Ten fun facts about Akhenaten
Fact 1
Interest in Akhenaten increased with the discovery in the Valley of the Kings, at Luxor, of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, who has been proven to be Akhenaten's son according to a 2010 DNA testing.
Fact 2
Known before as Amenhotep IV, he changed his name to Akhenaten to reflect his close link with the new supreme deity.
Fact 3
He was married to Queen Nefertiti, one of the most influential queens in Egyptian history. Scholars suggest that she may have been only 12 when married to Akhenaten.
Fact 4
Akhenaten could have been the first monotheist in all of history.
Fact 5
He is especially noted for abandoning traditional Egyptian polytheism and introducing worship centered on the Aten, which is sometimes described as monotheistic or henotheistic.
Fact 6
Akhenaten was not originally designated as the successor to the throne until the untimely death of his older brother, Thutmose.
Fact 7
He succeeded his father after Amenhotep III's death at the end of his 38-year reign, possibly after a short coregency lasting between either 1 to 2 years.
Fact 8
Akhenaten's mummy has never been found.
Fact 9
Akhenaten died in the 17th year of his reign.
Fact 10
An early inscription likened the Aten to the sun as compared to stars, and later official language avoided calling the Aten a god, giving the solar deity a status above mere gods.
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