Budge, E: History of Egypt From the End of the Neolithic Per

Excerpt from A History of Egypt From the End of the Neolithic Period to the Death of Cleopatra VII, B. C. 30, Vol. 1 of 3

God which is now generally known as: the heresy of the Disk. Among his titles-he adopted that of high priest of bet-harmachis, but although he was tolerant of the worship of all the ancient forms of the Sun-god of Heliopolis he was very hostile to the cult of Amen? Re, the Sun-god of Thebes; he even went so far as to build a shrine in honour of Harmachis within the temple precincts at Thebes. At length an open rupture took place between the priests of Amen and himself, and, as a result, he forsook the old capital and built himself a new one further to the north at a place near the modern Tell el-'amarna. Here he founded a temple in honour of the Disk, and changed his name to khu-en-aten, i.e., Glory of the Disk, and, gathered about him painters, sculptors, and handicraftsmen of every kind, who developed a new style of Egyptian art, which is characterized by great realism and freedom from conventionality. The king, his family, and his courtiers led a life of pleasure here for a few years, and he himself was perfectly content to neglect the affairs of' his empire, provided he could play the part of a priest and bestow gifts upon his favourites. Mean while, the peoples who were subject to him in Asia were hard pressed by' the Kheta and the allied nations, who had by this time become very powerful, and the tribute which had been paid for many years past by the great cities of Syria and Palestine to Egypt was now diverted from that country. The few governors of cities who were strong enough to remain loyal to Egypt sent numerous despatches to Amen-hetep IV. To warn him of the growth of disaffection and revolt throughout.

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