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Akhenaten and the Religion of Light

Akhenaten and the Religion of Light

by David Lorton (Author), David Lorton (Author), Erik Hornung (Author)

  • New

    Illustrated 2001

    $42.30
Synopsis

Akhenaten, also known as Amenhotep IV, was king of Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty and reigned from 1375 to 1358 B.C. E. Called the religious revolutionary, he is the earliest known creator of a new religion. The cult he founded broke with Egypt's traditional polytheism and focused its worship on a single deity, the sun god Aten. Erik Hornung, one of the world's preeminent Egyptologists, here offers a concise and accessible account of Akhenaten and his religion of light.Hornung begins with a discussion of the nineteenth-century scholars who laid the foundation for our knowledge of Akhenaten's period and extends to the most recent archaeological finds. He emphasizes that Akhenaten's monotheistic theology represented the first attempt in history to explain the entire natural and human world on the basis of a single principle. Akhenaten made light the absolute reference point, Hornung writes, and it is astonishing how clearly and consistently he pursued this concept. Hornung also addresses such topics as the origins of the new religion; pro-found changes in beliefs regarding the afterlife; and the new Egyptian capital at Akhetaten which was devoted to the service of Aten, his prophet Akhenaten, and the latter's family.

$42.30

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Illustrated
 Pages: 160
 Edition: Reprint
 Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 25 Jan 2001
ISBN 10: 0801487250
ISBN 13: 9780801487255

Media Reviews
The book is infused with critical inquiry; instead of merely repeating past theories, Hornung discusses and contextualizes the scholarship into the trends of the time it was written . . . Akhenaten and the Religion of Light is excellent. -Choice
In Akhenaten and the Religion of Light, Erik Hornung, . . .explores the metaphysical and religious dimensions of Akhenaten's 'perestroika' . . . shows how psychological and medical interpretations of Akhenaten's portraits based on a literal reading of their anatomy-bending style have often fed dubious moral presumptions. . . .'Ugly' and 'sick' Hornung tells us were the most common epithets applied to Amarna art by scholars at the turn of the century. -Lawrence Osborne. Lingua Franca. April, 2000.
In this book, the author provides a concise, accurate, and very readable account of Akhenaten's reign. . . It is one of the best books on the subject of this heretic pharaoh. Recommended reading for all. -Frankie's Bibliography of Ancient Egypt
Eric Hornung. . . effectively and succinctly guides through the mess of interpretations to a sympathetic, yet historically critical understanding of the pharaoh's theology and impact upon Egyptian history. . . Like any good historian he explains the social and historical context that gave rise to Akhenaten and his religion of light. The author has spent a life time trying to unravel for us the intricacies of Egyptian religion. His books are accessible, well written, and full of useful information. -Tom Collins, Religious Studies in Secondary Schools, Spring 2000.
A concise and thoughtful analysis of Akhenaten's reign and religious innovations by a foremost expert on Egyptian religion. . . Throughout, Hornung's knowledge of Egyptian religion and balanced coverage of the issues make this a publication of great value to anyone with an interest in Akhenaten or in Egyptian religion. -Denise M. Doxey, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Religious Studies Review, Vol. 25, No. 4, October 2000
This short and eminently readable translation. . . focuses on the nature of Akhenaten's religion, religious beliefs, and cultic practices, bringing together concepts and discussions from a wide range of scholarly writing. -Susan Tower Hollis, SUNY Empire State College. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 121, No. 3 (2001)
Author Bio
Erik Hornung is Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Basel. Among his many books are Akhenaten and the Religion of Light and The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, both translated by David Lorton and available from Cornell. David Lorton, an Egyptologist, is the translator of many books, including Erik Hornung's books The Secret Lore of Egypt and Akhenaten and the Religion of Light, both from Cornell.