The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-10

How did It happen that about the year l4oe
b. G. tho traditional gods Of Egypt were dis
avowed BY the sovereign and the worship OF
the solar disk substitutedp One would natu-
rally ascribe tho fact to Median or Persian in
fluence. and how this came to DO cxerted we
know from discoveries made four years ago.
Brugsch had already noticed popularity in
the nuptial relations Of Ainenhotep III. OF the
eighteenth dynasty, namely. that no did not
seek his Queen among the princessos OF his
house. but, following apparently an inclina-
ton OF the heart. chose for his wife Thl. the
daughter ofJua and Thua. who. as Brugsch
pointed out. were not oven Of Egyp-
tian origin. although. when he wrote,
their nationality was unknown. In 1885,
however a number OF cuneform tablets
were found at Tel-el-Amarna in the tomb OF q
royal scribe" OF Amenhotep III. and his son.
From those we learn the story Of Queen Th.
She was. it seems. the daughter OF Tushratta
King Of Mitanni POSSIBLY Mesopotamia,
Amenhotep I'LL. when on hunting expedi-
tion in her country. met the Princess. fell in
love with her. and in due course made her his
| queen. Thi went away to her new home in
the Nile land. accompanied by BIT OF her prin-
cipal ladies. 1t YVES doubtless from his mother
that the son and successor OF Amenhotep I'LL
learned the worship Of the sun.
The son OF Th seized tho crown and ruled
under the style OF Amenhotep w.. though he
Is better known by the name OF Khunaten.
which he afterward adopted. AS the descend
ant on the maternal side from q non Egyp-
tian family. he was precluded. Accord
Ing to the existing prescriptions regard
ing the succession. from any lawful
claim to the throne. In tho eyes OF the priest
ly corporation Of the imperial temple at
Thebes. who jealousy insisted on the letter Of
the law. he was q usurper. and the Willingness
which he at first exhibited to erect buildings in
honor OF the great Amen Of Thebes did not al
lay their hostility. It was. however, another
circumstance which finally determined the
priests to eXcommunicate the new ruler. This
was the discovery that he was intlexibly re-
solved to adhere to the teaching about the one
God Of light, which he had received from the
mouth OF his mother. The young King was SO
far from consenting to renounce his mothers
faith that he designated himself within the
royal cartouche itself as a friend Of the suns
disk" This avowal OF hcresy caused open hate
to take the place Of concealed aversion. Re-
bellion presently broke out. and. although this
seems to have been suppressed with no great
difficulty. tho King was convinced that he
could not remain with safety in Thebes and
he consequently founded a new capital in mid
die Egypt at place which now bears the name
OF Tel-el-Amarna- Hero on q new plan. de-
parting widely from native models. was
erected n splendid temple OF hard stone
in honor OF the Sun-God There is
extant hymn recited to the rising orb of dny
by khunaten's wife. Who like his mother. was
Jealous adherent of the new faith. The hymn
runs: Thou disk Of tho Sun. thou living god!
there Is none other beside theel Thou giyest
health to the eye through thy beams. Creator
HH oil hntv1 H.
horizon Of heaven to dispense life to all which
thou hast created-to man. four-footed beasts.
birds. and all manner OF creeping things on
the earth. where they live. Thus they behold
thee and they go to sleep when thou sleepest"
Nothing could indicate more clearly than these
words how completely at Khunaten's court
the Egyptian polytheism had been supplanted
by the simple and relatively scientific creed
which was to be formulated by Zoroaster.
Notwithstanding the dsaffection OF the
priesthood and the mass OF his subjects. 1t is
plain from the still extant wall pictures in the
scpulchral chambers among the hills behind
his capital TINT the hereto sovereign led q
happy domestic life He Is portrayed sur
rounded by his mother. his daughters. and his
wife. who often from u high balcony throw
down all kinds Of gifts to tho crowd below
while tho Queen holds on her lap the little girl
Ankhnesaten. whose future husband was to
wear the crown. Not only was Khunaten
happy at home but he seems to have success
fully defended ECyptian territory. for inscrip-
tions testify thut in the twelfth year OF his
reign he celebrated victories over the Syrians
In the north and tho Cushitos In the south.
One monument depicts the prisoners Of various
nations US they ure led before the throne:
stupid negroes. sly-looking syrians. and small
featured Marmaridae Whose women lead
horses by their bridles) form the chief mon.-
bers OF tho crtngtng assemblaee.
The hereto King was succeeded by two
sons-in-law. the second Of whom. however,
found himself constrained to renounce the
worship OF the SUMS disk. and reigned in
Thebes with the consent OF the priests of
Amen. He was considered. nevertheless. an
illegitimata saxarai.zn aisa