Home Page
Royal Family
Explore Armana
Artistic Revolution
FAQ

Explore Akhetaten by clicking on any of the links below.

Location

Boundaries

Layout

North Palace

 

Location

Akhetaten lies midway between Memphis, the first capital of Egypt, and Thebes, home of the cult of the false god Amon-Re. More than 20,000 people live here to serve the Aten, the royal family, and Egypt. The move to Akhetaten has allowed the pharaoh and his family to throw off the oppression of heretic priests, whose criminal behavior has caused the pharaoh no end of trouble and whose actions will be punished.

 

Boundaries

The pharaoh established the boundaries of Akhetaten with 15 stelae carved into the sheer limestone cliffs that ring the city. The first two of these stelae, set to the north and south, established an axis along which all the city’s temples are aligned.

 

Layout

The Nile River divides this desert city in two parts. On the west bank of the river lie the farm fields. On the east bank sit the temples and palaces, businesses, workshops, wharves, storage facilities, and residences. A smaller area for cultivation follows the eastern riverbank. Akhetaten extends along the Nile for about 7 miles and inland for about 3 miles.

 

Residences

Homes for Akhetaten’s nobles, court officials, private citizens, and workers lie mainly south of city. Nearly all homes are made of mud bricks, though larger homes may use stone for doorways and other support features. The houses of the wealthy are square, with a central living room whose walls rise above the outer walls of the house. They boast gardens, granaries, and bathing rooms. All homes contain at least one shrine for the worship of the Aten and the pharaoh.

 

 

A typical country estate has a shallow pool enclosed in a courtyard. The pool serves as a decoration but also is stocked with fish. Wealthy families have a number of servants and own at least one dog and several cats. Girls play with dolls and often wear their hair in pigtails. Boys have their heads shaved, except for a braided lock on one side.

World Book illustration by Linden Artists Ltd.

 

Workers’ Village

Workers live in comfortable homes in the Eastern Village. This settlement consists of six rows of houses laid out along five streets running north and south. All houses here are built to a standard plan. Each is 33 feet by 13 feet and features an entry hall, central living room, and two smaller rooms, including a kitchen. Stairwells lead to the roof and provide ventilation.

 

North Suburb

The most prominent structure in the North Suburb is the North Riverside Palace. This Palace contains a large villa for the royal family as well as fertile gardens and a chapel.

 

North Palace

The North Palace was given to Princess Meritaten, the pharaoh’s eldest daughter, when she came of age. It features luxurious living areas as well as a magnificent throne room, large reception areas, outdoor altars, and a huge facility for keeping animals. Courtyards with exquisite floor and wall paintings of plants and animals delight the royal eyes. An elegant formal garden receives nourishment from the Nile by means of a sophisticated irrigation system.

To explore the religious and administrative heart of Akhetaten, click on The Central City.

return to top