THE WORSHIP OF ATEN

Figure 1: The Aten

Brief History
What is Aten?

- Aten also Aton, Atonu, or Itn

- The creator of the universe in ancient Egyptian Mythology.
- Regarded as a Sun God or recognized as Ra. Represented by the sun’s disk.
Worship of Aten

- Aten was extensively worshipped as a solar deity during the reign of Amenhotep III.
- The Aten became the sole god of the Egyptian state religion during Akhenaten, Amenhotep III’s
successor.
- The sole worship of Aten can be referred to as Atenism.
- The cult-center of the Aten was at the capital city Akhenaten founded, el-Amarna.
- Inscriptions found on boundary stela accredited to Akhenaten discuss his desire to make the el-Amarna
city a place of worship to Aten.
- Temples of Aten were open and did not have roofs in order to allow the rays of the sun inside.
- No statues of Aten were allowed as they were seen as idolatry.
- Elite women were known to worship the Aten in sun-shade temples in Akhetaten.
Figure 2: Stela of the Great Temple of the Aten depicting an early form of the Aten cartouches.

Figure 3: Pharoah Akhenaten and his family adoring the Aten.

 Figure 4: Visual representation of The Great Aten Temple

GREAT HYMN OF THE ATEN

- Also known as the “Hymn to the Aten”
- An ancient religious text particularly poetry.
- Primarily associated with the Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) and his religious reforms during the
18th dynasty of the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt.
The “Great Hymn of the Aten” is one of the most significant religious texts of the ancient world. It was
recorded in the tomb of a courtier by the name of Ay, who served the Pharaoh Akhenaten during his reign in
Egypt, around the 14th century BCE.
About the hymn
(Tone/Music)
- Ethereal yet haunting in a fascinating way.
- Can feel the holiness of Aten.
- The text frequently uses parallel structures and repetition, which is a common literary technique in
ancient Egyptian poetry. This repetition serves to emphasize key ideas and create a rhythmic quality in
the text.
(Contents)
- The hymn uses various symbolic language and imagery to convey its religious and philosophical
message.
- Expressing praise and adoration.
- There’s a similarity with Psalm 104.
Message of the “Great Hymn of the Aten”
- The sun god Aten is an all-powerful deity and the source of all life and creation.
- It emphasizes the monotheistic nature of Atenism during Akhenaten's reign.
- The hymn implicitly rejects the worship of other Egyptian gods, emphasizing that Aten alone is
deserving of worship and praise.
- The hymn also highlights Akhenaten's role as the chosen leader along with his wife Nefertiti to spread
the worship of Aten and establish the new religious order in Egypt.
The "Great Hymn of the Aten" serves as a testament to Akhenaten's religious reforms, which aimed to
elevate the status of the sun god Aten above all others and shift Egypt towards monotheism. These reforms
were significant in the history of ancient Egyptian religion and had a profound impact on the culture and
society of the time.
Figure 5: The "Great Hymn to the Aten" written from Akhenaten's point of view
 Figure 6: Akhenaten and his wife Neferiti and their children
The Great Hymn to the Aten
“How manifold it is, what thou hast made!
They are hidden from the face (of man).
O sole god, like whom there is no other!
Thou didst create the world according to thy desire,
Whilst thou wert alone: All men, cattle, and wild beasts,
Whatever is on Earth, going upon (its) feet,
And what is on high, flying with its wings.
The countries of Syria and Nubia, the land of Egypt,
Thou settest every man in his place,
Thou suppliest their necessities:
Everyone has his food, and his time of life is reckoned.
Their tongues are separate in speech,
And their natures as well;
Their skins are distinguished,
As thou distinguishest the foreign peoples.
Thou makest a Nile in the underworld,
Thou bringest forth as thou desirest
To maintain the people (of Egypt)
According as thou madest them for thyself,
The lord of all of them, wearying (himself) with them,
The lord of every land, rising for them,
The Aton of the day, great of majesty.
You are in my heart,
There is no other who knows you,
Only your son, Neferkheprure, Sole-one-of-Re (Akhenatan),
Whom you have taught your ways and your might
Earth come from your hand as you made them.
When you have dawned they live.
When you set they die;
You yourself are lifetime, one lives by you.
All eyes are on beauty until you set.
All labor ceases when you rest in the west;
When you rise you stir for the King,
Every leg is on the move since you founded the Earth.
You rouse them for your son who came from your body.
The King who lives by Maat, the Lord of the Two Lands,
Neferkheprure, Sole-one-of-Re,
The Son of Re who lives by Maat. the Lord of crowns,
Akhenaten, great in his lifetime;
(And) the great Queen whom he loves, the Lady of the Two Lands,
Nefer-nefru-Aten Nefertiti, living forever.”

Questions:
1. What is the name of Akhenaten’s wife?
2. Who is Aten in Egyptian Mythology?
3. “The Great Hymn of Aten” was recorded in whose tomb?
(answer)
1. Nefertiti
2. Sun God
3. Ay
REFERENCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aten#:~:text=The%20sole%20worship%20of%20Aten,is%20a%20time%20to
%20fear.
https://studycorgi.com/the-great-hymn-to-aten-and-the-beginning-of-monotheism/
https://www.tripsinegypt.com/akhenaten-and-the-hymn-to-the-aten/
https://www.timelessmyths.com/gods/egyptian/aten/#%E2%80%93_Worship_of_the_Aten

Hymn to the Aten:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oWPXU15K4g