TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book.

Footnotes [79] and [82] have a translation of some heiroglyphic words, using several accented characters. These will display, using Unicode combining diacriticals, on this device as
ȧ (a with dot above)
ḥ and Ḥ (h and H with dot below)
a͑ and A͑ (a and A with half left circle above)

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Some minor changes to the text are noted at the [end of the book.]

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

Crown 8vo, 7s. 6d. net. With numerous Illustrations.

TRAVELS IN THE
UPPER EGYPTIAN DESERTS.

“Since the times of Eliot Warburton and Kinglake many writers have celebrated the delights of travel in the desert. None, I think, has realised the fascination of the desert more fully than Mr Weigall.”—Westminster Gazette.

John Ward, F.S.A. (author of ‘Pyramids and Progress,’ &c.), writes: “... The very best book of travel ... I have seen for years; so interesting that it can be read with pleasure by people who know not Egypt, and so unpretendingly scientific ... that to one who is an expert Egyptologist it is a treasure-trove. The language is so clear, the descriptive portions so graphic, and yet the style so simple, that the work is, in its way, a masterpiece. Then the clear type, the handy size, and the exquisite photographs make the book a rare possession.”

Demy 8vo. With Illustrations. 7s. 6d. net.

“Interesting and readable in no common degree.”—Scotsman.

THE TREASURY
OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

Chapters on Ancient Egyptian History and Archæology.

Mr Weigall has performed a remarkable literary feat. He has truly made dry bones live, and has presented his researches in Egyptology in a manner so fascinating as to arouse the enthusiasm of the patrons of the circulating libraries. Of this volume it is enough to say that it is worthy of the author of ‘The Life and Times of Akhnaton.’

WM. BLACKWOOD & SONS, Edinburgh and London.

PAVEMENT DECORATION FROM THE PALACE OF AMONHOTEP III.

The Life and Times of
Akhnaton

The Life and Times of

Akhnaton

Pharaoh of Egypt

BY

ARTHUR E. P. WEIGALL

CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, UPPER EGYPT

AUTHOR OF ‘A REPORT ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF LOWER NUBIA,’ ‘A CATALOGUE OF THE
WEIGHTS AND BALANCES IN THE CAIRO MUSEUM,’ ‘A GUIDE TO THE ANTIQUITIES
OF UPPER EGYPT,’ ‘DIE MASTABA DES GEMNIKAI’ (WITH PROFESSOR VON
BISSING), ‘TRAVELS IN THE UPPER EGYPTIAN DESERTS,’ ETC.

“Ye ask who are those that draw us to the Kingdom if the Kingdom is in Heaven? The fowls of the air, and all the beasts that are under the earth or upon the earth, and the fishes of the sea, these are they which draw you, and the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.”

—Grenfell and Hunt: Oxyrhynchus Papyri, iv. 6.

SECOND IMPRESSION

William Blackwood and Sons
Edinburgh and London
1911

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

TO

THEODORE M. DAVIS,

THE DISCOVERER OF

THE BONES OF AKHNATON,

This Book is Dedicated.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
INTRODUCTION[1]
I.
THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OF AKHNATON.
1. THE ANCESTORS OF AKHNATON[7]
2. THE GODS OF EGYPT[11]
3. THE DEMIGODS AND SPIRITS—THE PRIESTHOODS[18]
4. THOTHMES IV. AND MUTEMUA[21]
5. YUAA AND TUAU[25]
6. AMONHOTEP III. AND HIS COURT[33]
II.
THE BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS OF AKHNATON.
1. THE BIRTH OF AKHNATON[42]
2. THE RISE OF ATON[45]
3. THE POWER OF QUEEN TIY[49]
4. AKHNATON’S MARRIAGE[53]
5. THE ACCESSION OF AKHNATON[58]
6. THE FIRST YEARS OF AKHNATON’S REIGN[62]
7. THE NEW ART[68]
8. THE NEW RELIGION DEVELOPS[76]
9. THE NATURE OF THE NEW RELIGION[84]
III.
AKHNATON FOUNDS A NEW CITY.
1. THE BREAK WITH THE PRIESTHOOD OF AMON-RA[88]
2. AKHNATON SELECTS THE SITE OF HIS CITY[92]
3. THE FIRST FOUNDATION INSCRIPTION[94]
4. THE SECOND FOUNDATION INSCRIPTION[101]
5. THE DEPARTURE FROM THEBES[105]
6. THE AGE OF AKHNATON[110]
IV.
AKHNATON FORMULATES THE RELIGION OF ATON.
1. ATON THE TRUE GOD[115]
2. ATON THE TENDER FATHER OF ALL CREATION[118]
3. ATON WORSHIPPED AT SUNRISE AND SUNSET[124]
4. THE GOODNESS OF ATON[127]
5. AKHNATON THE “SON OF GOD” BY TRADITIONAL RIGHT[130]
6. THE CONNECTIONS OF THE ATON WORSHIP WITH OLDER RELIGIONS[135]
7. THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH[138]
8. THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF THE SOUL[143]
V.
THE TENTH TO THE TWELFTH YEARS OF THE REIGN OF AKHNATON.
1. THE HYMNS OF THE ATON WORSHIPPERS[149]
2. THE SIMILARITY OF AKHNATON’S HYMN TO PSALM CIV.[155]
3. MERYRA IS MADE HIGH PRIEST OF ATON[157]
4. THE ROYAL FAMILY VISIT THE TEMPLE[162]
5. AKHNATON IN HIS PALACE[167]
6. HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THIS PERIOD OF AKHNATON’S REIGN[169]
7. QUEEN TIY VISITS THE CITY OF THE HORIZON[176]
8. TIY VISITS HER TEMPLE[182]
9. THE DEATH OF QUEEN TIY[184]
VI.
THE THIRTEENTH TO THE FIFTEENTH YEARS OF THE REIGN OF AKHNATON.
1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELIGION OF ATON[189]
2. AKHNATON OBLITERATES THE NAME OF AMON[193]
3. THE GREAT TEMPLE OF ATON[198]
4. THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY[202]
5. AKHNATON’S AFFECTION FOR HIS FAMILY[208]
6. AKHNATON’S FRIENDS[213]
7. AKHNATON’S TROUBLES[217]
VII.
THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE REIGN OF AKHNATON.
1. THE HITTITE INVASION OF SYRIA[223]
2. AKHNATON’S CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTIONS TO WARFARE[226]
3. THE FAITHLESSNESS OF AZIRU[230]
4. THE FIGHTING IN SYRIA BECOMES GENERAL[235]
5. AZIRU AND RIBADDI FIGHT TO A FINISH[239]
6. AKHNATON CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO SEND HELP[243]
7. AKHNATON’S HEALTH GIVES WAY[246]
8. AKHNATON’S LAST DAYS AND DEATH[252]
VIII.
THE FALL OF THE RELIGION OF AKHNATON.
1. THE BURIAL OF AKHNATON[258]
2. THE COURT RETURNS TO THEBES[264]
3. THE REIGN OF HOREMHEB[268]
4. THE PERSECUTION OF AKHNATON’S MEMORY[272]
5. THE FINDING OF THE BODY OF AKHNATON[276]
INDEX[285]