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The History of Egypt Podcast

114: Building Amarna (Akhet-Aten)

The History of Egypt Podcast

Dominic Perry

Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 July 2019

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In regnal year 5, Akhenaten decreed the foundations of his new city devoted to the sun god. One year later, the King returned to perform ceremonies and to review what had been completed... Date: c.1357 BCE (regnal year 6) King: Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re) Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten) Cities: Amarna (Akhet-Aten) Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music by Keith Zizza (www.keithzizza.com). Music by Michael Levy (www.ancientlyre.com). Select Bibliography: Betsy M. Bryan, “New Kingdom Sculpture,” in Allan B. Lloyd, A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 2 volumes, 2010. Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014. Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012. Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005. William J. Murnane, Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995. T.E. Peet and C. Leonard Woolley, The City of Akhenaten Part I: Excavations of 1921 and 1922 at El-Amarneh, 1923. J.D.S Pendlebury, The City of Akhenaten Part III: The Central City and The Official Quarters, 2 volumes, 1951. Available at Archive.org: Volume I: Texts & Volume II: Plates Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie, Tell el Amarna, 1894. Available at Archive.org. Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984. Donald B. Redford, “Akhenaten: New Theories, Old Facts,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 369 (2013): 9-34. Patrick C. Salland, Palatial Paintings and Programs: The Symbolic World of the Egyptian Palace in the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE), Unpublished PhD Dissertation, 2015. Fran Weatherhead, Wall-Paintings from the King’s House at Amarna, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 81 (1995): 95-113. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the History of Egypt podcast.

0:15.3

Episode 114, Seeds of a City.

0:19.4

Today, we begin the first of many episodes exploring the ancient

0:23.2

city of Ackett Aten, better known as Omana. Home of Akanatin and Nefertiti, Amana is a fascinating

0:31.9

place, a rare example of an ancient Egyptian city, built brand new from the ground up.

0:39.1

This episode is supported by everyone who joined me on the first history of Egypt podcast tour

0:44.7

and everyone who will join me for the second. If you are interested in visiting Egypt,

0:51.1

I've put together a wonderful itinerary for our 2020 tour, a safe and secure

0:56.3

trip that just so happens to include the very site I'm discussing today. I would love to take

1:02.4

you to Amana and show you the city of Akanatan in its natural setting. Consider joining me in

1:08.4

the land of the pharaohs. Just follow the link in the episode description for more information.

1:13.8

To everyone listening, thank you for joining me. I hope you enjoy the show.

1:22.4

The year was 1357 BCE. Reginal year 6 under the majesty of Amunhotep 4th, king of...

1:33.3

No, hold up. Year 6 under Akanatin, king of Upper and Lower Egypt. The pharaoh had recently changed his name, and now ruled as one devoted to the service of his favourite sun god.

1:47.0

Akanatin, one who is effective for Aten, was entering phase two of his strange historical journey.

1:55.0

Last time we saw how the Pharaoh decided that Thebes, city of Amun-Reae, would no longer suffice as a home.

2:02.7

We saw how the king left that city, scouting out new locations, until he found one on the

2:08.6

east bank of the Nile.

2:10.3

At a place in Middle Egypt, Akanaten chose a location free of external influences, where he

2:16.8

could commission a magnificent residence

2:19.2

for himself, his queen and his god.

2:22.3

This was the place called Aket Aten, or Horizon of the Aten.

...

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