The Royal City of Akhetaten

In order to make a break from the priests and temples of Thebes, Akhenaten ordered the construction of a new capital city at a virgin site in the desert. This city he named 'Akhetaten', the horizon to the Aten.

Little now remains of the city, apart from the foundations and a few walls visible on the surface. This is partially because the buildings were erected in a hurry, without using the huge stone blocks which gave other Ancient Egyptian structures their longevity, and partially because the city was abandoned shortly after the death of Akhenaten when the Theban order was restored.

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