Amarna

Egyptian archaeological site

Amarna (Arabic: العمارنة al-‘amārnä) is on the east bank of the Nile in the modern Egyptian province of Minya. It is a big archaeological site. It has the remains of the capital city built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty (c. 1353 BC), and abandoned shortly afterwards.[1] The Amarna period is the time when Amarna was the capital.

Where it was
Children with pens and papyrus scrolls. Relief from Amarna
A house altar showing Akhenaten, Nefertiti and three of their daughters. This detail shows Nefertiti with Meketaten seated on her lap and Ankhesenpaaten leaning against her. 18th dynasty, reign of Akhenaten

"Amarna" is the Arabic name for the place. The name for the city used by the ancient Egyptians is written as Akhetaten in English. It translates to "the Horizon of the Aten" (Akh-t-Aten).[2]

Amarna art

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The Amarna art-style broke with the old Egyptian conventions. It showed its people more realistically. It included informal scenes, such as affection within the royal family or playing with their children. It no longer portrayed women as lighter coloured than men. The art had a realism that sometimes shocks. This art had a more lasting legacy than the religion.

References

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  1. "The official website of the Amarna Project". Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  2. David, Rosalie 1998. Handbook to life in Ancient Egypt. Facts on File, p. 125.

Other websites

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