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Akhnaton and his Wife and Children

Akhnaton and his Wife and Children.jpg Akhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying AsiaticsAkhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying AsiaticsAkhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying AsiaticsAkhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying AsiaticsAkhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying AsiaticsAkhnaton and Nefertiti with their three DaughtersThumbnailsThothmes IV. slaying Asiatics
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In his capacity as Pharaoh and “son of God,” Akhnaton demanded and received a very considerable amount of ceremonial homage; but he never blinded himself to the fact that he was primarily but a simple man. He most sincerely wished that his private life should be a worthy example to his subjects, and he earnestly desired that it should be observed in all its naturalness and simplicity. He did his utmost to elevate the position of women and the sanctity of the family by displaying to the world the ideal conditions of his own married life. He made a point of caressing his wife in public, putting his arm around her neck in the sight of all men. As we have seen, one of his forms of oath was, “As my heart is happy in the Queen and her children....” He spoke of his wife always as “Mistress of his happiness, ... at hearing whose voice the King rejoices.” “Lady of grace” was she, “great of love” and “fair of face.” Every wish that she expressed, declared Akhnaton, was executed by him. Even on the most ceremonious occasions the queen sat beside her husband and held his hand, while their children frolicked around them; for such things pleased that gentle father more than the savour of burnt-offerings. It is seldom that the Pharaoh is represented in the reliefs without his family; and, in opposition to all tradition, the queen is shown upon the same scale of size and importance as that of her husband. Akhnaton’s devotion to his children is very marked, and he taught his disciples to believe that God was the father, the mother, the nurse, and the friend of the young. Thus, though “son of God,” Akhnaton preached the beauty of the human family, and laid stress on the sanctity of marriage and parenthood.

Author
The Life and Times of Akhnaton
Pharaoh of Egypt
By Arthur E. P. Weigall
Publihed in 1911
Available rfrom utenberg.org
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1200*537
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