[an error occurred while processing this directive] Ancient Akhetaten City [an error occurred while processing this directive]
  • Geography

  • Ancient Akhetaten City

    • Amarna
    Amarna Plan     		Location Upper Egypt - 270 kilometers south of Cairo
    East bank of Nile
    Nome14th nome of Upper Egypt Lower sycamore and viper - the 14th Nome of Upper Egypt
    Type of SettlementCapital City
    Local deityAten - the Sun-Disc
    Ancient nameAkhetaten - The Horizon of Aten
    Contemporary nameel-Amarna
    Historical Development New Kingdom - 18th Dynasty:
    - Pharaoh Akhenaten founded a new capital of Egypt. The area of the city was effectively a virgin?site
    - The city was dedicated to his new religion of worship to the Aten.
    - The name of the city derived from the two hills between which the sun appeared in the morning
    - The city, however, remained capital of Egypt only for about fifteen years
    - After Akhenaten death, during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, it was abandoned and the royal court moved back to Thebes,
    - Later Horemheb demolished the city to erase any traces of Akhenaten period.
    NecropolisRoyal Wadi and tombs- the Royal Family were buried here. It was a replacement for the Valley of Kings
    - The Wadi contained 4 tombs:
    1. The Royal Tomb of Akhenaten - Tomb 26 is the only decorated tomb, and contained the burial of Akhenaten. It includes a suite of chambers for his daughters, his mother and probably Nefertiti, although she was never buried there
    2. Tomb 27 - intended for a Royal Burial, as the doorway and entrance are of a similar size to that of the Royal Tomb. However, it was never finished and no burial material has ever been found
    3. Tomb 28 - This is the only finished tomb in the Wadi. It was used by Keya a lesser wife of Akhenaten.
    4. Tomb 29 - This tomb was plastered, but never decorated. It consists of 4 corridors, and in plan is similar to the suite of rooms in the Royal Tomb
    Monuments- The city contained royal palaces, temples for the Aten (the Sun-Disc), and administrative buildings, as well as private houses and workshops.
    1. Great Temple of the Aten
    2. Great Royal Palace
    3. Bureau of Correspondence of the Pharaoh
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