Tell el-Amarna
The city of Amarna was the capital built by Akhenaten and was abandoned after his death. This city represents an important chapter in ancient Egyptian history and embodies the idea of monotheism promoted by Akhenaten.
Tell el-Amarna is located on the east bank of the Nile in the Minya Governorate, about 57 kilometers from the city of Minya, roughly halfway between Cairo and Luxor. The city area lies almost entirely flat in the desert and is surrounded by cliffs about 100 meters high. The city itself was situated on the Nile’s shore and housed the main palaces, sun temples, administrative buildings, and residential areas.
This city is one of the oldest archaeological sites in ancient Egypt. It was built by King Akhenaten in the fourth year of his reign, who declared Aten the sole god and made the city the capital, naming it Akhetaten. To the north and south of the city were many residential districts and cemeteries. There were worker houses or villages where the builders of the city lived, constructing palaces, temples, and tombs—giving us insights into their life and lifestyle.
In the central area of the city, besides the Great Palace and many administrative and royal buildings, as well as various industrial workshops, there were two Aten temples. The Amarna Letters were discovered there, which recorded correspondence between Akhenaten, Amenhotep III, and foreign lands and powers, providing valuable information about diplomatic relations.
The most famous find at Tell el-Amarna is the renowned bust of Queen Nefertiti. This unique artwork was discovered in 1912 in the workshop of the royal sculptor Thutmose and is currently housed in the Berlin Museum in Germany.
In the southern cemetery area, there are about 19 tombs for officials or high-ranking personnel, such as the tomb of the police chief during Akhenaten’s time, which depicts a scene showing him on his chariot performing his duties. Also present are the tombs of the royal scribes Ramus and Epi, the tomb of the minister and royal advisor Nectapaten, and the tomb of the overseer of the treasury.