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Alternative use: the Aten asteroids, named after 2062 Aten

Aten (or Aton) was the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of Ra. He became the deity of the monotheistic — in fact, monistic — religion of Amenhotep IV, who took the name Akhenaten. The worship of Aten seems to have ceased shortly after Akhenaten's death. Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... Pantheism (Greek: πάν ( pan ) = all and θεός ( theos ) = God) literally means God is All and All is God. It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent abstract God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. ... Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities. ... Akh redirects here. ... In Egyptian mythology, Duat (also called Akert or Amenthes) is the underworld, where the sun traveled from west to east during the night and where dead souls were judged by Osiris, using a feather, representing Truth. ... Egyptian mythology or Egyptian religion is the succession of tentative beliefs held by the people of Egypt for over three thousand years, prior to major exposure to Christianity and Islam. ... Certain numbers were considered sacred, holy, or magical by the ancient Egyptians, particularly 2, 3, 4, 7, and their multiples and sums. ... The Ancient Egyptian offering formula, generally referred to as the ḥtp-dỉ-nsw formula by Egyptologists, was written in ancient Egypt as an offering for the deceased. ... Anubis was the ancient Egyptian god associated with mummification and burial rituals. ... due to technical limitations, this image is partly wrong, the glyphs should be larger, and one partly inside the other. ... --68. ... For other uses, see Amun (disambiguation). ... For the Stargate character, see Amonet (Stargate). ... For other uses, see Anubis (disambiguation). ... Anuket, depcited as a woman with a tall, plumed headdress In Egyptian mythology, Anuket (also spelled Anqet, and in Greek, Anukis) originally was the personification and goddess of the Nile river, in areas such as Elephantine, at the start of the Niles journey through Egypt, and in nearby regions... For other uses, see Apep (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Apis or Hapis (alternatively spelt Hapi-ankh), was a bull-deity worshipped in the Memphis region. ... History Atum (alternatively spelt Tem, Temu, Tum, and Atem) is an early deity in Egyptian mythology, whose cult centred on the Ennead of Heliopolis. ... In Egyptian mythology, Bast (also spelt Bastet, Ubasti, and Pasht) is an ancient goddess, worshipped at least since the Second Dynasty. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The god Bes. ... In Egyptian mythology, Chensit was the patron goddess of the twentieth nome of Lower Egypt. ... In Egyptian mythology, Chenti-cheti was a crocodile-god, though he was later represented as a falcon-god. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Geb (also spelt Seb, and Keb) was the personification of the earth, amongst the group who believed in the Ennead, a form of Egyptian mythology centred in Heliopolis, Since the Egyptians held that their underworld was literally that, under the earth, Geb was sometimes seen as containing the dead, or... Hapy, meaning runner, was a solar deity in Egyptian mythology, and the symbolisation of the annual flood of the Nile River, which deposited rich silt on the banks, allowing the Egyptians to grow crops. ... For other uses, see Hathor (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Heget (also Heqet, Heka, Heka) was a goddess of death and childbirth, depicted as a frog, a woman with a frogs head, or a frog on the end of a phallus. ... Ihy redirects here. ... ISIS (Image and Scanner Interface Specification) is an industry standard interface for image scanning technologies, developed by Pixel Translations in 1990 (today: EMC captiva). ... Khepri as a scarab beetle, pushing the sun across the sky In Egyptian mythology, Khepri (also spelt Khepera, Kheper, Chepri, Khepra) is the name of a minor god. ... Khnum on the right shown with his consort Menhit on the outside wall at the temple in Esna In Egyptian mythology, Khnum (also spelled Chnum, Knum, or Khnemu) was one of the earliest Egyptian gods, originally the god of the source of the Nile River. ... In Egyptian mythology, Chons (alternately Khensu, Khons, Khonsu or Khonshu) is a lunar deity, and a son of Amun and Mut. ... In Egyptian mythology, Kuk (also spelt Keku) was the deification of the primordial concept of darkness, in the Ogdoad cosmogony, his name meaning darkness. ... In Egyptian mythology, Maahes (also spelled Mihos, Miysis, Maihes, and Mahes) was a lion-god. ... For other uses, see Maat (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Mafdet (or Maftet) was an early panther-goddess, known as a destroyer of scorpions, snakes and other venomous animals. ... In Egyptian mythology, Menhit (she who massacres; also Menchit) was a lion-goddess of war. ... In Egyptian mythology, Meretseger (she who loves silence) was a cobra-goddess, the personification of the mountain which overlooked the Valley of the Kings, where the Pharaohs tombs were located. ... In Egyptian mythology, Mesenet was the goddess of childbirth and fate, and the creator of each childs Ka, or soul. ... For the roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, see Montu (roller coaster). ... The Egyptian God Min This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... In Egyptian mythology, Mnewer was a black bull in Heliopolis, worshipped as a symbol of fertility and as an oracle. ... For other uses, see Mut (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Naunet (or Nunet) is the goddess of the primordial, watery abyss of the underworld and one of the Ogdoad. ... Neith In Egyptian mythology, Neith (also known as Nit, Net and Neit) was a psychopomp, a goddess of war and the hunt and the patron deity of Sais, in the Western Delta. ... In Egyptian mythology, Nekhbet (of Nekheb) was an early, predynastic, local vulture-goddess, patron of the city of Nekheb. ... Nephthys In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys (spelled Nebet-het, and Nebt-het, in transliteration from Egyptian hieroglyphs) is one of the Ennead of Heliopolis, a daughter of Nut and Geb, and the sister/wife of Set. ... In Egyptian mythology, Nuit or Nut was the sky goddess, in contrast to most other mythologies, which usually have a sky father. ... For other uses, see Osiris (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Pakhet (also spelled Pachet, Pekhet, Phastet, and Pasht, Egyptian ), a solar deity with a desert cats head. ... Ptah also refers to the asteroid 5011 Ptah Ptah In Egyptian mythology, Ptah (also spelt Peteh) was the deification of the primordial mound in the Ennead cosmogony, which was more literally referred to as Ta-tenen (also spelt Tathenen), meaning risen land, or as Tanen, meaning submerged land. ... For other uses, see Ra (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In north Semitic mythology, Resheph was a god of plague and war. ... In Egyptian mythology, Satis (also spelt Satjit, Sates, and Sati) was the deification of the floods of the Nile River, and originated in the region around Aswan, the southern edge of Egypt. ... For other uses, see Sekhmet (disambiguation). ... In Egyptian mythology, Seker is a god of craftsmen, the dead and funerals. ... In Egyptian mythology, Serket (she who causes the throat to breathe) was a scorpion-goddess, patron of pharaohs, dead souls and canopic jars. ... Sobek (from the Temple of Kom Ombo) or Sebek, Sochet, Sobk, Sobki, Soknopais, and in Greek, Suchos) was the deification of crocodiles, and was originally a demon, as crocodiles were deeply feared in the nation so dependent on the Nile River. ... Set, in KV34 Set (also Setekh, Seth, etc) was originally a god of strength, war, storms, foreign lands (and foreigners) and deserts in Egyptian mythology. ... you fugly bitches! if you are reading this, you are gay! who ever wrote thatabove , i am going to sue you! In Egyptian mythology, Seshat (also spelt Sesat, Sesheta, and Seshata) was originally the deification of the concept of wisdom, and so became a goddess of writing, astronomy/astrology, architecture... In Egyptian mythology, Shu (meaning dryness and he who rises up) is one of the primordial gods, a personification of air, one of the Ennead of Heliopolis. ... Statue of Tawaret Tawaret (The Great One; also rendered as Taurt, Taueret, Ta-weret, Taweret, Thoeris, Opet, Apet, Rert, or Reret) was a popular deity in ancient Egyptian mythology. ... In Egyptian mythology, Tefnut is a goddess of water and fertility, indeed her name means moist waters (i. ... Thoth (Ramesseum, Luxor) Thoth (his Greek name derived from the Egyptian *, written by Egyptians as ) was considered one of the most important deities of the Egyptian pantheon, often depicted with the head of an ibis. ... In Egyptian mythology, Buto (papyrus colored--referring to the color of the cobra) was a snake (especially cobra) goddess and patron of the oracle in the city of the same name. ... Wadj-wer is an Egyptian fertility god whose name means the Great Green. Sometimes depicted in androgynous form, he is a personification of the Mediterranean Sea or of the major lakes of the Nile delta. ... 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The Book of the Netherworld is an important Ancient Egyptian funerary text of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom. ... Aten Atenism (or the Amarna heresy) is one of the earliest monotheistic religions, associated above all with the eighteenth dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, better known under the name he later adopted, Akhenaten. ... The Curse of the Pharaohs refers to the belief that any person who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh is placed under a curse whereby they will shortly die. ... Sol redirects here. ... Egyptian mythology or Egyptian religion is the succession of tentative beliefs held by the people of Egypt for over three thousand years, prior to major exposure to Christianity and Islam. ... For other uses, see Ra (disambiguation). ... For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity, or in the oneness of God. ... For other uses, see Monist (disambiguation). ... Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ... For other uses, see Akhenaten (disambiguation). ...

Overview

Pharaoh Akhenaten and his family adoring the Aten

Aten

Aten was the life-giving force of light. The full title of Akhenaten's god was The Rahorus who rejoices in the horizon, in his/her Name of the Light which is seen in the sun disc. (This is the title of the god as it appears on the numerous stelae which were placed to mark the boundaries of Akhenaten's new capital at Amarna, or "Akhetaten.") This lengthy name was often shortened to Ra-Horus-Aten or just Aten in many texts, but the god of Akhenaten raised to supremacy is considered a synthesis of very ancient gods viewed in a new and different way. Painting of the Aten from Amarna The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Painting of the Aten from Amarna The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... For other uses, see Akhenaten (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Ancient Egyptian funerary stela A stela (or stele) is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerary or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased inscribed, carved in relief or painted onto the slab. ... Amarna The site of Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna or incorrectly as Tel el-Amarna; see below) (Arabic: العمارنة al-‘amārnä) is located on the east bank of the Nile River in the modern Egyptian province of al-Minya, some 58 km (38 miles) south of the city of... For the linguistic term, see syncretism (linguistics). ...

Both Ra and Horus characteristics are part of the god, but the god is also considered to be both masculine and feminine simultaneously. All creation was thought to emanate from the god and to exist within the god. In particular, the god was not depicted in anthropomorphic (human) form, but as rays of light extending from the sun's disk. Furthermore, the god's name came to be written within a cartouche, along with the titles normally given to a Pharaoh, another break with ancient tradition. For other uses, see Ra (disambiguation). ... Ihy redirects here. ... For other uses, see Cartouche (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ...

The Aten, the sun-disk, first appears in texts dating to the 12th dynasty, in The Story of Sinuhe, where the deceased king is described as rising as god to the heavens and uniting with the sun-disk, the divine body merging with its maker.^[2] Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the Twelfth Dynasty. ... Unsolved problems in Egyptology: Was the Story of Sinuhe a myth or real? If it was real, did Sinuhe abandon his duty or was he a hero? The Story of Sinuhe is set in the time of the Pharaoh Amenemhat I, founder of the 12th dynasty of Egypt, and is...

Ra-Horus, more usually referred to as Ra-Herakhty (Ra, who is Horus of the two horizons), is a synthesis of two other gods, both of which are attested from very early on. During the Amarna period, this synthesis was seen as the invisible source of energy of the sun god, of which the visible manifestation was the Aten, the solar disk. Thus Ra-Horus-Aten was a development of old ideas which came gradually. The real change, as some see it, was the apparent abandonment of all other gods, above all Amun, and the introduction of monotheism by Akhenaten.^[3] The syncretism is readily apparent in the Great Hymn to the Aten in which Re-Herakhty, Shu and Aten are merged into the creator god.^[4] Others see Akhenaten as a practitioner of an Aten monolatry.^[5] Amarna The site of Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna or incorrectly as Tel el-Amarna; see below) (Arabic: العمارنة al-‘amārnä) is located on the east bank of the Nile River in the modern Egyptian province of al-Minya, some 58 km (38 miles) south of the city of... For other uses, see Amun (disambiguation). ... For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity, or in the oneness of God. ... The Great Hymn to the Aten was found in the tomb of Ay, in the rock tombs at Akhetaten. ... Shu may refer to: Scoville Heat Unit is a measurement of how hot a chile pepper is. ... In religion and philosophy, henotheism is a term coined by Max Müller, meaning belief in, and possible worship of, multiple gods, one of which is supreme. ...

Royal Titulary

During the Amarna Period, the Aten was given a Royal Titulary (as he was considered to be king of all), with his names drawn in a cartouche. There were two forms of this title, the first had the names of other gods, and the second later one which was more 'singular' and referred only to the Aten himself. The early form has Re-Horakhti who rejoices in the Horizon, in his name Shu which is the Aten. The later form has Re, ruler of the two horizons who rejoices in the Horizon, in his name of light which is the Aten. For other uses, see Cartouche (disambiguation). ... Otherwise known as RÄ“-Herakhte. An aspect of the Egyptian solar deity, Aten. ... In Egyptian mythology, Shu (meaning dryness and he who rises up) is one of the primordial gods, a personification of air, one of the Ennead of Heliopolis. ...

Small Temple of the Aten at Akhetaten

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 526 pixelsFull resolution‎ (863 × 567 pixels, file size: 74 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 526 pixelsFull resolution‎ (863 × 567 pixels, file size: 74 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Variant Vocalizations

The name as been vocalized as Aton, Atonu, Itni, Itn, and Adon. ^[6]

Variant Translations

• Because high relief and low relief illustrations of the Aten show it with a curved surface (see for example the photograph illustrating this article), the late scholar Hugh Nibley insisted that a more correct translation would be globe, orb or sphere, rather than disk. The three-dimensional spherical shape of the Aten is even more evident when such reliefs are viewed in person, rather than merely in photographs.
• There is a possibility that Aten's three-dimensional spherical shape depicts an eye. In the other early monotheistic religion Zoroastrianism the sun is called Ahura Mazda's eye.
• These two theories are compatible with each other, since an eye is an orb.

Hugh Winder Nibley (born March 27, 1910 in Portland, Oregon - died February 24, 2005) was one of Mormonisms most celebrated scholars. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... Ahura Mazda () is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, hence God. ...

Names from the Aten

• Akhenaton: "Effective spirit of the Aten."
• Akhetaten: "Horizon of the Aten," Akhenaton's capital. The archaeological site is known as Amarna or Tell el-Amarna.
• Meriaton: "Beloved of the Aten."
• Tutankhaton: "The Aten is the Life of Toth." Original name of Tutankhamon.

Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ... Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna) is the name given to an extensive archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty (c. ... Amarna The site of Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna or incorrectly as Tel el-Amarna; see below) (Arabic: العمارنة al-‘amārnä) is located on the east bank of the Nile River in the modern Egyptian province of al-Minya, some 58 km (38 miles) south of the city of... Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna) is the name given to an extensive archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty (c. ... Tutankhamun (alternate transcription Tutankhamen), named Tutankhaten early in his life, was Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt (1334 BC/1333 BC - 1323 BC), during the period known as the New Kingdom. ...

See also

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Great Hymn to Aten

• Moses
• Atenism
• Great Hymn to the Aten
• Kefa
• Makhshava
• Shiblon
• Amun
• Pharaoh of the Exodus

Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... The original Wikisource logo. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... Aten Atenism (or the Amarna heresy) is one of the earliest monotheistic religions, associated above all with the eighteenth dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, better known under the name he later adopted, Akhenaten. ... The Great Hymn to the Aten was found in the tomb of Ay, in the rock tombs at Akhetaten. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Makhshava is a Hebrew word commonly translated as thought. ... The Book of Mormon is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, named after the prophet/historian Mormon, who according to the text compiled most of the book. ... For other uses, see Amun (disambiguation). ... In the Bible, the name of the Pharaoh of the Exodus is not given. ...

References

Citations

1. ^ Hieroglyphs can be found in (Collier and Manley p. 29)
2. ^ M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.1, 1980, p.223
3. ^ Jan Assmann, Religion and Cultural Memory: Ten Studies, Stanford University Press 2005, p.59
4. ^ M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.2, 1980, p.96
5. ^ Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, Routledge 2000, ISBN 0415185491, pp.36ff.
6. ^ Oedipus and Akhnaton, by I. Velikovsky

General

• Collier, Mark and Manley, Bill. How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: 2nd Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.

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