Akhenaten Gallery

Sandstone bust of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ancient Egyptian, 18th dynasty, c1350 BC

Sandstone bust of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ancient Egyptian, 18th dynasty, c1350 BC. From the Aten Temple, Karnak. The pharaoh is depicted wearing the blue crown or khepresh. After he ascended to the throne in c1350 BC Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) set about transforming the religion of Ancient Egypt, replacing the existing polytheism with a monotheistic cult of worshipping Aten, the god of the disc of the Sun. In addition, he decreed that Egypt's capital was to be moved from Thebes to a new site 180 miles to the north, to be named Akhetaten (modern El-Amarna). These massive upheavals generated growing opposition to Akhenaten, particularly amongst the priesthood. In c1334 BC Akhenaten died and Egypt turned its back on his reforms. The city of Akhetaten was abandoned and Egyptians returned to worshipping their traditional gods From the Louvre Museum, Paris

© Werner Forman Archive/ Louvre Museum, Paris/Heritage-Images

Sculptors model with hole for suspension

Sculptor's model with hole for suspension. Identified as Akhenaton (left) and Nefertiti on stylistical grounds. Such reliefs would have been created by a master craftsman to serve as a model for other artists. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: 18th dynasty c.1344 BC, Amarna period. Material/ Size: Limestone h=15.7 cm. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Brooklyn Museum . Location: 72

© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images

A talatat, a small sandstone relief block used to facilitate more rapid construction

A talatat, a small sandstone relief block used to facilitate more rapid construction during the Amarna period. After the subsequent demolition of heretical Amarna structures many were reused as rubble in building new temples. The relief depicts harnessed horses and chariots. Country of Origin: Egypt Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: 18th dynasty c.1352-1336 BC. Place of Origin: Amarna period, reign of Akhenaten. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Schimmel Collection, New York . Location: 72

© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images