Atenism is a religious movement in ancient Egypt that was founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BC. The word is spelled "eɪtɛnɪzəm" using the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first syllable is pronounced like the letter A, making the whole word sound like "AY-ten-ism." The letter "s" is replaced by a "z" to indicate a voiced sound, and the final syllable is spelled with "-ism" to indicate a belief system or ideology. The pronunciation helps to clarify the sound of each letter and syllable, making it easier to understand and remember the word.
Atenism is a religious movement that emerged in ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom period, specifically in the 14th century BCE. The term "Atenism" references the worship of the deity known as the Aten, which was considered a form of monotheism in contrast to the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in Egyptian culture. The movement is primarily associated with the pharaoh Akhenaten, who sought to establish Atenism as the state religion and bring radical changes to the religious and cultural practices of ancient Egypt.
Atenism centered around the belief in a singular deity, the Aten, which was represented as a solar disc with rays extending downward, often terminating in human hands offering the ankh symbol, symbolizing life. This religious ideology emphasized the Aten as the sole creator and sustainer of the universe, and followers of Atenism offered direct worship to this deity rather than intermediaries such as priests or idols.
The Atenist movement promoted a more egalitarian and inclusive approach to religious worship, as women and lower-status individuals were encouraged to participate in ceremonies and rituals. Moreover, Atenism emphasized the moral dimensions of religion, with an emphasis on virtues such as compassion, truth, and justice.
While Atenism was influential during Akhenaten's reign and had a significant impact on Egyptian art and religious practices, it eventually faded away after Akhenaten's death. Following his reign, subsequent pharaohs sought to restore the traditional polytheistic religious system, leading to the decline of Atenism and the eradication of most records and depictions of the Aten.
The word "Atenism" is derived from the ancient Egyptian deity "Aten", which was the sun disk representing the solar disc. Atenism refers to the religious movement initiated by the Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) during the 14th century BCE. Akhenaten promoted the worship of Aten as the supreme god and attempted to establish a monotheistic religion centered around Aten. The term "Atenism" was later used to describe this religious reform movement.