Tell El-Amarna – Akhetaten

The city of Akhetaten:

The remains of the city of Akhetaten, built by the rebel pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Queen Nefertiti, lie at a site known today as Tell al-Amarna.

The site, which once stretched an impressive 15 km (9 miles) north to south and boasted magnificent temples and palaces, is now almost desolate but the sense of history and romance remains.

The widely dispersed ruins are spread around a desert plain bounded by the Nile to the west and surrounded by cliffs. South of the landing stage at At-Till, a cemetery covers part of what was once the Great Temple of Aten.

In contrast to traditional Egyptian temples which had darkened sanctuaries, this temple had a roofless sanctuary, designed to allow the rays of the sun-god Aten to flood in.

To the south, the Small Temple of Aten is being restored and the outline of two royal palaces can be made out.

Better preserved are the remains of Nefertiti’s Northern Palace, to the north of At-Till. Here, the remains of some mosaics can still be seen on the floor of summer residence.

The highlights of Tell al-Amarna are the two sets of cliff tombs at either end of the city. Of the Northern Tombs, 3 km (2 miles) north of At-Till, one of the finest is the Tomb of Huya (No.l),

Superintendent of the Royal Harem and Steward to Queen Tiye, Akhenaten’s mother. This fascinating tomb is carved with royal banquet scenes, including one that shows the queen wining and dining with her son and his family.

In the highly decorated Tomb of Mery-Re I, Akhenaten is shown presenting Mery-Re I with the high priest’s golden collar.

Reliefs depicting Akhenaten and the Great Temple on the eastern wall of the tomb give an indication of what the city must have looked like during its brief period of glory.

Grouped in clusters, 8 km (5 miles) south of At-Till, the Southern Tombs are less accessible but equally rewarding.

The Tomb of Ay, Akhenaten’s vizier, is considered the finest tomb in Tell al-Amarna. The wall paintings show Ay and his wife receiving ceremonial golden collars from Akhenaten and Nefertiti, watched by a crowd of cheering onlookers.

The well-preserved Tomb of Mahu contains reliefs of Mahu carrying out his duties as Akhenaten’s chief of police.