Temple of Amenhotep IV
Encyclopedia
The structures within the Temple of Amenhotep IV at Karnak
in Luxor
, Egypt
, were used during the first four years of the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh
Akhenaten
, when he still referred to himself as Amenhotep IV, although they may have been constructed at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III
, and completed by his son, the future Akhenaten.
, to the east, the main temple
in the complex was named Gm–p3–itn (Gempaaten), which means "The Sun Disc is Found in the Estate of the God Aten
". The others were named Hwt–bnbn (Hwt benben / "The Mansion of the Benben stone"), Rwd–mnw–n–itn–r–nḥḥ (Rud-menu / "Sturdy are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever"), and Tni–mnw–n–itn–r–nḥḥ (Teni–menu / "Exalted are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever").
Very little of these buildings remains, they were built quickly, using Talatat
blocks, and could therefore easily be demolished and reused as core for later structures.
The Gempaaten appears to have no roof and its offering tables were exposed to direct sunlight. In this building (or associated with it) were red granite and sandstone statues of Akhenaten, red granite offering tables and other statues, including a sphinx inscribed with the name of the Aten
. It was of a considerable size (130m x 216m), but it was so completely destroyed that its foundations have been nearly obilterated.
It stood within a mud-brick enclosure, and was orientated to the east, with possibly an entrance to west, leading to an open court surrounded by square pillars and statues of Akhenaten
and Nefertiti
.
, the Hwt benben or Mansion of the Benben was devoted to a solar cult, and was closely associated with the Gempaaten.
The walls of the Teni-menu were reused in the Ninth Pylon of the main Karnak temple. They have since been identified and reassembled like a giant puzzle and are partly exhibited in the Luxor museum. The scenes show residential, administrative and royal temples and solar Jubilee scenes of the first Sed-festival, Akhenaten was probably celebrating at the same time as his father
, and when the Queen Tiye attended.
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
in Luxor
Luxor
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896 , with an area of approximately . As the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open air museum", as the ruins of the temple...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, were used during the first four years of the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Akhenaten
Akhenaten
Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...
, when he still referred to himself as Amenhotep IV, although they may have been constructed at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC or June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC after his father Thutmose IV died...
, and completed by his son, the future Akhenaten.
Location and layout
Constructed outside the boundaries of the Precinct of Amon-RePrecinct of Amon-Re
The Precinct of Amun-Re, located near Luxor, Egypt, is one of the four main temple enclosures that make up the immense Karnak Temple Complex. The precinct is by far the largest of these and the only one that is open to the general public...
, to the east, the main temple
Egyptian temple
Egyptian temples were built for the official worship of the gods and commemoration of pharaohs in Ancient Egypt and in regions under Egyptian control. These temples were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated...
in the complex was named Gm–p3–itn (Gempaaten), which means "The Sun Disc is Found in the Estate of the God Aten
Aten
Aten is the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of Ra. The deified Aten is the focus of the monolatristic, henotheistic, or monotheistic religion of Atenism established by Amenhotep IV, who later took the name Akhenaten in worship in recognition of Aten...
". The others were named Hwt–bnbn (Hwt benben / "The Mansion of the Benben stone"), Rwd–mnw–n–itn–r–nḥḥ (Rud-menu / "Sturdy are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever"), and Tni–mnw–n–itn–r–nḥḥ (Teni–menu / "Exalted are the Monuments of the Sun Disc Forever").
Very little of these buildings remains, they were built quickly, using Talatat
Talatat
Talatat are stone blocks of standardized size used during the reign of Akhenaton in the building of the Aton temples at Karnak and Akhetaten. The standardized size and their small weight made construction more efficient Their use may have begun in the second year of Akhenton's reign...
blocks, and could therefore easily be demolished and reused as core for later structures.
Gempaaten
Aten
Aten is the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of Ra. The deified Aten is the focus of the monolatristic, henotheistic, or monotheistic religion of Atenism established by Amenhotep IV, who later took the name Akhenaten in worship in recognition of Aten...
. It was of a considerable size (130m x 216m), but it was so completely destroyed that its foundations have been nearly obilterated.
It stood within a mud-brick enclosure, and was orientated to the east, with possibly an entrance to west, leading to an open court surrounded by square pillars and statues of Akhenaten
Akhenaten
Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...
and Nefertiti
Nefertiti
Nefertiti was the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were known for a religious revolution, in which they started to worship one god only...
.
Hwt benben
Erected in east KarnakKarnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
, the Hwt benben or Mansion of the Benben was devoted to a solar cult, and was closely associated with the Gempaaten.
Teni-menu
The Teni–menu seemed to contain domestic and storage rooms, and may have been a royal residence, although not enough of the structure remains to clarify the use.The walls of the Teni-menu were reused in the Ninth Pylon of the main Karnak temple. They have since been identified and reassembled like a giant puzzle and are partly exhibited in the Luxor museum. The scenes show residential, administrative and royal temples and solar Jubilee scenes of the first Sed-festival, Akhenaten was probably celebrating at the same time as his father
Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC or June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC after his father Thutmose IV died...
, and when the Queen Tiye attended.
Further reading
- Donald Redford, Akhenaten : The Heretic King, Princeton, 1984