Bible Dictionaries
Akhenaton

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ahkh' ehn ah' tuhn) Egyptian Pharaoh (1370-1353 B.C.) Originally named Amenhotep IV, he made a radical religious switch from worshiping Amon to serving Aton, the sun disc. Often referred to as the first monotheist, he probably did not go so far as denying the existence of all other gods. Later Egyptian writers called him blasphemer and criminal. He married the famous Nefertiti, known for her beauty, and was succeeded by his son-in-law Tutankhaten, known today as King Tut. He moved his capital northwards from Thebes to Akhentaton at Tell El-Amarna. During his reign he received the reports and requests from city-state rulers in Palestine that archaeologists call the Amarna letters. These show the lack of unity and harmony in Palestine which Joshua found when he entered to conquer Palestine.