39:56 - 44:56
5m
Akhenaton tries to remove Egypt's old gods from memory, removing the name of Amun from writings and monuments around the country. This goes as far as even defacing his own father's name wherever it occurs. Despite this, when he dies, Atenism seems to go with him. Artisans, bureaucrats, and priests return to Thebes as if Amarna never existed.
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An enormous statue of the Pharaoh Akhenaten is flown from Egypt to Europe for display in a museum. Akhenaton is distinct in ancient Egyptian history for attempting to radically change religious beliefs.
Amenhotep IV redesigns depictions of the royal family, seemingly celebrating ugliness. This break with tradition foreshadows even more changes of Amenhotep, most namely the abandonment of the old Egyptian gods. He begins a cult of an exclusive god, Aten, calling himself Akhenaton meaning one who is beneficial to Aten.
Akhenaton's new order and philosophy appear to be settling in successfully. Hymns are written to the sun, the one divine force which Akhenaten's monotheism honors. These will later have parallels in the most important monotheist text -- the Bible.
Akhenaton's attack on Amun comes full circle as Egypt turns on his memory. He and his grand capital at Amarna are written off the historical. Egypt's experiment with Aten and monotheism is no more.
Explores the contest and rivalry between the Egyptians in Upper Egypt and the occupying Hyksos, who had more advanced technology, in Lower Egypt.