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Egypten 4.5 :: The Amarna Period (circa 1372 - 1343 BC)

Object description

The Sun God – in various forms – had always been important to Egyptian thinking. By the middle of the 18th Dynasty, the sun god was given an even more prominent role, putting emphasis on the light streaming out of the solar disk of Aten.

The sun cult reached its peak during the sovereignty of Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten (roughly translated ‘officiant for Aten’) and launched Aten as the only god. Temples of other gods were closed and resources reallocated. Around this time, Amenhotep IV also established a new capital city called Akhetaten ( ‘The Horizon of the Aten’) at a location that is now known as Tell el-Amarna.

The new capital was built in only a few years. Small and manageable blocks of stone, talataat, were used. The temple walls were decorated with brand new motifs, often with the royal family as a focal point but also showing views of the capital, its temples and architectural interiors.

Data elements
References (5)

Exhibition, showcase

Egypten 4.5

Title, Swedish

Amarna-perioden (ca 1372-1343 f Kr)

Title

The Amarna Period (circa 1372 - 1343 BC)

Previous ID

1285-D-05

Description, Swedish

Solguden – i olika skepnader – hade alltid varit central för egyptiskt tänkande. Vid mitten av 18:e dynastin fick han en än mer framträdande roll, med fokus på ljuset som strömmade ut ur solskivan Aten.

Solkulten nådde sin kulmen under kung Amenhotep IV, som ändrade sitt namn till Akhenaten (ungefär ”Verksam för Aten”) och lanserade Aten som den ende guden. Andra gudars tempel stängdes och deras resurser omfördelades. I samma veva grundade han en ny huvudstad, Akhetaten (Atens horisont), på den plats som idag kallas Tell el-Amarna.

Den nya staden byggdes upp på bara några år. Man använde små, lätthanterliga stenblock, s k talataat. Helt nya motiv dök upp på tempelväggarna. Kungafamiljen stod i centrum, men man avbildade även vyer över huvudstaden och dess tempel samt byggnadsinteriörer.

Description

Egypt, Number in Exhibition

4.5

Photograph Number - Is Object Example For

ext-0020

Belongs to Exhibition, Part of

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Egypten 4.5 :: The Amarna Period (circa 1372 - 1343 BC)

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Important to know about the information in the online collection database