Amarna (Ruins)
Country: Egypt
Region: Africa
Period: ~ 1346-1332BCE
Location: 27.6453°N, 30.896389°E
Description
"Akhetaten, meaning ""Horizon of the Aten,"" was the capital city founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BCE during the 18th Dynasty. Located at modern-day Amarna, it was built as a center for the worship of the sun disk Aten. The city was laid out with palaces, temples, and administrative buildings reflecting Akhenaten’s revolutionary monotheistic vision."
Modern Remains
The site of Akhetaten, now known as Amarna, preserves foundations of palaces, temples, and private houses. Inscriptions and reliefs offer insights into the unique art and theology of the Amarna Period. Archaeological work continues to uncover details of daily life and royal ideology, with the remains serving as a rare, well-documented example of an ancient purpose-built capital and a pivotal moment in Egyptian history.