What was the Aten religion?
Aton, also spelled Aten, in ancient Egyptian religion, a sun god, depicted as the solar disk emitting rays terminating in human hands, whose worship briefly was the state religion.
What did Aten symbolize?
Aten was depicted as a disk representing the sun. Rays of light ending in hands extended from the disk and reached down to the king, his family, and the natural world. Unlike other Egyptian gods, Aten was never pictured in human form.
Who was the god Aten?
The Aten, or sun disc, was worshipped as the main deity. This is why he is sometimes referred to as the ‘heretic pharaoh’ and sometimes characterised as the ‘first individual in human history’. This period is marked by dramatic changes in iconography around religious observance and the representation of the human body.
How old is Aten god?
History of Aten before Akhenaten The word Aten (Ancient Egyptian: jtn), meaning “circle,” “disc,” and later “sun disc,” is first found in the 24th century BC Abusir Papyri, discovered in the mortuary temple of the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Neferirkare Kakai.
Who is the god Anubis?
Egyptian civilization – Gods and goddesses – Anubis. Anubis was a jackal-headed deity who presided over the embalming process and accompanied dead kings in the afterworld. When kings were being judged by Osiris, Anubis placed their hearts on one side of a scale and a feather (representing Maat) on the other.
When did Aten become the god of Egypt?
However, it was in the 15th century BC that Aten really entered posteriority by becoming the sole god of Egypt throughout the reign of Akhenaten, the so-called “heretic” pharaoh. The history of the “Cult of Aten” advocated by the pharaoh Akhenaten (who will progressively establish the replacement of all the gods by the unique and almighty Aten)
What was the cult of Aten like in ancient Egypt?
The principles of Aten’s cult were recorded on the rock walls of tombs of Amarna. Significantly different from other ancient Egyptian temples, temples of Aten were open-roofed to allow the rays of the sun. Doorways had broken lintels and raised thresholds. No statues of Aten were allowed; those were seen as idolatry.
What did the Aten religion say about night?
In the religion of Aten (Atenism), night is a time to fear. Work is done best when the sun, Aten, is present. Aten cares for every creature, and created a Nile river in the sky (rain) for the Syrians. Aten created all countries and people.
Who was the embodiment of the worship of Aten?
Etymology. Some have interpreted this to mean that Akhenaten was the embodiment of Aten, and the worship of Aten is directly worship of Akhenaten; but others have taken this as an indicator of Aten as the supreme ruler even over the current reigning royalty.