Akhenaten and Tutankhamun: Revolution and Restoration

by David P. Silverman, Josef W. Wegner, Jennifer Houser Wegner

Egypt's eighteenth dynasty, a period of empire building, was also for a short time the focus of a religious revolution. Now called the Amarna Period (1353-1322 BCE), after the site of an innovative capital city that was the center of the new religion, it included the reigns of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten and his presumed son, the boy king Tutankhamun.

Three Penn Egyptologists examine the concept of royal power and demonstrate how Akhenaten established, projected, and maintained his vision of it. They investigate how and why this unique pharaoh made fundamental changes in the social contract between himself and his subjects on one side, and between his new solar god, the Aten, and himself on the other. The authors also look at the radical religion, politics, and art, he introduced to Egypt as well as at the consequences of his actions after his death, including how his successors, most notably, Tutankhamun, Egypt's most famous pharaoh, dealt with the restoration of traditional ways. Why did this reversal take place? Could a youth effect such changes without significant help?

In concise and readable form, this generously illustrated volume takes a fresh approach to a most fascinating period in Egyptian history. It deals with such topics as the evolution of Akhenaten's ideology and the concepts surrounding the foundation, construction, and use of his innovative city and its unique palaces, temples, and houses. Egypt's empire, the role of its women, its relations with other nations of the ancient world, and the remarkable place both Akhenaten and Tutankhmun hold in history are also among other issues discussed. An epilogue recaps how Amarna's modern discovery helped solve the mysteries surrounding this city, its unique founder, and the aftermath of his revolution.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Egypt, Egyptology

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jo Burl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book in 2006 when it was first published, prior to the DNA testing that was performed on some the mummies. The authors speculate on the parentage of Tutankhamen, and of course they take their best shot, speculating that Akhenaten and an unknown woman were the parents. Today we know that the mummy from KV55, a son of Amenhotep III and the Younger Lady from KV 35, a daughter of Amenhotep III, are his parents. I can't help wondering if KV 55 is Smenkare, and if so, if most of Tut's childhood may have been spent in Memphis or Thebes. The authors of this book place him in Akhetaten prior to Akhenaten's death.

This was a very fast read written for the popular press. It's lavishly illustrated and "fun" to read, though there will not be any ground shaking news for most egyptophiles. Glad I read it, and it would be a good introduction to the Amarna period for the newbie.

[Gordon Eldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid, dispassionate summary if a fascinating period of Egyptian history. The book is structured into chapters which each deal with a different topic relating to the period, including; Akhenaten himself, Atenism, the palaces, rituals and daily life of the city of Akhenaten, the role of royal women, the fate of Egypt's empire during the Amarna years and the return to more traditional beliefs under Tutankhamun. The epilogue provides a succinct overview of how scholarly writings on the period have often been an artifact of the ethos of the writer and the period of writing as well as how opinions about the Amarna period have changed over time.

As a recent publication the book contains some important new evidence, such as the 2005 CT scan of the mummy of Tutankhamun, which showed that a head injury that had previously been considered a possible cause of death had in fact been a consequence of the mummification process.

In contrast to many of the books about this period of Egyptian history, this book does not attempt to argue for a particular portrayal of Akhenaten. Rather it provides a fairly concise survey of what is known about the Amarna age and of the various conjectures about the period scholars have made over the years. Readers who are looking for a cohesive argument which attempts to explain the events of the period will therefore be disappointed, but those looking for a dispassionate summary of events and evidence will find details included which are often omitted from other studies because they are not relevant to the author's argument.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures, but very little text and very vague. Good introduction to the period, but anyone whose already familiar with it won't learn anything new. As I said, though, the pictures are great!

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

did not like how the information was being presented/writing style