Akhenaten

Akhenaten, meaning “effective for Aten” was pharaoh from 1353-1336 BC. Originally known as Amenhotep IV, he changed his name to Akenhaten in the fifth year of his reign, in accordance with his dramatic alteration of the traditional Egyptian polytheism. Akhenaten was responsible for ushering in a new quasi-monotheistic religion, with worship focused on the sun god Aten. The change to Egyptian culture that Akhenaten’s reign invoked had significant if somewhat temporary implications on Egyptian art in what is known as the Amarna period. These included a greater naturalism in some aspects as well as the adoption of some unusual motifs in the depiction of people including elongated heads, protruding stomachs, heavy hips and thin arms and legs. Following his death, Akenhaten’s changes to the Egyptian religion were quickly reversed and he was afterwards denounced as a heretic.