2. Background and Rise to Prominence
2.1 Family Background and Evidence for Early Years
Family background
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) was born at the height of Egypt’s ‘Golden Age.’ He was the second son of Amenhotep III and his chief wife Queen Tiye and was probably born at Memphis during the early years of his father’s reign. He was not expected to rule but became crown prince following the premature death of his older brother, Thutmose. Through his father, Akhenaten was related to the great kings of early 18th dynasty but historians disagree about the origins of his mother. There are several possibilities:
– Her parents Yuya and Thuya were commoners without titles
– She was a member of one of the most influential families from Akhmim in Upper Egypt
– She was the niece of Queen Mutemweya
– Her family originally came from Nubia
Early Years
Little is known about Akhenaten’s early years because of a lack of evidence. He does not appear in relief scenes from the reign of Amenhotep III and seems to have been excluded from the royal court. However, as a crown prince it is believed that he:
– Was brought up at Memphis
– Inherited the title High priest of Ptah on his brother’s death
– Was trained as a priest at the Temple of Re at Heliopolis
– Lived in Thebes during the last 10 years of his father’s reign
– Resided in the palace at Malkata in Western Thebes where a wine-jar seal referring to the ‘estate of the true king’s son Amenhotep’ has been found.
Evidence – Memphis and Heliopolis
Most historians believe that Akhenaten spent his early years at Memphis and was educated as a priest at Heliopolis. The following evidence has been used to support this view:
– His devotion to the Mnevis Bull cult of Memphis
– Construction of a palace and Temple of the Aten at Heliopolis
– A relief of Akhenaten and his family worshipping in the Temple of the Aten at Heliopolis
– The large number of officials from Heliopolis who later joined the royal court at Akhenaten
– The title ‘Chief priest of Re-Horakhte Rejoicing in the Horizon in his name Shu which is in Aten’ used early in his reign
– Similarities between the worship of Re and the worship of the Aten Redford, however, argues that Akhenaten never resided or received training at Heliopolis and that the priests there had no influence on his religious beliefs.
Ascent to the throne
Akhenaten was probably 16 or 17 years old when he came to the throne. It is unclear whether this took place immediately after the death of Amenhotep III or whether he shared co-regency with his father for a period of time. Co-regency may have been necessary for two reasons:
– Akhenaten was not the eldest son of Amenhotep III and needed to strengthen his claim to the throne
– Amenhotep III was in poor physical health
Historian’s stances on the issues of co-regency
For – Aldred and Hayes;
Against – Redford and Gardiner
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) was born at the height of Egypt’s ‘Golden Age.’ He was the second son of Amenhotep III and his chief wife Queen Tiye and was probably born at Memphis during the early years of his father’s reign. He was not expected to rule but became crown prince following the premature death of his older brother, Thutmose. Through his father, Akhenaten was related to the great kings of early 18th dynasty but historians disagree about the origins of his mother. There are several possibilities:
– Her parents Yuya and Thuya were commoners without titles
– She was a member of one of the most influential families from Akhmim in Upper Egypt
– She was the niece of Queen Mutemweya
– Her family originally came from Nubia
Early Years
Little is known about Akhenaten’s early years because of a lack of evidence. He does not appear in relief scenes from the reign of Amenhotep III and seems to have been excluded from the royal court. However, as a crown prince it is believed that he:
– Was brought up at Memphis
– Inherited the title High priest of Ptah on his brother’s death
– Was trained as a priest at the Temple of Re at Heliopolis
– Lived in Thebes during the last 10 years of his father’s reign
– Resided in the palace at Malkata in Western Thebes where a wine-jar seal referring to the ‘estate of the true king’s son Amenhotep’ has been found.
Evidence – Memphis and Heliopolis
Most historians believe that Akhenaten spent his early years at Memphis and was educated as a priest at Heliopolis. The following evidence has been used to support this view:
– His devotion to the Mnevis Bull cult of Memphis
– Construction of a palace and Temple of the Aten at Heliopolis
– A relief of Akhenaten and his family worshipping in the Temple of the Aten at Heliopolis
– The large number of officials from Heliopolis who later joined the royal court at Akhenaten
– The title ‘Chief priest of Re-Horakhte Rejoicing in the Horizon in his name Shu which is in Aten’ used early in his reign
– Similarities between the worship of Re and the worship of the Aten Redford, however, argues that Akhenaten never resided or received training at Heliopolis and that the priests there had no influence on his religious beliefs.
Ascent to the throne
Akhenaten was probably 16 or 17 years old when he came to the throne. It is unclear whether this took place immediately after the death of Amenhotep III or whether he shared co-regency with his father for a period of time. Co-regency may have been necessary for two reasons:
– Akhenaten was not the eldest son of Amenhotep III and needed to strengthen his claim to the throne
– Amenhotep III was in poor physical health
Historian’s stances on the issues of co-regency
For – Aldred and Hayes;
Against – Redford and Gardiner
2.2 Marriage: Queens and Consorts
Akhenaten is believed to have had at least three wives. His chief wife was Nefertiti, whom he probably married before becoming king. Little is known about her origin and historians disagree about her origins. Some theories are:
- She was not of Egyptian birth since her name translated as ‘the beautiful woman has come.’
- She may have been the Mitannian princess Tadukhepa
- She was the daughter of Ay, brother of Queen Tiye, whose title, ‘Father of the God’ was often bestowed on the father-in-law of the king
- She was the sister of Akhenaten
Akhenaten and Nefertiti had six daughters together and he referred to her in inscriptions as ‘the mistress of his happiness’. Evidence suggests she enjoyed unprecedented political and religious status, particularly at Akhetaten, and may have ruled as Akhenaten’s coIregent in the later years of his reign.
Despite his obvious love for Nefertiti, Akhenaten also had a secondary wife, Kiya. Only a few details about her are known:
- She came from a prominent family with connections to the royal court
- She held the unique title ‘the greatly beloved wife of the king’ indicating she had produced children by Akhenaten
- She is thought to have been the mother of Smenkhkare and Tutankhamun
- A sun shade temple was built for her by Akhenaten in the Maru-Aten
- Chapels for her cult were constructed near the Great Temple of the Aten at Akhetaten
- Her name appears on items found in the North palace and the Great palace
- The last known reference to her was in year 12
- Her monuments were altered at a later date to show the name of Akhenaten’s daughter Meritaten
- Her coffin and canopic jars may have been those discovered in tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings
Akhenaten also married a Mitannian princess Tadukhepa, who was a member of Amenhotep III’s harem. She is referred to in letters between the Mitannian king and Akhenaten but nothing is known of her life. Some historians have suggested that Tadukhepa and Kiya were actually the same person but there is also no evidence to support this claim. It has also been argued that Akhenaten married his daughter Ankhesenpaaten.
- She was not of Egyptian birth since her name translated as ‘the beautiful woman has come.’
- She may have been the Mitannian princess Tadukhepa
- She was the daughter of Ay, brother of Queen Tiye, whose title, ‘Father of the God’ was often bestowed on the father-in-law of the king
- She was the sister of Akhenaten
Akhenaten and Nefertiti had six daughters together and he referred to her in inscriptions as ‘the mistress of his happiness’. Evidence suggests she enjoyed unprecedented political and religious status, particularly at Akhetaten, and may have ruled as Akhenaten’s coIregent in the later years of his reign.
Despite his obvious love for Nefertiti, Akhenaten also had a secondary wife, Kiya. Only a few details about her are known:
- She came from a prominent family with connections to the royal court
- She held the unique title ‘the greatly beloved wife of the king’ indicating she had produced children by Akhenaten
- She is thought to have been the mother of Smenkhkare and Tutankhamun
- A sun shade temple was built for her by Akhenaten in the Maru-Aten
- Chapels for her cult were constructed near the Great Temple of the Aten at Akhetaten
- Her name appears on items found in the North palace and the Great palace
- The last known reference to her was in year 12
- Her monuments were altered at a later date to show the name of Akhenaten’s daughter Meritaten
- Her coffin and canopic jars may have been those discovered in tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings
Akhenaten also married a Mitannian princess Tadukhepa, who was a member of Amenhotep III’s harem. She is referred to in letters between the Mitannian king and Akhenaten but nothing is known of her life. Some historians have suggested that Tadukhepa and Kiya were actually the same person but there is also no evidence to support this claim. It has also been argued that Akhenaten married his daughter Ankhesenpaaten.