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The monotheistic period |
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The monotheistic period has its influence in the Egyptian mythology. Mainly, in the reign of Akhenaten worship of the Egyptian sun god Aten was focused on. Aten appears with a sun disk. At Amarna Akhenaten constructed temples for Aten. The king also built his new capital at Amarna with the motto that Aten might not be tainted by the influence of any other deities.
Atenism in Egypt:
Atenism is one of the most prominent monotheistic religions that have its dominance in Egypt. Atenism also became the state religion of Egypt in the 14th century BC. This religion enjoyed supreme prominence and those Pharaohs who were in opposition to Atenism were erased from the Egyptian history. Tutankhamun the son of Akhenaten was not given prominence in the Egyptian list of Pharaohs for his opposing attitude to Atenism.
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Political reasons behind the monotheistic period in Egypt:
There were many political reasons behind the reforms of Akhenaten in the religion of the Egyptian people. During the reign of Akhenaten god Amun got extreme popularity and the priests of Amun gained dominance even over the pharaohs. They were more powerful and wealthy than the emperors of Egypt. One of the political reasons might be to decrease the influence and dominance of the Amun priests in the Egyptian society.
Survival of this religious change in Egypt and decline of Atenism:
The religious change that was brought by Akhenaten in Egypt however, lasted till the survival of the king.
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According to many other historical records there were some political reasons behind the decline of Atenism in Greek. Akhenaten had neglected different matters of his state as he was completely merged in his new religion. This negligence of his duty creates disorders among his Egyptian emperor. Moreover, some personal cause of Akhenaten also caused in the ineffectiveness of the king to govern his state properly.
Tutankhamun the son of Akhenaten succeeded his father's throne at tender age of eight and was completely under the influence of a priest Amun. The child king was even forced to take some drastic actions including the destruction of the temples of Aten that were built by Akhenaten. Finally, the polytheistic religion or pantheon was reinstated in Egypt after the death of Akhenaten. But the Egyptians were believed to have relations with some monotheistic cultures specially that of the Hebrews.
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