The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. Often called the originator of monotheism and the world's first recorded individual, he has fascinated and inspired both scholars of Egyptology and creative talents as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Philip Glass. This The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. Often called the originator of monotheism and the world's first recorded individual, he has fascinated and inspired both scholars of Egyptology and creative talents as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Philip Glass. This provocative biography examines both the real Akhenaten and the myths that have been created around him. It scrutinises the history of the pharaoh and his reign, which has been continually written in Eurocentric terms inapplicable to ancient Egypt, and the archaeology of Akhenaten's capital city, Amarna. It goes on to explore the pharaoh's extraordinary cultural afterlife, and the way he has been invoked to validate ideas as diverse as psychoanalysis, racial equality and fascism. Dr Montserrat makes the point that our view of Akhenaten has never been based purely on historical or archaeological knowledge, but is a cultural hallucination, influenced by western desires about ancient Egypt and modern struggles for legitimation and authority. Combining up-to-date historical synthesis with extensive new archival research, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt is the first book to assess critically why the archaeology of ancient Egypt continues to fascinate. Theoretically astute and engagingly written, and illustrated with many striking images never previously published, it will appeal to anyone with an interest in Akhenaten or in the archaeology of ancient Egypt.
Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt
The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. Often called the originator of monotheism and the world's first recorded individual, he has fascinated and inspired both scholars of Egyptology and creative talents as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Philip Glass. This The pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt in the mid-fourteenth century BCE, has been the subject of more speculation than any other character in Egyptian history. Often called the originator of monotheism and the world's first recorded individual, he has fascinated and inspired both scholars of Egyptology and creative talents as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Philip Glass. This provocative biography examines both the real Akhenaten and the myths that have been created around him. It scrutinises the history of the pharaoh and his reign, which has been continually written in Eurocentric terms inapplicable to ancient Egypt, and the archaeology of Akhenaten's capital city, Amarna. It goes on to explore the pharaoh's extraordinary cultural afterlife, and the way he has been invoked to validate ideas as diverse as psychoanalysis, racial equality and fascism. Dr Montserrat makes the point that our view of Akhenaten has never been based purely on historical or archaeological knowledge, but is a cultural hallucination, influenced by western desires about ancient Egypt and modern struggles for legitimation and authority. Combining up-to-date historical synthesis with extensive new archival research, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt is the first book to assess critically why the archaeology of ancient Egypt continues to fascinate. Theoretically astute and engagingly written, and illustrated with many striking images never previously published, it will appeal to anyone with an interest in Akhenaten or in the archaeology of ancient Egypt.
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Michael O'Brien –
This book, while it covers the life of Akhenaten, commonly known as the "Heretic Pharaoh", is more about how intellectuals and fringe groups grab some historical figure and make him part of their cause or philosophy in an effort to give their own agenda historical legitimacy and credibility otherwise lacking. For example, this pharaoh has been embraced variously as an icon by both Aryan supremacists and by black activists, by family values types as well as by the homosexual movement, by science This book, while it covers the life of Akhenaten, commonly known as the "Heretic Pharaoh", is more about how intellectuals and fringe groups grab some historical figure and make him part of their cause or philosophy in an effort to give their own agenda historical legitimacy and credibility otherwise lacking. For example, this pharaoh has been embraced variously as an icon by both Aryan supremacists and by black activists, by family values types as well as by the homosexual movement, by science fiction huxsters, and so many more. Clearly, all these different "Akhenatens" created by each of these movements can't all possibly coexist as historically accurate or authentic, and, given that this man lived many millenia neither is it possible to determine exactly what man he was. But to all these groups, none of this much matters anyway ---- the need for propaganda with which to inspire and encourage the faithful and to proselytize for new members supersedes any faithfulness to either truth or historical accuracy. It's an interesting study --- and, in pop versions of history, we've seen many similar treatments of other great figures such as Alexander the Great, Richard the Lion-Hearted, JFK, and Martin Luther King, Jr. In that respect, this is an interesting --- even if I did not find it exactly a compelling one.
Lisa –
Who was Akhenaten? This is the question that Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt explores, holds up to the light, but doesn't answer. Montserrat explores how the historical figure of Akhenaten has been used by a number of different groups to further their own agenda or interests. Akhenaten therefore exists with a number of identities that can be contradictory: he is a racial, religious, political, domestic and sexual figure. Montserrat steers away from outright criticising these identi Who was Akhenaten? This is the question that Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt explores, holds up to the light, but doesn't answer. Montserrat explores how the historical figure of Akhenaten has been used by a number of different groups to further their own agenda or interests. Akhenaten therefore exists with a number of identities that can be contradictory: he is a racial, religious, political, domestic and sexual figure. Montserrat steers away from outright criticising these identities, or from offering his own take on Akhenaten. This is probably wise in a book such as this. He leaves the readers to explore and then make up their own minds whether any of these identities are valid. However, the chapter focused on the Akhenaten that has emerged from the archaeological remains was particularly good at stripping away some of the myths about the real man. The book turns the question I started with back to us, but re-phrases it: who IS Akhenaten? The historical figure remains elusive, a man we know less about than we think, but the cultural icon can be explored and examined.
Jbondandrews –
I rather enjoyed Dominic Montserrat's Akhenaten. I didn't know that Frida Kahlo had done a painting with both Akhenaten and Nefertiti in. Nor did I know that the Nazi's had tried to appropriate him or the gay movement. I rather enjoyed Dominic Montserrat's Akhenaten. I didn't know that Frida Kahlo had done a painting with both Akhenaten and Nefertiti in. Nor did I know that the Nazi's had tried to appropriate him or the gay movement.
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