-
Amenhotep IV is born, to this day he is one of the most controversial figures of the ancient world. -
Amenhotep IV's (Akhenaten's) father dies, leaving the crown for Amenhotep IV to take. After the death of his elder brother Thutmose, Amenhotep IV became the crown prince and when his father died, he was the rightful ruler of Egypt. -
Akhenaten marries Nefertiti. She becomes the Queen of the Egyptian Empire and was an integral part of "Akhenaten's" transformation of Egypt at the time. -
In the fourth year of his reign Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten, meaning 'one who is effective for the Aten'. Another drastic change made by Akhenaten around this time was moving the capital city of Egypt from Thebes to Akhetaten, meaning 'beneficial to the Aten'. -
In the fifth year of his reign, Akhenaten drastcially changed the art style in Egypt. This new style was called Amarna art. What characterises this style is that features, especially human featured are more elongated and emphasized. -
In the ninth year of his reign Amenhotep IV declared the Aten as the only God in Egpyt and proclaimed himself as it's sole intermediary. Therefore Akhenaten introduced montheism to Egypt and was only the second ruler in history to use monotheism. In the religion 'Atenism' the sun is the only God and the only higher entity. -
In roughly 1335 BCE Akhenaten died. Though we have no evidence how this happened, it was believed at the time that Akhenaten could have been killed by the Ancient Egyptian gods as punishment. This myth might have also been a ruse to return power to the priests of Ra.