Aten

**Aten** (also known as **Jatin**) is the one God of the Gimbarsian religion.

Yào Pihtaten Zong is a Siangwaanian convert who prays to Aten. His middle name, "Pihtaten" means "Strength of God".

## In the Rabydosverse

### History

The religion of Atenism was founded between the Sarmelonid and Jauparturnid eras by an emperor known as Akhenaten. The religion became more popular, nearly displacing the weakening belief in the old polytheistic structure and fuelled by attempts to reform Gimbarsian society. It was also due to his attempts to abolish slavery and feudalism that made Akhenaten popular among the poorest sections in his country. As he wanted to purify his country from corrupt rulers, he not only allowed other religions to continue their practices, but also permitted believers from those to serve in his revolution and government, as he wanted his faith to be done out of free will.

Initially, Akhenaten was worshipped as a god, but in modern times, Akhenaten was only a prophet who is never worshipped. In spite of this, modern-day Atenists consider this as the correct way to worship Aten.

Aten is also depicted in the flag of Gornystar, where many Gimbarsian loyalists took refuge after their country fell to Thralondian oppression. The former slaves who served in its armed forces painted stylised suns with hands in solidarity with local slave rebellions, leading to Gornystar growing in size. The same also happened when the rest of Azgo became ruled by the dysfunctional Trimalleans, when local rebellions in central and northern Azgo displayed the Sun of Aten in honour of Gornystari aid.

### Accounts

As the creator of the world, Aten is depicted as a just and compassionate God who loves his creations, but is easily angered by injustice and abuse.

Some of the old gods were syncretised as among Aten's archangels: Pitakh the Smith, Sakhmit the Vengeful Lioness, Me'et the Fair, Bes the Kind, Bastet the Watchful, and Madjet the Smiter. He was believed to be served by the *shespur*, who resemble men with wings.

In Gornystari folk religion, gryphons also appear among Aten's divine servants.

### Worship

Gimbarsian Atenists and other converts tend to be simplistic when they worship the Sun God. They do not use idols to pray to Aten, but they use a simple gold disk as a symbol. He is always depicted as a sun with arms.

Many Atenists tend to be more helpful and kind, to the point that they are more willing to defend their allies. They do not hesitate taking up arms and fighting whoever who threatens themselves or their allies.

Most Atenists do not cremate their dead, but bury them in simple graves. However, they also cremated their dead as in other countries if no burial is permitted or available.

## Trivia

* The depiction of the Atenist religion was influenced by several modern Aten-worshipping websites, such as "Atenist Temple".
	+ Rabydosverse Atenism was also influenced by Christian and Muslim customs and ethics. The author sometimes compared the religion to Christianity and Islam.
* Unlike the historical Atenist religion, its growth was not fuelled by force, but instead through popularity and it being associated with social reform and the decline of poverty.
	+ The historical Akhenaten persecuted worshippers of the native gods, but the Akhenaten of the Rabydosverse tolerated them and even included them in his royal court. Many of the reformers under his government were nativists who still venerated Re and Me'et.