Definition: In most of the history of ancient Egypt, the capital city of Egypt was Thebes (Luxor), but during the 18th dynasty,
in about 1350 B.C., Akhenaten (aka Akhnaton or Ikhnaton or Amenhotep IV or Neferkheperure Amenhotep, or in Greek, Amenophis)
moved the capital to Akhetaton, which means the horizon of the (solar disk) Aton. We call this city Amarna or more properly, Tel El-Amarna.
Akenhaten is known as the heretic king because he refocused the religion of Egypt onto the specific, solar-disk aspect of the sun god. Akhenaten changed his name from Amenhotep to reflect his religion. Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife, shared in the ceremonies of the religion of Aton.
Amarna is also the name of the less than two-decade-long period of Egyptian history during which Akhenaten and his successors (notably, Tutankhamen) ruled. After the death of Akhenaten, Tutankhamen reverted to the religion of Amon, and moved the Egyptian capital back to Thebes.
Also Known As: Amarna Tell El-Amarna Akhetaten
Alternate Spellings: Amarnah, Amarneh, Tell El Amarna
