Comparison 9/22/2020

 

Both artworks display religious change.  In the 1300s, Akhenaten changes the state religion from the worship of the god Amun to a new god or sun god Aten.  Akhenaten used a change of sculpture art when transitioned into the worshipping of Aten.  Egyptian art used rectilinear forms and then he used curvilinear form.  From what I read the transition of the religion was to be distinct in differences of art, but also its meaning.  The transition of religion does not make sense to me.  I was not able to find enough information to understand the need in change of religion.  Based on a reading from, “Akhenaten: The Mysteries of Religious Revolution,” it describes that Akhenaten came to power as the pharaoh in mid-1300’s.  Ruled for 13 year and changed his name to, “better reflect his religious ideas.”   The Egyptian religion, art, and writing were changed toward the steps of the new religion, but for what reason?  Why?  Did this change happen purely because he was the Pharaoh?  What significance did this truly have?  The Dome in the rock was a significant change in religion in belief and in practice.  The dome in the rock is seen as a house of worship, a place anyone can visit but not everyone may step inside.   Inside is a date of completion as 691-692, 55 years after Muslim armies captured Jerusalem from the Byzantine empire.  There is many things we still do not know about the Dome of the Rock, where there is still debate on the original function and meaning of the Dome.  With many speculations on what the true meaning of the dome, it is interesting to know that it is still where it stands.  Much like the religious change in Akhenaten, there is not enough information for the need to change religious practices and beliefs.

 

 



 

 Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis, "The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra)," in Smarthistory, August 8, 2015, accessed September 22, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/the-dome-of-the-rock-qubbat-al-sakhra/.

 

Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "House Altar depicting Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Three of their Daughters," in Smarthistory, December 6, 2015, accessed September 22, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/house-altar-depicting-akhenaten-nefertiti-and-three-of-their-daughters/.

 

 

Taronas, Laura. “Akhenaten: The Mysteries of Religious Revolution.” ARCE, www.arce.org/resource/akhenaten-mysteries-religious-revolution.

Comments

  1. A lexSeptember 27, 2020 at 9:04 PM

    I think that the Egyptian people were likely forced into the transition from religions, and if I remember correctly the pharaoh after Akhenaten changed the states religion back to its previous form. I also wonder how much people prayed to their old gods privately and our view of this time is distorted by the Egyptian governments control over their history.

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  2. Sara YaunSeptember 28, 2020 at 9:23 PM

    Similar to you, as I was reading this I was thinking how confusing it was to me that a religion can suddenly change into something different entirely. The person who decides to change it will alter history in an interesting way to say the least. Making people of the religion change their way of life or culture and supposedly make them consider the need to forget everything about what they used to believe, doesn't sound morally acceptable.

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