![]() ![]() | Location |
Upper Egypt - 270 kilometers south of Cairo East bank of Nile |
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Nome | ![]() | |
Type of Settlement | Capital City | |
Local deity | Aten - the Sun-Disc | |
Ancient name | Akhetaten - The Horizon of Aten | |
Contemporary name | el-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. | |
Necropolis | Royal Wadi and tombs- the Royal Family were buried here. It was a replacement for the Valley of Kings - The Wadi contained 4 tombs:
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Monuments | - The city contained royal palaces, temples for the Aten (the Sun-Disc), and administrative buildings, as well as private houses and workshops. |