Pharaoh Akhenaten's reign in what year. Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Akhenaten(Amenhotep IV), Egyptian pharaoh of the XVIII dynasty, ruled ca. 1365-48 BC NS. The son of Amenhotep III and Tiya (Teye), an ordinary woman, sister of the priest of the god Ra from the city of Heliopolis. He ascended the throne at the age of 15 under the name of Amenhotep (IV) (ancient Egyptian. "Amon is pleased"). He was under the strong influence of the queen-mother and his tutor - Amenhotep, the son of Hapu. Like his father, in violation of the age-old tradition, he married not the eldest daughter of the pharaoh who reigned before him (the Egyptian throne was formally passed on through the female line), but the daughter of one of the nobles, Nefertiti, who later took an active part in his religious transformations.

At the very beginning of his reign, he takes the title of supreme - "the greatest among the seers" - priest of the god Ra in Heliopolis, thereby emphasizing his adherence to the cult of the sun and especially emphasizing the veneration of the sun disk itself - Aton, whose cult became common Egyptian even under Thutmose IV. Gradually, in contrast to other gods and especially Amun, the main god of the capital Thebes, the cult functions of Aton are expanding, in him alone the ideas of goodness, power and creative power of solar (from Latin sol - sun) deities are embodied. Finally, the name Akhenaten (ancient Egyptian "Useful to Aton"), adopted by the pharaoh, declares a new orientation of his religious policy.

In the 6th year of his reign, Akhenaten transfers the capital of the country from Thebes, the center of the opposition-minded priesthood of Amun, to the city of Akhetaton, founded by him on a land not dedicated to any other deity, which is pleasing to the eye. Tel el-Amarna in Middle Egypt) and vows, together with Nefertiti, never to leave the capital, declared the sacred abode of Aton. Despite the fact that the slabs marking the borders of Ahetaton mention a number of Egyptian deities led by Amun, the cult of Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu (Theban triad of gods) was soon prohibited. OK. 1356 BC NS. Aton is finally proclaimed the only god, and by 1353 BC. NS. the persecution of the veneration of all other cults begins, the construction of temples ceases, the very words "god" and "gods" are eradicated - even Aton is referred to as "ruler", his name, like the king's, is enclosed in cartouches.

In the essentially new religion, a special place is also given to the glorification of the divinity of the Pharaoh himself - he is considered the beloved son and co-ruler of Aten, "the only one who knew the true God" and is able to enter into direct communication with the embodied sun. The years of their "joint" reign are magnificently celebrated in the capital.

The former priesthood during the reign of Akhenaten is losing its positions, the new priesthood of Aton and the king's court elite consist mainly of the service nobility who came from the lower ranks (the widespread name of this time is “Akhenaten made me”). Under Akhenaten, completely absorbed in religious reform, there are practically no campaigns of conquest, Egypt's control over Palestine and Syria is not supported, ties with Babylonia and other states of the Middle East are weakening, Egypt is losing its main ally in this region - the state of Mitanni and does not oppose the growth of power his future rival in Syria - the Hittite kingdom.

Akhenaten's transformations, largely driven by political goals, bore the stamp of a sincere and even fanatical faith. For the worship of Aton, numerous temples are built, which are large open courtyards with pylons - from now on, man's prayers ascend to God himself, there are no barriers between them. Aton himself is depicted not in the usual anthropomorphic form, but in the form of a solar disk, the rays of which end in palms with the signs "ankh" - a symbol of life, strength and grace, which he extends to the pharaoh and his wife addressed to him in prayer. The religious reform affected all aspects of Egyptian life: a new image of man is being formed in art, in the images of the king, Nefertiti and those close to him, mercy and goodness, soft beauty and openness of the soul to the world of emotions are emphasized.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti had 6 daughters, the youngest of whom Ankhesenpaaton became the wife of Tutankhaton (who changed his name to), the eldest - Meritaton - the wife of Semnekhkar, at the end of the reign of Akhenaten declared his co-ruler (after the death of the pharaoh he ruled for about 2 years). The fate of Nefertiti after the appearance of Akhenaten's new wife Kiya, from whom he had one or two sons, is unknown.

Under the young Tutankhaton, the royal court leaves the capital, the cults of all the gods and the positions of the Theban priesthood of Amun are restored. Subsequently, the name of Akhenaten is consigned to oblivion and is not even included in the lists of the kings who ruled in Egypt.

Pharaoh reformer. Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Of particular interest in the history of Egypt was the sun-worshiper pharaoh Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten. He made a religious turn that affected all aspects of the country's life. We would say today: Akhenaten made a change in the ideological course, and he did it not only in the name of "becoming equal to God himself." Did he want to rise in history above the previous rulers? Indisputably. It is believed that Akhenaten's policy was “the first manifestation of religious intolerance in the history of Ancient Egypt towards cults other than the official one” (VI Kuzishchin). However, is it really worth thinking about whether God (or an idea) is viable or is it just a fiction, some kind of idol, means "intolerance"?

After all, he did not try to deal with the "dissidents" (those who refused to worship Aton), nor did he strive to destroy the residence of the imperial god Amun in Karnak (as they tried to do at one time with Lenin's Mausoleum in Russia). Its reforms were democratic. He opened the gates of temples to people, abolished old cults, extracted forgotten teachings from under the bustle, made the secret knowledge of the priests available to people, and declassified the archives. His actions are clearly political in nature, although K. Jacques in his book "Nefertiti and Akhenaten" tries to prove that the decision was due not only to political considerations or social reasons. Perhaps it was a symbolic act ?! It seemed to Pharaoh that it was enough to carry out an operation in some parts of the country - and success was assured.

New leaders always face the temptation to create new capitals ... Grandiose projects are especially remembered in the memory of people. And what could be more memorable than not creating the City of the Sun ?! It was to become the most beautiful and perfect city, the city of pioneers. And in no way inferior to Thebes and Memphis. Therefore, the temple of Aten (House of the Sun) became a challenge to the main temple of the god Amun in Karnak near Thebes.

Akhenaten's Sandstone Colossus

The Temple of Amun was considered one of the wonders of the world. Its walls were covered with gold, an alley of sphinxes led from the Nile, the main hall symbolized the world, based on pillars in the form of papyrus stalks. Luxor and Karnak were the main sanctuaries of the almighty god Amun. For centuries, these temples were the place of prayers for hundreds and thousands of Egyptians. Huge treasures were brought here, which were disposed of by the priests. Some of the churches took on the responsibility of the state to issue money into circulation. And so Akhenaten broke with the tradition of worshiping Amun, left Thebes, the capital of Egypt, where Amon ruled, and founded a new capital in Tel el-Amarna - Akhetaton ("Aton's skyline").

Temple of Amun at Karnak

The cult of Aten was known earlier (Aten in the era of the Middle Kingdom was called the sun). The program of atonism constituted the "genetic code" of this reign. He replaced the local cults with the monotheistic religion of Aten, establishing the cult of the solar disk. From him came rays-hands, symbolizing light and life. Akhenaten changed his name, removing the symbols of the former god from it. The idea of ​​the otherworldly being was rejected by him. No gods Osiris, tunnels to the afterlife, sinners and righteous. His Aton is a good god, he did not demand sacrifices, did not threaten anyone, was not overly demanding. His beliefs were based on love, indulgence, mercy, honesty and, especially, kindness.

In the winter of 1912, in the small Arab village of Tel el-Amarna, which is 300 kilometers from Cairo, the German archaeologist L. Borchardt began to conduct excavations. The history of searches began in 1843, when the great German archaeologist R. Lepsius discovered a huge city in Middle Egypt (between Memphis and Thebes). There was once Akhetaton, the former capital of Egypt, where Akhenaten and Nefertiti lived. The new capital Akhetaton was located 415 km north of the city of Amun and was created according to a single plan. Beck became the chief architect. The city was built by thousands of masons, carpenters, sculptors, artisans, artists. Barges with stone, timber, sandstone, alabaster, marble, malachite, copper, silver and gold marched towards Amarna in a continuous stream. The architect maintained strict symmetry in planning, guided by the general idea of ​​Akhenaten during the construction of the City of the Sun.

Relief with portraits of Akhenaten and Nefertiti from Tel el-Amarna

The central boulevard 15 meters wide - the Tsar's road (Sikketes-Sultan) - was laid along the ancient caravan route. Wide streets crossed the boulevard. The first building in the city was the Temple of Aton (House of the Sun), a place of religious festivities in honor of Aton. The temple (an area of ​​800 m by 300 m) stretched from west to east for 1.5 km. Akhenaten's palace occupied 700 meters, which is quite comparable in area with the pyramid of Cheops. "House of Aton's Jubilation" is open to the sky and the sun. Here the ceremonies took place. The temple has now disappeared, only the foundation remains of it, but judging by the excavations, the new city of the pharaoh - with wide highways, decorated with temples and palaces, surrounded by green gardens - should have made an unforgettable impression on those who visited it. One of the builders, the keeper of the royal seal and the head of the tsar's work, Mai, wrote about the new capital: "Mighty, many-loved, mistress of abundant praise ... At the sight of her, they exclaim:" She is so beautiful that to look at her - to see the sky! "

Akhenaten with his wife Nefertiti presents gifts to the people

This is how the life of the city of Amarna is described ... When the construction was completed, the finished city (two miles long and half a mile wide) was a magnificent sight. Along with the Temple of the Sun, there were the Northern Palace, the Nefertiti Palace, the palace of Queen Tiu and other structures. Others were connected by a bridge. In Amarna there was a House of Life - an educational institution where young people studied (like the school of scribes in the temple of Amun in Thebes), a library, barracks and premises for the police. Gardens bloomed everywhere. Rich chariots rushed along the wide streets lined with ornamental trees. Miniature ponds with lotus flowers are visible. Gazelles, cats and dogs roamed in a green paradise ... There was a business sector in the city. It included offices and shops, three or four glass factories, factories for the production of ceramics, earthenware and pottery, later called Amarna. In the workshops, women weaved linen and woolen fabrics. The city has created storage facilities for grain and wine stocks. Everyone here knew each other and treated each other with friendly sympathy. Everyone could treat themselves to a bunch of grapes from a basket that stood at the door of the house. For a stranger, the access to the city was blocked by guards with clubs.

It seems that Pharaoh was a practical man. He was tired of the crowds of idlers (magicians, soothsayers, sorcerers, soothsayers) that filled Egypt. He led persecutions against them. At the same time, he strongly supported those who healed people, operating and helping to heal from diseases. It was under Akhenaten in Egypt that pharmaceuticals were formed as a branch of medicine. An important undertaking was the prohibition in the letter to use drawings of animals and birds. Later, this gave impetus to the emergence of verbal writing. The idea was picked up by the Phoenicians and spread it throughout the ecumene. The letter (the predecessor of the Aramaic, Greek) soon supplanted not only the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt, but also the linear writing of the Minoans-Cretans and the writing of the Canaanites. So the religious reform of Akhenaten turned into a global restructuring of culture: "in the word, the sign separated from the meaning." The consequences of the "revolution of the sun worshipers" affected not only the education of Egypt, but also in the field of politics, culture, religion, and the social sphere. Therefore, one can understand the enthusiasm of those who later began to call the reformer Akhenaten "the Egyptian Pericles".

Akhenaten was one of the first to pay attention to how builders, ordinary workers, artists, servants, housewives live. “But the most amazing discovery in Amarna was the perfect 'working village'. She is a testament to Akhenaten's social consciousness. He was not only the greatest religious leader of his time, but also a very practical person who was interested in everything, even the smallest building details of the city. Usually Egyptian workers were herded into the ghetto after sunset, like cattle into a corral. In the area of ​​the eastern hills, where the streets that branched off from the Tsar's road became narrower, a village for workers was built, strikingly reminiscent of modern poor areas of Egypt, one of the first such settlements of workers in history. Built to the same plan as the main areas of the city, the village was a charming, walled city in miniature. There were quite large cottages for senior workers near the gate. The rest of the houses were small, tidy, but exactly the same. These Amarna cottages have been recognized as "a model industrial development". Each such house consisted of a living room and a kitchen, the windows of which overlooked the street. At the back were the bedrooms and toilets. In one of these houses, archaeologists have found a kitchen in the form in which it was left by the owners thousands of years ago. There were pots on the hearth, the rest of the utensils were in the oven, where they usually baked bread and roasted meat. On a stone slab under the hearth lay a poker, left by the hostess, who for some unknown reason quit her job ... In another house, in the wall, were found immured skeletons of a man and a woman - victims of an ancient and never solved crime ”(E. Wells). All the houses were beautifully planned, surrounded by gardens (servants and tomb builders lived here).

Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten from the Louvre

Akhenaten led the fight against the party of priests of Amun with the help of young reformers. The old priests were replaced by people from the lower classes, small slave owners, farmers and even the poor (nemkhu). This is how the new bureaucracy rose to the heights of power, representatives of the service class. The grandee Mai said: “I am nemkhu by my father and by my mother. The ruler created me. He gave me to become a nobleman, and before I was indigent. He gave me food and rations every day, and before that I asked for bread. " Akhenaten put people personally loyal to him in the administration. The dignitary Tutu (Dudu), who proudly called himself the first slave of the king and sovereign, the ruler of both lands (Upper and Lower Egypt), had the right to speak on behalf of the Pharaoh (“I was the mouth of the supreme land to the edge of it”). He served the Pharaoh faithfully. The leading roles were played by "close people" who are part of a rather narrow circle, or those who were "on the farm." People from the administration of the pharaoh performed the role of guards and servants (servants of the pharaoh). High priest Tutu collected taxes on the income of other dignitaries - gold, silver, copper, clothes, cattle. A magnificent tomb was erected for him. So Pharaoh rewarded the servant for his loyalty. The favorites enjoyed his special disposition. The high priest of Aten Merir was awarded all honors. He had one of the finest houses in Amarna. He was presented with gifts. The words of Pharaoh Akhenaten addressed to Merir are captured: "Hang gold around his neck so that it hangs in front and behind, and gold on his feet, because he knew the teachings of Pharaoh, was imbued with every utterance uttered in this sanctuary of Aton in Akhetaton." They were buried with appropriate pomp. This is the burial place of the teacher and educator Akhenaten - the scribe Aya, who was considered the wisest man in Egypt. Fortunately, the burial was not looted and came down to us. On its walls are the figures of the pharaoh, the scribe Aya, his wife Tiu and Nefertiti ... Akhenaten here showered his favorite favorites with gold necklaces, bracelets and rings. The caption reads: "Congratulations to Ayu, god's father, and Tiu ... they become people of gold!" The scribe Ai, making a ceremonial bow to Akhenaten, says: "He doubled his favor to me in silver and gold." The incomparable Nefertiti is also depicted, on which clothes are almost completely absent.

The scribe and sage Ai possessed vast knowledge in the field of religion, poetry, arts, astronomy, architecture. As a priest of the god Amun, he taught the heir of Akhenaten to respect the gods. Such a noticeable influence of him is also explained by the fact that he was probably the father of Nefertiti. Her mother was Tiu, "the great nanny." Sources claim that he is a relative of Queen Tiu (Teye), possibly a brother or cousin of Akhenaten. Professor Borchardt was convinced that Nefertiti came from a "middle-class Egyptian family," and her father Ay was undoubtedly "a mysterious man with immense power."

Statue of Anen, brother of Queen Tiu, second priest of Amun

Pharaoh's life went on in a strictly established circle. He went out to the people like a mere mortal next to his wife Nefertiti. She could often be seen on the streets paired with him. Thanks to him, the visual arts of Egypt included, as we would say, "everyday motives" (the king in the arms of his wife and child, at the dinner table, at the games). Nefertiti grew up and was brought up next to the future ruler of Egypt. They had only toys, only games and fun. Having become the wife of the reformer king, the beautiful Nefertiti was on the Olympus of power for 17 years, becoming a living embodiment of the life-giving Sun. The queen was seen as an earthly deity, on whom the peace and well-being of the country largely depends.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti, accompanied by children, bring flowers to the god Aton

Pharaoh Akhenaten plays with his daughter

Bust of Nefertiti from the workshop of Thutmes in Akhetaton

Nefertiti cried out to the god Aton with a sweet voice. The entourage was jubilant…. The fate of the one who was called "the greatest love of Akhenaten", "the mistress of his happiness, the single sound of her voice instilled joy in everyone, pacifying the king's heart", alas, turned out to be tragic. Having given birth to her husband seven daughters (girls), she failed to give a son and an heir. This was the cause of his deepest sorrow. The husband has a mistress Kiya. Akhenaten built her a luxurious country residence - Maru-Aton. The "divine consort" faded into the background. And yet he was madly in love with his wife and beautiful daughters. Judging by the pictures, Nefertiti's daughters were adorable. In the Berlin Museum, you can now see a bust of one of them, made of crystalline sandstone. “One can imagine,” he shared his impression of the bust of Queen Kapar, “how charmingly the head would have flaunted on this torso, which can be inferred from the style of the head of Akhenaten’s daughter (which is in a museum in Berlin) originating from the workshop of Thutmes”. Divine aliens.

Daughters of Akhenaten. Painting from Amarna

A bust of Nefertiti was found in the room of Thutmes (the creator of Akhetaton). Her sensual face says that she was made for love: a thin profile, gentle lips, eyes of a graceful doe. In the right eye, as a sign of eternity, there is a rock crystal insert with an ebony pupil. The wig is entwined with a gold band and decorated with "gems". Its forehead is crowned with a ureus, a sacred snake, considered in Egypt as a symbol of royal power and might.

The images also show touching pictures of their closeness, although the laws forbade depicting family scenes. Akhenaten dedicated the lines to Nefertiti:

Great royal wife,

his beloved,

Queen of two lands

Neferneferuaton

(Beautiful, beauty of Aton)

Nefertiti!

Live and prosper forever.

Nefertiti was often perceived as the embodiment of the formidable goddess Tefnut, the lion-headed daughter of the Sun, who punishes those who transgressed the law. Therefore, in other drawings, she was sometimes depicted with a club, plunging the enemies of Egypt. Seeing her portrait, the shocked Borchardt wrote down one phrase in his notebook: "It is pointless to describe, you have to look!" She's gorgeous. Her sensual lips and hot gaze fascinate men. Even ladies are crazy about her, usually envious of the beauty of women. The Russian historian M. Chernosvitova writes about the Egyptian queen: “Computer comparative analysis of Nefertiti's appearance leads to the conclusion that her image is, as it were, the archetype of the European beauty ideal in the next millennia, right up to the present. In short, a woman for a European is beautiful and desirable as much as she resembles Nefertiti. "

Mosaic painting on the ruins of Akhenaten's palace in Tel el-Amarna

The attitude towards Pharaoh Akhenaten is different. American D. Breasted, French K. Jacques, Weigal, Englishwoman E. Wells, G. Gulia, supporters of the pro-Ehnatonic tradition, tend to embellish and romanticize the images of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. Others are critical ... The number of supporters and opponents of the pro-Akhenaten tradition in the world is almost equally divided. Thus, Breasted called Akhenaten "the most remarkable figure in the Ancient East, the first individualist of history." Wells believed that Pharaoh said "the first solar word." Gardiner believed that "to be as smart as he was, in those days, was to bring on yourself unhappiness." Although it is dangerous to be smart at any time and in any country ("Woe from Wit").

Foreign guards next to Akhenaten's chariot

Gulia noted his ability as a builder. About the capital Kemi (present-day el-Amarna) he erected, he wrote: “His Majesty loves - loves very much! - this city, built according to his word, according to his advice and orders. The city is only fourteen years old, but where can you find more beautiful than it? They say Nineveh is beautiful with its airy gardens. And why is Akhetaton worse? Not only not worse, but much more beautiful! Everyone who has walked the streets of Nineveh and Akhetaton speaks about this. If Nineveh cannot be compared, what city could compete with Akhetaten ?! There are no such cities in the world! One Way of the Pharaohs is worth something! This beauty is straight as an arrow, and there are buildings on both sides of it. They were built by the best architects of Kem. Isn't the hand of Tutu, Hatiai, Maanikhetutef and Mai visible on them? Who does not recognize the handwriting of Yuty, Beck and Jehutimes on the front bas-reliefs? But the main thing, but the main thing - is not the point! Not in this, but in the cleanliness of the city! Dirty waters are now underground, they flow through pipes made of baked clay. Bathrooms are heated day and night - people in Akhetaton are especially tidy, unlike other residents of Kem. "

F. Glass wrote an opera about Akhenaten, and even compared him with Gandhi and Einstein, called him a fiery revolutionary, the creator of the wondrous city of justice. Trauneker saw in him an energetic ruler, a courageous and intelligent king. Others called him the brightest and most talented poet in Ancient Egypt.

Meal at Akhenaten's palace

Others, on the contrary, considered him a complete fool, a narcissistic tsar and ignorant in matters of international politics, a "criminal from Tell Amarna" (V. Struve), or even a "madman" (D. Redford). Kees saw in him a man, unbridled in thought and behavior, a despot, and Bernard called him "a demoniac epileptic who came out of hell."

What are the actual results of his reign? The internal situation of Egypt in the last period of his reign was marked by troubles (everything "was disgust, and the country was in the same state as at the moment of the beginning, when His Majesty came to the throne"). Others were convinced that the goal of his policy was to crush the Theban priesthood. The Egyptian military circles accused him of indifference to the seizure of new colonies in Asia.

Some even called him a tyrant. Naturally, the priests of Aten hated Akhenaten most of all, calling him "heru" (close in meaning to the word "carrion"). Many accused Akhenaten of the cruelty, decay and decline of Ramessid Egypt (300 years after his death). Others accused Akhenaten of homosexuality, claiming that he ruled with a co-ruler named Smenkhkara. “Now that the burial of Smenkhkare has been discovered,” writes Livraga, “and there are still no traces of Nefertiti, some researchers go so far that they begin to doubt the reality of the existence of the queen, whose bust, actually made from her or attributed to her, became widely known thanks to stylized beauty model. Are we here with a thousand-year-old version of what is now vulgarly called "drag queen"? The only certainty today is that Smenkhkare's mummy lay in a female position and with female attributes, although anatomical studies have confirmed that the remains belonged to a young man. "

Apparently, Pharaoh still had the best intentions. After all, His Majesty consulted with his heart in order to drive away evil and destroy untruth. According to tradition, Akhenaten claimed the title of "lover of truth." In official correspondence, he called himself "living the truth, the lord of the crowns, Akhenaten" and sincerely strove to find a better life for Egypt. With the help of decrees, the pharaoh tried to curb the greed of corrupt officials, moderate the appetites of generals, improve legal proceedings, make it more efficient, improve the quality of the administration's work, and help the poor. In retaliation, the nobility infringed on their rights skillfully inflamed discontent among the masses. Attempts to replace the old religion and ideology, under which the past generations grew up, the transfer of the capital, the hopes for detente in the international arena, aroused protest, primarily among the priests and the military. Those were suspicious of ideas that they believed could lead to the death of the state. After all, it was their predecessors who turned Egypt into a powerful country. And Pharaoh believed that the whole past history of Egypt was stupidity and that the main thing that serves as the guarantor of prosperity is peacefulness.

Nefertiti on Akhenaten's lap

Image of the head of the second wife of Akhenaten - Kiya

Akhenaten's life with his wife was filled not only with joys, although the queen was called “the mistress of joy” ... After Princess Mactaton passed away in the 12th year of his reign, there seemed to be some cooling between the spouses. As already mentioned, Nefertiti was never able to give birth to an heir-son to the king. As a result, the beautiful queen showed up, as noted, a rival Kiya, the second wife. Perhaps she was not an Egyptian, but was the same Mitannian princess Taduheppa, who once (even under Amenhotep III) arrived in Egypt as a "pledge" of good-neighborly relations between countries. Akhenaten built a luxurious suburban palace complex Maru-Aton for her.

Akhetaton during its heyday. Tsar's palace. Reconstruction

Kiya becomes not only a spouse, but also a co-ruler (she is portrayed in the royal crown). She was the mother of the princes Smenkhkare and Tutankhaton, who became the husbands of the eldest daughters of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. Thus, this marriage led to incest in the reigning dynasty. It has long been known that incest does not lead to good. As a result, Nefertiti was disgraced. She whiled away her days, being away from the king. But Kiya's triumph was short-lived. She disappears from history in the 16th year of Akhenaten's reign. One can only guess about the reasons for her disappearance. In any case, when the eldest daughter of Nefertiti, Meritaton, came to power, she destroyed all references to Kiya. All signs of her existence are replaced by the names and images of Meritaton herself. Note that there is no worse punishment for the Egyptians than to erase someone's name from the memory of descendants. The souls of the unfortunate in this case will wander without shelter, persecuted and damned. However, both Meritaton herself and her husband were plagued by misfortune. Their reign was short - then a mysterious death follows ...

Tutankhamun with his wife in the garden

He made more love, lavished compliments on the enemy, gave gifts to neighboring kings, revels in speeches about eternal peace. As a result, the warlike countries and peoples considered him a fool. Force ruled the world even then. Enemies began to torment the borders of the empire. Little is known about the end of Pharaoh. The end of Akhenaten's reign is shrouded in mystery. There are many theories on this score. Perhaps the king, plunged into apathy, was unable to control events. Maybe he fell into madness, refusing to understand the seriousness of the situation. Others say that before his death his mysticism turned into a violent insanity, and he began to deal with the statues of the gods and priests. Dissatisfied with the government began to call him nothing but a "great scoundrel."

Almost nothing is known about the death of Pharaoh Akhenaten. They say he was not buried in the family tomb, but his body was allegedly torn to pieces and thrown to the dogs. The capital Akhetaton, abandoned by people, plunged into the silence of the desert. At the time of the end of Akhenaten's reign, Egypt was already in decline and desolation. “From the southern to the northern reaches, from Elephantine to the swamps of the Nile delta, the temples of the gods stood in desolation. The sanctuaries were abandoned and only ruins remained of them. The chapels are overgrown with grass. There is no traditional worship. The gods left Egypt. " Power found itself in the hands of the nobility, whose powers were unlimited.

Perhaps, if Akhenaten were wiser, he would have listened to the words of his wife ("The Prophecy of Nefertiti"), who had a remarkable mind and prophetic gift. She warned him about the danger: "Aton will close, it will not shine." After his death, the country returned to square one ... In many regions and cities, carvers left untouched the names of ancient deities. Akhenaten did not have enough time to systematically destroy divine names throughout Egypt. In Egypt, the veneration of Amun-Ra, the sun god and demiurge, was restored. The "fountain of life", as Amon was called, began to play again, but the source of Akhenaten, the cult of Aten, dried up. The capital Akhetaton is empty, and Akhenaten and his followers are condemned and forgotten. Yet others say: Akhenaten is “the first individual in human history” (Breasted).

The death of Nefertiti dealt the final blow to Akhetaton. The old order gradually returned to Egypt, although not immediately. For a while, the new pharaoh Tutankhamun, who absorbed the spirit of new ideas, held back the reaction of Amun's admirers. He allowed all the gods to pray: “I removed the evil. Everyone can now pray to their god. " However, he could not help but see that even the common people in their homes continued to worship the old and familiar gods. He did not approve of the enthronement of some strange deity and to the pharaoh, who imposed a new god on him, treated with restraint, seeing in him an eccentric. An interesting evidence was the discovery of a model of a royal chariot drawn by monkeys, with a charioteer monkey and an accompanying monkey ... Tutankhamun decided (on the advice of the priests) to erect in honor of Amun a royal statue of pure gold, inlaid with lapis lazuli and rare precious stones. It would have to be the largest and most famous, for it would take 13 stretchers to deliver it (before, the largest statue was carried by 11 stretchers). They note that he invited to the role of priests and prophets "the offspring of noble families from many cities, the sons of all outstanding and famous people, after that he presented the temple with treasures and sent slaves, men and women." His policy was aimed at appeasing all the most powerful people in Egypt. Tutankhamun did not live long, 17-18 years. Now they say that he died of blood poisoning.

Since February 1915, the English archaeologist G. Carter and Lord Carnarvon have carried out excavations in the Valley of the Kings, to which they were prompted by the finds of the American T. Davis at the beginning of the 20th century (a faience goblet, a wooden box, a gold plate with the name of Tutankhamun). Months and years went by like this. Finally, luck smiled at them (luck is always favorable to the persistent and persistent), and at the end of 1922 the tomb of Tutankhamun was found. In 1923, all members of the expedition gathered - and the "moment of truth" came. About twenty people saw what was hiding in the rooms behind the door sealed with the seal of Tutankhamun. And there were wonderful things. A massive golden throne, alabaster and gold vessels, fantastic animals with burning eyes, statues of ebony, in wide golden aprons, in golden sandals, with clubs and wands, whose foreheads were crowned with golden images of sacred snakes. “There is no doubt that in the entire history of archaeological excavations until now it was not possible to see anything more magnificent than what our lantern pulled out of the darkness,” Carter wrote. Then, another previously hidden, secret, sealed door was discovered. It was soon opened.

Goddess Isis guarding the gilded ark of Tutankhamun

After long and laborious work (for which purpose a narrow-gauge railway was laid from the pier on the Nile to the tomb of Tutankhamun), the chamber was opened. Entering it, Carter discovered the world's largest precious sarcophagus covered with gold leaf measuring 5.2 ґ 3.35 ґ 2.75 meters. When they pushed back the bolt on the doors, they saw another golden box with intact seals, discovering the first (and so far only) unbroken burial of the Egyptian pharaoh! In the third room there was another chest covered with gold. Around were statues of guardian goddesses. Their faces were filled with compassion and sorrow. "One contemplation of them seemed almost blasphemy." Then the things were transported to a safe place for work, and only in 1926-1927 the sarcophagus studded with gold was opened. Almost three months of work - and they saw what they expected to see with such excitement. The one-piece sarcophagus of the pharaoh was carved from a quartzite block - 2.75 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.5 m high. From above it was covered with a granite slab. They lifted the slab and saw the dead Pharaoh in tarred bandages. The bandages were removed - and a sculptural portrait of him made of gold appeared. In his hands he held a staff and a whip inlaid with lapis lazuli and blue paste (signs of royal dignity). The face was made of solid gold, the eyes were of argonite and obsidian, the eyebrows and eyelids were of lapis lazuli glass.

Decorations from the tomb of Tutankhamun

The facial features looked as if they were alive. Nearby lay a modest wreath of flowers from the banks of the Nile. In three coffins there were images of Tutankhamun, including in rich decoration, in the image of the god Osiris. The third coffin, 1.85 m long, was made of pure massive gold, three millimeters thick. Seven sarcophagi, placed one inside the other, were opened by archaeologists before they got to the eighth, in which lay the mummy of the pharaoh. Carter saw "... noble, with regular features, full of calm, gentle youthful face with clearly defined lips." The mummy of Tutankhamun was decorated with just an incredible amount of jewelry. The face was covered with a mask of forged gold with his portrait features. New treasures were discovered under each layer of bandages. But even more important was the diverse collection of art objects (furniture, dishes, weapons, chariots, ship models, jewelry, statues). The items found there are magnificent. This is a golden statuette of Tutankhamun standing on a black leopard; Pharaoh's head made of wood; three large beds; the throne, etc. The back of the throne was so skillfully decorated that Carter later even claimed: "This is the most beautiful thing that has been found in Egypt so far." All these amazing treasures can be seen in the Cairo Museum. If such was the treasury of an insignificant ruler, then it is difficult for yourself to even imagine what was hidden (or is still hiding?) In the tombs of such great, powerful rulers of Ancient Egypt as Thutmose III, Seti I, Ramses II?

Image of Tutankhamun in the painting of the tomb

Let me leave a little digression ... In the battle between gods and religions, one cannot but see the opposition of social strata and groups. Religion is a cover, a screen behind which stand those who serve it, at whose expense they exist (and quite well), directing and conducting believers. So it was, so it is and so it will be. Religion is power. Hence the irreconcilable battle between Amun and Aten. Exalting Amun (radiant, many-sided, multicolored, eternal, who created heaven and earth, created seas and mountains, creator of the universe, hearts will not be saturated with love for you, etc.), the priests thereby asserted their power, their place next to this deity ...

Monuments of Ancient Egypt. Tutankhamun's mask

With Akhenaten and his time, as historians note, Egyptian sources are probably associated with much more negative assessments than with any other real pharaoh (ex post facto). These assessments are tracked not only in the text of the "Restoration Stele" by Tutankhamun, but also in the well-known hymn to Amun, when he is already referred to as an “enemy from Akhetaton” ... The hymn reads: “You (Amon) overtake the one who transgresses against you; woe to him that encroaches upon you. Your city is unshakable, and the one who encroached on you is defeated ... The sun of the one who does not know you has set, O Amon, but the one who knows you says: it has risen in the front yard (of the temple)! The one who attacks you is in darkness, even if the whole earth lies in the rays of the sun. The one who placed you in your heart - look, his sun has risen! " The idea of ​​the unknown compiler of the hymn in honor of Amun is completely clear and unambiguous: he who breaks with the traditions of the venerable ancient religion is doomed. All these fears are deliberately implanted in the minds of people by powerful priests.

Upper part of Akhenaten's colossus

In one of the studies (based on medical expertise), it is directly proven that the pharaoh Tutankhamun was killed by his own prime minister, who later became a pharaoh himself, who inherited not only the kingdom, but also his ex-wife. After his death, fearing that seditious religion might again conquer the minds, the supporters of the god Amun began to destroy everything that reminded of the vicious Pharaoh Akhenaten. No one knows whether the legendary queen was honored and where her remains are buried. A surprising, albeit unlikely, story is reported. Allegedly, at the end of the 19th century, they saw a group of people carrying away some kind of golden coffin from the Great Desert. There is no confirmation or proof that Nefertiti and Akhenaten rest next to each other. If the assassination of the head of state did take place, this could not be due to some religious contradictions or personal enmity, but most likely clan interests and the struggle for power. Most contract killings are always caused by power or money (albeit sometimes by religion).

The two colossi of Akhenaten in East Karnak

Those who believe that the main reason for the confrontation was the dispute between the key regions of Egypt, the two capitals, and, above all, their elites for power, are right. The North contested the primacy over the South. Under Ramses II, the north began to occupy a dominant position, and Thebes ceased to be the residence of the pharaoh. However, having ceased to be a residence, they still remained the capital, that is, they were "Rome without an emperor, but with a pope." There remained powerful priests, whose authority increased even more as a result of persecution. The struggle for political and cultural leadership continued, as is the dispute over leadership between the two capitals, Moscow and St. Petersburg, throughout modern and recent Russian history.

Kneeling man. Mid-14th century BC NS. (Horemheb). Thebes

As it was with us, in Egypt, the religious consciousness, apparently, was also in direct dependence on the external course of historical events. The priests of Amun could still be understood. After all, their god was closer to the Egyptian tradition than the bearer of the "cosmopolitan idea" Aton. He turned his gaze to all peoples and countries, although they were different in language and skin color, but equally close. Such cosmopolitanism irritated not only the nobility, but also a significant part of ordinary Egyptians. They understood that the world is not at all as peaceful and just as the idealist Akhenaten believed. Perhaps most eloquently of all is that in the symbols of Amon-Ra, who returned to power, there is a change of priorities: his attribute is no longer a rod and a scourge (symbols of internal domination), but a sword, which most eloquently characterizes him as a god of war! By the way, it was under the rule of Theban pharaohs that Egypt was freed from the hated Hyksos. There were objective reasons for the massive rejection of the new religion (and Akhenaten). The fact is that under his rule the country lost two-thirds of its former power, that is, those territories that were previously subject to Egypt. The economy was destroyed, the army was poor and destroyed, and the fleet was captured by the Hittites. The Asian part of the empire was largely lost. All this could not but cause discontent in all strata of society. A tougher, more powerful ruler was needed who would return to its former glory. We see the same in Russia, where the masses of the people despise and hate the former rulers for the fact that they “surrendered a great power”, although it is clear that life in the former USSR was no easier for them.

Colossus of Pinedyem, High Priest of Thebes and Pharaoh of the XXI Dynasty

But still this sickly pharaoh with a compressed skull ("the skull of the Stettin weaver"), effeminate due to underdeveloped ovaries, who usually looked at his feet, may have seen further than many of his contemporaries. The attempt to establish a religion of monotheism was not in vain. And although with the death of this Great Man, the caste of priests returned to the old religion, and the temples of Aton were destroyed, an idea arose in the minds of many people, which will inspire the minds of many generations in the battle for the unity of the spiritual and the "divine" in man. A. Men 'noted: “The first attempt to establish it (Monotheism) for the whole people was the reformation of Akhenaten. Despite the fact that she was defeated, the teaching about the One God did not pass without leaving a trace for the Egyptian religious consciousness. The very same priests who gave the "heretic" a curse, involuntarily found themselves under the spell of "atonism." Indeed, in their own spiritual tradition, there has long been a gravitation towards Monotheism. In the hymns of Amun-Ra, compiled after the triumph of Thebes, we find clear echoes of the Amarna era ... Many texts call Amun the creator of all people, regardless of language and skin color, the protector of the oppressed, the guardian of Truth. Thus, the development towards monotheism in Egypt continued after Akhenaten. One might expect that sooner or later a courageous person will appear among the priests, who will complete the work of religious reform and the country of the pharaohs will become a world seat of faith in the One ”. "Pantheism of love" has penetrated everywhere, even in the seemingly completely different worldviews of the Greeks and Jews (at least in theory).

General Horemheb receives gold necklaces as a reward from Tutankhamun

The lines of the lesson sound topical. Pharaoh says that the followers are obliged to continue the work of their predecessors in their service to the fatherland. “This is a wonderful service - royal power. She has neither a son nor a brother. One tsar adds to its monuments what the other will take care of, because a person creates for his predecessor, wishing that another, following him, would take care of what he created. " To destroy what was done by your predecessors is truly a "disgusting deed." But let us recall that both Russia and Egypt knew rulers who, out of fierce hatred of the previous rulers (hatred of a religious-political or economic nature), wanted to erase the traces of the past rule, erase the very memory of the era. This is the vengeful tyrant Horemheb, who came to power with the help of the priests of the god Amun. They were overwhelmed with a desire to take revenge on previous dynasties for taking away their religion, their wealth and influence ... In principle, Horemheb is the type of political leader that can be found in any country among the creepy and servile obsequious bureaucracy. They try by hook or by crook to get upstairs, for the sake of which they go to any meanness, intrigue and betrayal.

Amenhotep III

Horemheb is a scribe who has long been the shadow of the pharaoh. Having married Akhenaten's sister, after the death of the ruler Ai (1344–1342 BC), he became king of Egypt. He began his reign with the destruction of all temples, documents and relics of the former kings. He ordered the masons to erase the names of Akhenaten, Smenkhkar, Tutankhamun and Aya. All over the country, these names were scraped off and replaced with his own. He deleted the names of the four kings from history, inscribing his name immediately after King Amenhotep III. Since then, in all official documents, the date of the beginning of his reign was 1369 BC. e., that is, the year of the coronation of Akhenaten. Destroyed documents of past dynasties. But this seemed to him not enough. He decided to destroy the sunny city of Amarna. Like a voracious locust eating stones, the army of workers pounced on the magnificent city, erected by the genius of Akhenaten and his sculptors. The destruction began with a symbol of royal and divine power - from the temple of Aten, which was once the center of the religious life of Egypt. He was simply wiped off the ground. Archaeologist L. Woolley, who together with G. Carter carried out excavations at that place, wrote that the walls of the temple were destroyed, the ornament was damaged, and fragments remained from the stone carving. Many of the figures and colossi that you see in Egypt bear traces of vandalism. "... Not a single stone remained in place; instead of a temple, there was an empty area." Then they destroyed the Northern Palace, with magnificent paintings, the palaces of Nefertiti and Akhenaten. Vandals have destroyed even the famous factories for the production of glass, pottery and earthenware. Beautiful statues of Amarna sculptors and painters' frescoes were smashed with sledgehammers. The workshop of the great sculptor Thutmes was also destroyed, as were many of his works. Lumps of stone were transported to Memphis and Thebes for use in the construction of the temples of Amun and temples dedicated to Horemheb. All artisans were moved there. Thus, Akhenaten's attempt to create a "solar civilization of justice" in Egypt was interrupted.

The course to strengthen the royal power by raising ignorant officials and strengthening the religious role of the monarch, begun pharaoh Amenhotep III, continued by his son from his marriage to the unborn Thaye, Amenhotep IV (reigned in 1365-1349 BC; according to another dating - in 1351-1334 BC). Already in the first years of his reign, the reformed cult of the god Ra, Ra-Harakhte, began to advance even more. From 1361 BC NS. they began to identify him with the god of the solar disk - Aton... Pharaoh himself became the high priest of this new cult.

Akhenaten is a rebellious pharaoh. Video

Initially, Aton was revered in the south of Egypt, in Thebes where is close to him Karnak a special temple was erected. However, around 1359 BC. NS. Amenhotep IV decided to leave this old capital XVIII dynasty and built a new one for himself - in Central Egypt, near the modern village of Tell el-Amarna, in a place that previously "did not belong to either god or goddess", outside of any Egyptian district (nome) with its traditional cults. The religious and political transformations of Amenhotep IV were therefore named "Amarna reform", and this whole period of Egyptian history is called "Amarna".

Pharaoh Akhenaten (from the Temple of Aten at Karnak)

Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) - Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who lived from 1375 to 1336. BC, who ruled Egypt from 1353 (or 1351) to 1335 (or 1334). BC. An ordinary reader, previously not familiar with the name of Akhenaten, will probably know at least the following facts related to this pharaoh:

• his wife was the famous Nefertiti, whose images are still captivating with their beauty;
• his son was Tutankhamun, whose tomb has survived to our time almost completely intact;
• and finally, he carried out a grandiose religious reform in Egypt. It is believed that Akhenaten tried to transfer society from polytheism to the cult of one god named Aton.

early years

From birth, the son of Amenhotep III and Queen Teye received the name Amenhotep IV. He becomes a co-ruler of his father in his early years. At that time in Egypt, a very serious force was represented by the priesthood, worshiping the host of gods, headed by the supreme god Amon-Ra. Having become an independent ruler, Akhenaten at first, apparently, also venerated Amun, at least on the first monuments he is depicted praying to him. However, very quickly Akhenaten began to carry out religious reforms.

The introduction of the cult of Aten

The reasons for the introduction of monotheism by the new pharaoh are not exactly known, however, several versions can be put forward. So, in Egypt at that time the people worshiped a great many gods, each city could have its own gods. The introduction of a single god could unite the people and strengthen the state. In addition, very influential priests served as intermediaries between people and gods, and replacing the gods could weaken their power and strengthen the power of Akhenaten as a conductor of the new god.

bas-relief - Aton is represented as a solar disk with descending rays

Be that as it may, in the third year of his reign, the new pharaoh began to build a temple in Thebes in honor of the then little-known god Aton, who personified the solar disk. Aton was portrayed as a man with a falcon's head, crowned with a solar circle.

In the fifth year of his reign, Amenhotep IV changed his former name, translated as "Amon is pleased", to Akhenaten - "the living spirit of Aten." In addition, the names of his closest relatives have been changed. So the main wife of Pharaoh Nefertiti received a new name Neferneferuaten. The god Aton was proclaimed the father of the pharaoh, depicted as a solar disk with a snake and many rays with palms outstretched to the Earth. Akhenaten proclaimed himself an absolute deity.

Approximately in the 6th year of his reign, the pharaoh leaves Thebes with his court and founds the new capital Akhet-Aton (now the settlement of Tel el-Amarna), 300 km north of the former capital.

temple of Aton

A new capital was rebuilt in 2 years. The huge palace of Akhenaten was built of white stone. This palace is considered the largest of the ancient civil buildings. The length of the eastern facade of the Main Palace was almost 700 meters. Its walls were covered with paintings and decorated with colored tiles; the palace had a rich interior decoration; columns with complex capitals are inlaid with colored faience. In addition to this palace, several more smaller palaces were built in the new capital, also magnificently decorated. In Akhet-Aton, the main temple of Aton was erected, called the "House of Aton". It consisted of two huge stone structures inside a rectangular fence.

By about the 12th year, the pharaoh began active actions against the god Amun and other old gods. Aton was proclaimed the only god, and the cults of all others were abolished. Akhenaten ordered to destroy even the mention of the former gods. Temples were erected to Aton throughout Egypt. These temples were endowed with large assets: land, hunting and fishing grounds, livestock, pastures, and labor. A new staff of priests of the new cult was established.

End of reforms

Simultaneously with the strengthening of the new cult, Egypt's relations with its neighbors deteriorated. In earlier times, Egypt sent generous gifts to the states of the Middle East. However, Akhenaten could no longer or did not want to do this. He himself needed gold to build a new capital and to gain the loyalty of his followers. Egypt began to lose influence in the previously conquered lands. In them, riots and seizure began by various, gaining strength tribes. Akhenaten did not want or could not keep his foreign possessions.

At the same time, discontent grew within Egypt itself. Not only the priests, but also the common people began to oppose Akhenaten. Chroniclers after death called the pharaoh in the scrolls by the nickname "Enemy from Akhet-Aton", not wanting to pronounce his name. Akhenaten, in order to stay on the throne, had to resort to the help of mercenaries.

Death of Akhenaten

Akhnatot died after 17 or 18 years of his reign, having ceded the throne to King Smenkhkara. Two years later, Tutankhaton will ascend the throne, who will later abandon his predecessor and take the name Tutankhamun.

The circumstances of Akhenaten's death are unknown. Perhaps he was poisoned, as one of the murals depicts an attempt on his life. He was buried in his tomb, which he carved into the rocks a few kilometers east of the new capital of Akhetaton. Later, his mummy was transferred to the necropolis of the Valley of the Kings in the tomb KV55.

Even in antiquity, the Egyptians destroyed many monuments associated with Akhenaten, which made it difficult to identify the mummies. Genetic and genealogical examination showed that the person in KV55 is the father of Tutankhamun, but it cannot be reliably said that this is Akhenaten.

After his death, the new capital Akhetaton was abandoned and began to collapse, and then turned into a quarry.