Ancient Akhetaten City

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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 dynastry:
  • 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 Kiya 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
  • Page last updated: 15 Feb 2008
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