modern history.
There
is no question that Akhenaten is one of the most remarkable
of the Ancient Pharaohs, and there is also no question
that very little is actually known about him, his reign
is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps there is much more to
this (18th dynasty) character and his family than is
recorded in the remains of statues and paintings. Many
people claim Akhenaten represents their own ideologies
and beliefs and he is an extremely popular figure amongst
cult groups and organisations. Sigmund Freud claimed he was the real Moses of the bible. However one fact is certain, over 1000 years before Judaism, Christianity and Islam, this
ancient African King taught about the ‘one-ness’ of beings, and the worship of the one Sun God.
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Akhenaten's
hymn to the Aten |
Queen
Tiy |
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