Aten facts for kids

Pharaoh Akhenaten and his family adoring the Aten

Aten

Aten is the disk of the Sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and an aspect of the Sun-god Ra. Aten was pictured as a sun with rays that ended in hands.

The deified Aten is the focus of the monotheistic religion of Atenism established by Amenhotep IV, who later took the name Akhenaten in worship and recognition of the Aten. In his poem Great Hymn to the Aten, Akhenaten praises Aten as the creator, and giver of life. Akhenaten was the first person to attempt to make a monotheistic religion.

The worship of Aten was eradicated by Horemheb.

• Collier, Mark and Manley, Bill. How to read Egyptian hieroglyphs. 2nd ed, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.

Images for kids

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  The "Great Hymn to the Aten" written from Akhenaten's point of view; the authorship of the hymn is disputed.

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  Relief fragment showing a royal head, probably Akhenaten, and early Aten cartouches. Aten extends Ankh (sign of life) to the figure. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Ruins of the Small Temple of the Aten at Akhetaten, modern Amarna

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  Stela of the Great temple of the Aten showing the early form of the Aten's names.

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  The Aten depicted in art from the throne of Tutankhamun, perhaps originally made for Akhenaten

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  Limestone fragment column showing reeds and an early Aten cartouche. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Headless bust of Akhenaten or Nefertiti. Part of a composite red quartzite statue. Intentional damage. Four pairs of early Aten cartouches. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Inscribed limestone fragment showing early Aten cartouches, "the Living Ra Horakhty". Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Fragment of a stela, showing parts of three late cartouches of Aten. There is a rare intermediate form of the god's name. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Siliceous limestone fragment of a statue. There are late Aten cartouches on the draped right shoulder. Reign of Akhenaten. From Amarna, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

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  Wall relief. Early cartouches of the god Aten, from Amarna, Egypt. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty. Neues Museum

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  Bronze plate with a cartouche of Akhenaten and 2 late cartouches of the god Aten. From Amarna, Egypt. 18th Dynasty. Neues Museum

See also

In Spanish: Atón para niños