Aten: Bibliography on Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Aten: Bibliography on Akhenaten and Nefertiti
Ashen Zakharyan

Foreword

Akhenaten was the 10th pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who reigned over the country for about 17 years about 3.500 years ago. He was known as a heretic king, religious revolutioner. He is especially noted for abandoning traditional Egyptian polytheism and introducing worship centered on the sun disc Aten, which is sometimes described as monotheistic. When he ascended the throne his name was Amenhotep IV, but in his sixth year of rule he changed it to “Akhenaten". He has succeeded his father Amenhotep III. Akhenaten has established a new capital city Akhetaten (Horizon of Aten) at modern Amarna. Aten was the only god and Akhenaten was only intermediary between the Aten and the people.

Akhenaten was married to Nefertiti, one of the most famious queens of ancient Egypt. Nefertiti’s origins are uncertain. Some historians believe that she was a foreign princess and others believe that she was Akhenaten’s relative, daughter of Ay.

After Akhenenaten’s death Egypt returned to the worship of the old gods and the name and image of Akhenaten were erased from his monuments in an effort to wipe out the memory of his ‘heretical’ reign.

The present bibliography is a comprehensive guide to articles and books on Akhenaten and Nefertiti, aimed at scholars, students of Egyptology and general public as well.