by Dave Franklin

Created on: January 16, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Akhenaten, a name that stands alone in Egypt's ancient past, isolated from history, enigmatic, dark and misunderstood. Many pharoahs stand in splendour for their achievements, Rameses the Great, warrior king, Khufu, supposed builder of the most famous pyramids, Cleopatra, the young queen who sold her dying empire for love, but all of these stand tall and proud, names to invoke pride in human achievement. Akhenaten is remembered in a different way, almost in the way that Adolf Hitler or Genghis Khan is thought of today. But like the current apologist revival for Richard III in English history, is it time to re-evaluate this derided ancient kings image and look for a more balanced view of the man himself? This may be the book to do just that.

Akhenaten is not a name that many will be overly familiar with, unless you are well acquainted with ancient Egyptian history an even then he is not the most easily studied pharaoh, his deeds having resulted in him having been systematically erased from much of the temple records and carvings by subsequent rulers. Whereas the book begins with the archaeological findings relating to him, I will include a very brief overview of the man before dealing with the book itself, to help set a scene. Born Amenophis IV and originally co-regent for a time with his father (as was the tradition) his was a peaceful Egypt. The empire was prosperous and warfare was at a minimum, an unusual state of affairs for such a turbulent part of the world at that time. So what did this man do that has reviled him throughout history. Upon coming to power the now re-named Akhenaten turned his back on the religious traditions of his country and instigated a new monotheistic system. A combination of the loss of revenue from the old established temples and his extravagance in building his new temples and cities lead the country to the brink of bankruptcy and caused his exile. The effects of his "reforms" were the same as if you tried to shut down the Church of England over night.

So what of the book? Well to begin with Nicholas Reeve's book covers a lot of ground. Not only does it trace Akhenaten's reforms and the earth shattering effects that they had on the country but also it examines what may have driven the man to do what he did. But more than limiting his scope to this apocalyptic period in Egyptian history, Reeve also looks at the fall out from those affects. The fate of Akhenaten's beautiful wife, Nefertiti is discussed, as is the identity of his successor,

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