Hello everyone, Dominic here.

This episode of the History of Egypt podcast is a summary episode.

We've spent a few months immersed in the second phase of King Arcanaten's reign, and it's

time to wrap up some of the highlights and major trends.

Today we explore the events which occurred between Regnal Year 6 and Regnal year 12 of this

Pharaoh's rule.

Recapping quickly, the first phase of Arcanaten's reign, years 1 to 5, saw the king appear

on the throne as Amun Hotep 4th. He married Queen Nefertiti and began building monuments

to his sun god Aten at Karnak. Constructing large sanctuaries which have been identified

and excavated, the king filled them

with elaborate statues of himself and his wife. These statues and the two-dimensional art

which decorated the temple's walls showcased a new vision of Pharaoh. The luptuous, prosperous,

and perhaps, laden with symbols of fertility, Amunhotep IV revealed something new, an artistic

identity that would become famous the world over.

Pharaoh's changes to the official cults were sweeping.

In a speech recorded at the Temple of Karnak, the young monarch declared that many of the old gods had stopped.

They were no longer meaningful or necessary.

Simultaneously, the king diverted huge resources to supplying his new temples.

Goods, offerings and people all flowed to the Aten sanctuaries in vast quantities.

It seems that the Pharaoh was playing for big prizes.

Such movements may have led to resistance, or perhaps the Pharaoh realized that he needed

to move elsewhere to make his vision a full reality.

...