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"Thou arisest beauteous in the horizon of heaven, O living Aten, beginner of life when thou didst shine forth in the eastern horizon, and didst fill every land with thy beauty. Thou art comely, great, sparkling, and high above every land, and thy rays enfold the lands to the limit of all that thou hast made, thou being the sun and thou reachest their limits and subjectest them to thy beloved son. Being far off, yet thy rays are upon the earth. Thou art in men's faces, yet thy movements are unseen. When thou settest in the western horizon, the earth is in darkness after the manner of death. The night is passed in the bedchamber, heads covered, no eye can see its fellow. Their belongings are stolen, even though they be under their heads, and they perceive it not. Every lion is come forth from its lair and all snakes bite. Darkness is (the sole) illumination while the earth is in silence, their maker resting in his horizon.

Historic Context At the apex of cultural and political power for ancient dynastic Egypt, there exists a significant social anomoly, shrouded in complex shadows. The period of high Egyptian civilization is referred to today as the New Kingdom. The time frame contained within this epoch spans from (aprox) 1540 -1070 BCE. Of the three dynasties within this period, it is the Eighteenth which is most responsible for Egypt's ascendancy. At the peak of dominance, Akhenaton, also called Amenhotep IV, pharaoh of Egypt from about 1350 to 1334 BC. The last important ruler of the 18th Dynasty and the first historical figure to establish a religion based on the concept of monotheism, Akhenaton established the cult of Aton, or Aten, the sun god. He moved his capital to a new city, ordered the obliteration of all traces of the religion of his ancestors, and fought bitterly against the powerful priests of the god Amon, or Amen. This religious revolution profoundly influenced Egyptian artists, who turned to a much more realistic representation of nature. After his death, the old polytheistic religion revived, and Egyptian art once more became ritualized.

Akhenaton (ca. 1350-1334 BCE), the grandson of Hatshepsut, came to the throne with the name Amenhotep IV. He appears to have had a mystic experience which convinced him that there was only one god, Aton, god of the sun-disc, and that this All-Powerful and Loving Source of All had chosen him and his wife Nefertiti to become his special devotees through whom the people of Egypt might also worship the Power of Creation.. Henceforth, he called himself Akhenaton (rendered in English with numerous spelling variants) which means “the one who represents (or acts for) Aton.” He considered Aton a universal god, concerned with all of humanity.

Mural depicting Akhnaton worshiping the Aton

The short reign of Akhenaten in the 18th dynasty was one of the most intriguing periods of Ancient Egyptian history: we have a pharaoh who banned the old gods in favour of worship of the One, Aten; the mysterious disappearance of his beautiful Queen Nefertiti; the rise and fall of a new capital city within two decades. Visit the mysteries here. Egyptian boundary marker depicting Akhnaton and Nefertiti worshiping Aton. One of Europe's great thinkers particularly affected by the abundant mysteries being uncovered in Egypt, was Sigmund Freud. The founder of modern day Psychoanalysis spent many years studying ancient Egypt. Toward the end of his life, after nearly two decades of research, Freud published what would become his final book. It was titled 'Moses and Monotheism'. Here Freud investigated several unorthodox theories regarding the true histories of Moses and the roots of Judaism and Christianity Supported by historical facts, Freud concluded that Moses had been an Egyptian who brought out of his native country the doctrine which was given to his followers, thus forming the foundation of Judaism. Freud places Moses in Egypt, as an initiate of the Atonreligion of Pharaoh Akhnaton. Although, one of the most significant of Egypt's ancient royals, Akhnaton stands, to this day, as one of history's great enigmas. Although, he was not the central figure, the inclusion of him in Freud's book would add to a growing interest in this hidden king.

For more than three thousand years the world knew little or nothing about this important, fascinating figure, described, after his rediscovery, as: ". . . the first individual in Human history." Such a critical persona, in the understanding of ancient Egypt . . . Yet, so much about him remains a mystery. The primary reason for this absence of information is nothing less than a systematic obliteration and suppression of Akhnaton's memory from Egyptian history. However, there is hope of his true story being known at last! Ironically, some of the very methods intended to hide the memory of Akhnaton, actually served to preserve the records of his life and religion through the three passing millennia. The burying of images and art of the Aton period within structures of his successors, is one such legacy to modern day researchers.

Historic Questions Still Debated Regarding the Amarna Era Did Akhnaton have an older brother, Tutmosis, if so, what was his fate? Did Akhnaton ever rule as co-regent with his father Amenophis III?

Where is the homeland of Nefertiti? Just how radical and original was Akhnaton's monotheistic faith? Did Akhnaton suffer an affliction which left him physically deformed?

There is evidence of Egyptian presence, from this period, which has been discovered within the Sinai. These artifacts include personal items from members of Akhnaton's family. Here we find strong justification for seeking a stronger connection to Moses. The story of Akhnaton does not, however, conclude with the legendary Lawgiver of the Hebrews! Several fascinating theories are now linked to this mysterious figure. One of these newer hypothesis, is that Moses may not have been, simply, an initiate of Akhnaton, but, the pharaoh himself. For, although the tomb of the Egyptian king has been discovered, there is no evidence of it having ever been occupied by the pharaoh. This naturally leads to the question, if he did not die in Egypt, where did this Monotheist go with his religion?

For example, Dr. Theaux has collected data to support a further correspondence among Akhnaton, Moses, and the legends of Oedipus of Greece. His theories could lead to revelations that would challenge the very foundations of accepted Western tradition. Standing, as he does, at important crossroads in World History, Akhnaton's lost story has only just begun to be uncovered. It is Earthlore's intent to explore all aspects of this mystery, and to present what we find before you. Perhaps a missing piece to this shadowy puzzle is waiting for one such as yourself to decipher it from a new erspective!

AKHENATON'S GREAT HYMN TO ATON as rendered by Sir Alan Gardiner (in: Egypt of the Pharaohs, Oxford 1961, p.225f); cf psalm 104

Production Credits:

Theme Editor  - Francis Lewis  —   Primary Text   -  Rhey Cedron
Art Direction  -  Jonathan Cade   —  Theme  Producer  -  Mark Nelson
Principal Photography  -  Rhey Cedron  —   Art Research  -  Malcom Hurrell 
Research & Production Asst'  -  Clara Bazett,  Henry Craig,  Joan Flandrin

Queries:  production@elore.com

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