The Lost Golden City Of Aten

Aten is a long-forgotten city on the west bank of the longest river in the world, the Nile. Located near Luxor, in eastern Egypt, it has seen many exploratory missions endeavor to find it, which only met failure. Now, you and I can discover Aten's old and buried roots, dubbed "The Dazzling City." Thanks to the hieroglyphic inscriptions found within it, expert archaeologists and researchers have given us more information, which helps us understand what happened to this city's Pharaoh Akhenaten as well as its controversial religion. Here, you will learn more about this mysterious part of Ancient Egypt and why the Pharaoh Tutankhamon decided to 'put it aside.'

The Civilization Of Ancient Egypt

The Ancient Egyptian civilization began in 3,100 BCE in the Nile Valley. Egypt's powers ruled much of Nubia and most of the Levant until, under Cleopatra, the empire fell to the Roman Empire, becoming a Roman province in 30 BCE. Ancient Egypt is an oasis in the desert of northeastern Africa; the annual inundation of the Nile River was a vital support to the thriving agricultural population. Taking advantage of the Nile River and the Red Sea, they expanded their trade routes and became a flourishing hub of commerce. Commonly traded goods were: Gold, papyrus and precious stones, and abundant wheat. In Ancient Egypt, society actively revolved around religion and pantheon worship; last, the pharaohs were spiritual leaders that held supreme powers.

On occasions when a very significant pharaoh died, all kinds of workers, from simple laborers to engineers and planners, would construct one of the famous monuments known as pyramids; these grand tombs showcased the pharaoh's quest for immortality and divine status. A well-known example is the Great Pyramids of Giza. These enormous engineering projects required many skilled workers and laborers who served as manual labor force. Additionally, Egyptians developed a sophisticated writing system called hieroglyphics, which combined phonetic elements with pictorial symbols. Professional scribes actively preserved knowledge and transmitted it through religious texts, administrative documents, recordings of historical events, and personal notes. The political, cultural, and academic systems, which researchers recognized from other excavations, were both present and expanded upon during the unveiling of Aten. Inscriptions on walls, columns of palaces, tombs, and other structures were crucial in understanding Ancient Egypt.

Aten, The One God That Replaced Many

The word Aten for "disc" appears in the Old Kingdom of Egypt and mainly refers to the "disc of the day;" ancient Egyptians thought that Ra (the god of the sun) resided inside it. Ra, along with: Amon, Osiris, Anubis, and many others, were the multitude of Gods that formed the traditional polytheistic religion of Ancient Egypt. This era endured until Akhenaten, son of Amenhotep III (who rejected the old gods), decided to introduce a monotheistic religion based on Aten: the new solar deity. So, Atenism was born, a distinguishing feature of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Inscriptions found in temples and tombs showed Aten not only as the god of the sun but also as the giver of life and as 'The Creator.' However, Tutankhamon (the next pharaoh and Akhenaten's son) abolished the monotheistic religion to restore the traditional polytheistic one.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that even during Akhenaten's reign, the worship of the traditional pantheon did not cease entirely. Atenism did not replace all religious practices. Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, began constructing a new capital in his fifth year of rule (around 1,348/1,346 BCE). This city was named "Horizon of the Aten," which also lent its name to Akhenaten. It was also called Amarna and was located on the east bank of the Nile River in what is now the Minya province of Egypt. While it once served as the capital, it was abandoned after Akhenaten's death in favor of Thebes, which was dedicated to the god Amon. Tutankhamun wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to traditional deities by choosing Thebes as the capital. As a result, Aten was ultimately 'put aside.'

"The Dazzling Aten" Discovery

Marked as a generic future excavation site in 1979, when archeologists first uncovered the Theban Necropolis, they tried to find the tomb of Tutankhamon but found Aten accidentally, too. Many people have tried to find this city and have yet to learn it was already on the map. Part of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor Aten was initially dubbed "the Rise of Aten" by archeologists when the excavation started in 2020. Experts still needed to figure out what they were unearthing. The Aten discovery was officially confirmed on the 8th of April 2021 by archeologist Zahi Hawass, marking the most important archeological discovery after the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Recognized as one of the greatest cities of that era, Aten includes industrial, residential, and administrative districts, as well as at least three palaces. It is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Thebes Necropolis. The renowned archaeologist Z. Hawass and his team have uncovered several rooms, numerous everyday objects, tools like jewelry, pottery, a large bakery, kitchens, and a cemetery. After three thousand years, the city has remained relatively well-preserved. Ongoing excavations continue, and this fascinating site may still surprise us.

History And Importance of Aten

Amenhotep III founds Aten 3,400 years ago (1,386–1,353 BCE). Named after the God Aten, this city became an important administrative and industrial center for its era. Mudbricks with zigzagging walls form distinct neighborhoods, which include a bakery, artistic, and industrial quarters. The Pharaoh Akhenaten gave huge relevancy to this city after the introduction of Atenism and made this city briefly a capital. Aten city was considered the home of Aten (the new god of the sun) that replaced all the others. A year later, though, Akhenaten moved the capital to the city of Amarna; Experts call this period of the eighteenth dynasty the Amarna Period.

After Akhenaten's death, Pharaoh Tutankhaton, whom many experts believe was Akhenaten's son, changed his name early in his reign to Tutankhamon (referencing the traditional sun god, Amon). Tutankhamon despised his father Akhenaten and made efforts to completely erase him and his religion from Egypt and its records. Today, the excavation of Aten has become a key part of understanding and uncovering these previously unclear details about that era; the hieroglyphic inscriptions found in the dynastic palace Malkata between Aten and Thebes provide important information about Akhenaten's largely forgotten heritage.

What many considered to be an irrelevant city revealed itself as a vital part of the puzzle of Ancient Egypt. From the ostracized father of Tutankhamon to the origins of Thebes. We have underlined that Aten was a short-lived capital but held immense importance in understanding the complete picture. We have shined a light on the dark secrets of Aten and the families of the Eighteenth Dynasty who ruled it. Ancient Egypt undoubtedly is one of the most intriguing subjects. With its iconic deities and fascinating culture, it never ceases to amaze. Today, excavations are still occurring, and we do not know what this fascinating site might offer.