![]() ![]() ![]() It was not until a friend, Deni of Anubis Records, made the suggestion to me in such a way as to fire my imagination.Īlthough exact details of Akhenaten's overthrow, deposition and execution are scarce, it does not take a genius to figure out that his demise at the ghands of the old priesthood of Amen-Ra was certainly long-awaited and most likely gruesome. Every effort was amde to expunge his name from the records and return Egypt to religious orthodoxy.įor several years, many people have suggested that I write a Nile song concerning Akhenaten, but I have stayed away from it, not only because of the much-vaunted Philip Glass Opera concerning Akhenaten, but also because I was unsure of how to treat the subject matter given the usual Nile lyrical stance, and how to interpret Akhenaten's vain and ill-fated attempt to reform the old ways to a new Monotheism. At home, internal organizaion had begun to crumble, and the counter-revolutionary insurgencies - incited by the old deposed priesthoods - sought to restore the old order.)Īkhenaten was soon overthrown, proclaimed a heretic and a disastrous ruler. (In the Amarna Letters, the diplomatic correspondence found in the ruins at El Amarna, vassal Princes begged in vain for Egyptian aid against the predatory ambitions of the region's other great powers. Not only that, but the military became weak, and the borders unstable. His rule was weak, and with his exclusive devotion to his religious/mystical interests, internal political strife and rebellion ran unchecked.Īkhenaten has been blamed for allowing Egypt's empire in Syria to disintegrate while he pursued his religous reforms, as well as Egypt's decline in overall influence in the region. In additioon, the names of all the old official deities were erased - Aten became the exclusive royal god.Īkhenaten's reign was not to last. Akhenaten closed down all the other temples, disbanded their priesthoods and diverted their revenue to the Aten's cult. In Year 6 of his reign, Akhenaten moved the religious and political capital fo Egypt from Thebes to a new site (commonly called Amarna), in large part due to the inability of his monotheistic cult to exist alongside the other long-established and institutionalized hods of Egypt. Akhenaten was most likely prompted by political, as well as religious motives, as this may have been an attempt to curb the far-reaching political influence of the priesthood of Amen-Ra. Akhenaten, as the god's sole earthly representative, became virtually interchangeable with Aten, and spent his days communing with the god. Akhenaten regarded Aten as unique and omnipotent - a universal, supreme and loving deity symbolized by the life-giving Sun. The son of Amenophis III and Tiye, Amenophis IV changed his name to Akhenaten (which most likely means "Servant of the Aten") in Year 5 of his reign, indicating his allegiance to Aten (a creator god symbolized by the Sun's disc).Īkhenaten's unique contribution to Egypt was to ensure that Aten's cult approached a form fo Monotheism. ["Cast Down the Heretic" concerns the Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt from 1379 to 1362 B.C. Overthrown, Ended, Hacked in Pieces, Slaughtered, Butchered. Thou Shalt Drive Thy Teeth into Thine Own Body. Nevermore Shall You Breathe or Procreate. Uadjit Shutteth Thee in the Pits of Burning. ![]() Sekhmet Teareth Out Thy Bowels and Casteth Them into Flames. Sick Shalt Thou be at the Mention of Thine Own Name. Khnemu Draggeth Thy Spawn to the Block of Slaughter. Those Thou Hast Driven Out Have Risen Against Thee. The Ancient Ones Turn Their Backs upon Thee. Nevermore Shalt Thou Emerge from Thy Den. They Spit Upon Thee and Thy Rebellion And Turn Their Back upon Thee.Ĭursed Art Thou, Impaled Thou Art, Flayed Art Thou. The Great Company of Gods Gather in Retribution. Thou Fallest Backwards as Thou Retreateth Like unto Apep. The Sons of Heru Smash You with Their Blows. Thy Bones are Broken to Splinters Thy Vertebrae are Severed." ![]() He Damneth Thee and Driveth Hooks into Thy Body. Blasphemer, Heretic, Defiler of the Sacred Ones. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |