Essay on Ancient History Notes

This necapolis is located on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt and dates back in use from 1539-1075 B.C. (cited). These structures were not monuments to the Pharaoh’s life but were considered to be portals to the next one. The chamber rooms contained items made solely for use in the afterlife to insure the Pharaoh’s success. Detailed instructions and illustrations are on the walls exhibiting the trials and tests the king will be required to pass before obtaining his immortality and placement among the gods. The process of mummification was developed for the purpose of the sovereign’s body to be reanimated in the afterlife.

Akhenaten is often not credited as being one of the great pharaoh’s of ancient Egypt; his name is not as recognized as his son, Tutankhamen. However he deserves acknowledged for being a revolutionary leader. Akhenaten is most well-known as being a spiritual enthusiast and instigator of revolution within the kingdom of Egypt. Many historians have recognized Akhenaten with being solely responsible for developing a religious revolution in Egypt. Nevertheless his struggles defined as the first true effort at instituting a monotheistic state in a polytheistic society, his efforts were not eternal. The reasoning behind his decisions to change Egypt's faith is still observed though to this day. “Today most historical resources believe Akhenaten

Amenhotep III’s reign is often referred to the “Golden Age”, a time of political stability and economic prosperity for Egypt. With an abundance of tribute, booty, and access/exploitation of natural resources in conquered areas of Nubia, and its sphere of influence in Syria-Palestine; Egypt’s affluence only flourished. This enabled Amenhotep’s expanse/magnificent building programs, also resulting to advances in art and religion. Furthermore, changes in the importance and role of the queen progressed in this period; to the extent of Tiye’s deification, as evident in the temple at Sedeinga, built in dedication to her worship. Despite Amenhotep III’s reputation as a great diplomat, the effectiveness of his

Through the roles of Tiye, future queens Nefertiti and Nefertari we are able to observe the changing roles of queens influenced them and clearing path for them. The kings built temples to honour them and depicted them as goddesses.

Evidence at Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri exemplifies that this worked to improve her religious contribution, where numerous monuments were dedicated to Amun, including the garden, filled with many luxurious goods from her expedition to Punt. This mass amount of archaeological evidence dedicated to Amun proved Hatshepsut’s extensive worship of the God, and also gives insight into the idea that this building was integral for Hatshepsut to fulfil her role as pharaoh with her religious contributions. The positioning of this building site also works to provide insight into how this building program contributed to Hatshepsut’s contribution to religion, where it was located directly opposite the Karnak temple, serving as a link of Osiris’ realm of the dead with Amun-Re’s realm of the living. Historian Alan Gardiner states, “Even now there is no nobler architectural achievement to be seen in the whole of Egypt”, exemplifying how this mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri worked to a large extent in commemorating Hatshepsut’s reign as Pharaoh. Furthermore, Hatshepsut’s building program at Karnak also played an extensive role in her religious contributions, where the construction of the Red Chapel at

Through analysis of scenes of the royal family, it is clear to see that Nefertiti ruled together with her husband as co-regent. Nefertiti became a symbol of

Prior to Akhenaten’s 4th year of reign he did things much as his father’s had done before him, meaning building temples and statues in order to represent the Pharaohs grandness by his control of people in building these grand structures. Amenhotep III and Nefertiti change their names in the 4th year of his reign. Amenhotep forever becoming known as Akhenaten, (Aten is satisfied) from here until his death, and Nefertiti following her husband then became known as Nefernefruaten-Nefertiti. Changing his name from Amenhotep IV to occurred a month before he wrote: “being the documented day this was his recant of the first time he rode his chariot into the city of Akhetaten as Amenhotep IV, had carved it into the Boundary Stele contained within the first proclamation (Amarna Project Boundary Stele 2014:3). By year 7(some say 8) of his reign the capital was officially

Another astonishing act to this religious revolution was the Akhenaten’s order of the construction of a new capital, far to the north of Thebes known as Amarna, horizon of the sun, claiming the sun god lead him there. A few years after, Akhenaten made the decision to abandon Thebes and ordered his people to pack up and leave behind the city built by his father to receive the blessings of Aten in the city of Amarna. Shortly thereafter, he abolished traditional gods and goddesses, declaring one monotheistic deity, Aten, and introduced in art as a more intimate worship in public and personal settings of the royal family, receiving blessings from Aten, and showing day to day life and activities.

The ideal of ma'at, universal harmony, was the most critical spiritual conception in ancient Egypt. It was believed that the land of Egypt was a reflector of the angelic land and individuals had a obligation to peform in a certain way on earth to keep equity with the higher realm. By discarding the old gods and the ancient practices, Akhenaten would have disordered this equity and demolished the unanimity between the people and their gods. When the people were contrived to abandon their gods, it was believed, the gods abandoned the people. Tutankhamun's reforms, then, would have had an extensive impact on the people of Egypt with his recovery of comprehensive harmony. The temples were rebuilt and the priests who had concealed the iconography

The King and Queen were a power couple during their reign. Akhenaten was shown to have strong feelings for his wife, as they were often shown together

     The Palace of Knossos, a Minoan mud brick and timber structure on a shallow stone foundation, featuring a central courtyard, was constructed on an acropolis. It was a place for rulers to reside, shrines for religious ceremonies to be worshipped, the industrial production of objects, and administrative duties. Ample hallways, stairways, chambers, and light wells supplemented the ambitiously built structure. There were plenty of columns to mark he four awe inspiring entrance passages.

One known Egyptian temple is The temple of Ramses II, and the temple of Nefertiti dedicated to Hathor, they stood for a very long time, until they had a

Amenhotep IV was the first pharaoh to challenge the Egyptian culture and religious beliefs. His decision to make Aten, “The God of the Sun Disk”, the only god, took power away from the temple priests. Before Amenhotep IV made the changes, Egypt practiced polytheism not only worshiping the Sun Disk God, but around 12 other gods with roles such as fertility, the sky, the Nile River, childbirth, etc. With Egypt practicing monotheisms the temple priest have lost control of any political or religious gain they once held. This will be the first time Egypt practices monotheism. In making this change Amenhotep IV became known as Akhenaten, “Shining Spirit of Aten”. Becoming Akhenaten was not the only changes reflected from his reign as pharaoh.

-- the worship of Amun was more widespread than that of any other god in the Nile Valley

The previous style of burial of Egyptian pharaohs was the mastaba, a flat-roofed structure made of brick. However, at the beginning of the Old Kingdom, stone was introduced as a building material. Building with stone has been attributed to Imhotep, the most ancient of all known architects. He was the designer of the first type of Egyptian pyramid, the step pyramid, which was first introduced at the burial complex of Zoser, just outside the ancient city of Memphis. It was achievements such as these that gained Imhotep great respect among later Egyptians who not only saw him as a great architect, but also “a magician, astronomer, and the father of the art of medicine” (Edwards, 35). Step pyramids are similar to the pyramids we know today, but instead of being flat on all four sides, they have setbacks as they rise, giving the appearance of giant steps.