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Aten is a creator of the universe in ancient Egyptian
mythology, usually regarded as a sun god represented by
the sun's disk. His worship (Atenism) was instituted as the
basis for the mostly monotheistic religion of Amenhotep IV,
who took the name Akhenaten. The worship of Aten ceased shortly
after Akhenaten's death.
Overview
Viewing the Aten as Akhenaten's god is actually a simplification.
Aten was the focus of Akhenaten's religion. Aten is the name
given to represent the solar disc. The term Aten was used
to designate a disc, and since the sun was a disc, gradually
became associated with solar deities. Consequently, Aten expresses
indirectly the life-giving force of light. The full title
of Akhenaten's god was Ra-Horus, who rejoices in the horizon
in his name of the light which is 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.) This lengthy name was often shortened
to Ra-Horus-Aten or just Aten in many texts, but the god Akhenaten
had raised to supremacy was in fact a synthesis of very ancient
ones viewed in a new and different way. In particular, it
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.
The Aten first appears in texts dating to the 12th dynasty,
in The Story of Sinuhe. 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 is the
apparent abandonment of all other gods following the advent
of Akhenaten, i.e. the introduction, apparently by Akhenaten,
of monotheism. This is readily apparent in the Great Hymn
to the Aten.
The timing of Akhenaten's existence, together with his apparent,
and significant, break from henotheism, has lead some to think
he has some connection to the biblical character of Moses,
although quite what the connection is is a matter of some
considerable dispute.
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 2 forms of this title, the first
had the names of other gods, and the second later one which
was more 'singular' and refered only to the Aten himself.
Early Form
Live Re-Horakhti who rejoices in the Horizon
In his name Shu which is the Aten
Later form
Live Re, ruler of the 2 horizons who
rejoices in the Horizon
In his name of light which is the Aten
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