Purchasing (now Tell el-Amarna)
The Royal Tomb
About 6 km east of the city in a separate valley (Wadi Abu Hasa al-Bahri) the Royal Tomb is situated (EA26). The facility was not completed before Pharaoh's death, but there is a high probability, that he was buried here. The mummy was not found, but many Shabti figures were discovered, fragments of a box for canopian urns and stone vessels with cartouches of Tuthmosis II and Khafre.
Apart from the central part, the tomb has two additional wings beyond the main axis. The six chambers that were started were probably destined for Nefertiti or Teje, and the second wing for Princess Maketaton (Nefertiti probably nothing was buried here). The tomb was equipped with a descending corridor for draining the sarcophagus. It led straight to the shaft and the column burial chamber. Teje's sarcophagus on an empty podium has been smashed. When Tutankhamun was leaving Akhetaton, perhaps he took his father's mummy and buried him in the Valley of the Kings.
The mummy of the heretic pharaoh could, however, be destroyed by the priests of Amun.
The native rock wasn't very good, so the walls were covered with plaster and decorations were carved. Worship of Aton is depicted on the walls of the shaft. A chamber for princess Maketaton (?) decorated with scenes of worshiping the rising sun – the details enrich the text of the Hymn to Aton.
Southern tombs
To the southern tombs, almost 6 km from the north, the road from al-Hag Qantill is reached through the ancient village of workers, then head between the palm groves towards the rocky cliff. The burial sites are spread over several mounds in two groups: AE7-AE15 i AE16-AE25.
The greatest tomb of Aja in the necropolis (Axis, Eye, Ay; AE25) intended for Aja and his wife. Aj was a military man at the court of Akhenaten. He was called the Father of God. What did it mean – it is not known. Perhaps he was a member of the royal family - the father of Queen Nefertiti.
The decorations of the tomb represent the peak stage of the Amarna style.
At the entrance on the left, Aj and his wife Tije pay tribute to Amon with the royal family. Dwarfs accompany the court.
On the western wall of the main hall, you can see the only complete decoration in the tomb: Aj stands before Akhenaten leaning out of the show window and presenting the chancellor with the award. All this takes place in the presence of Aja's wife and the gathered courtiers.
Other images show Pharaoh's family life: women of the palace arranging their hair, musicians playing the harp, dancers, serving in the kitchen. The courtiers then pay homage to Pharaoh, like gods: they kneel with their lips pressed to the ground. On the back wall you can see the damaged blind gates.
The Amarna Tablets
W 1887 r. a peasant woman looking for fuel in the ruins of ancient Akhetaton dug a box, in which there were clay tablets covered with an unknown pattern. Not realizing the importance of the find, she took them to a richer neighbor, who bought them back for a small sum. Plaques (382) no one was interested in it for a long time. When they came out on the black market, caused a sensation. They were written in cuneiform script in the diplomatic language of the 14th century. p.n.e. -Akkadian. The oldest were from 1380 r. p.n.e. Turned out, that these are letters from the rulers of Canaan to the king of Egypt – Amenhotep III and his successors – Echnatona. Vassals pleaded for military help, support during internal riots and attacks by hostile neighbors. Help did not come. Old Amenhotep III did not make it to the rescue, and his successor was more interested in the cult of Aten. The vassal kings have been handed over to their enemies. The tablets show the politics of this period: contacts with Babylon, Assyria, Mitanni, Arzawa, Alashija (Cyprus) i Hytusami. There were also copies of Egyptian diplomatic letters sent abroad. The Amarna Tablets are a very important and rare historical document, shedding light on international relations during the reign of Akhenaten.
Nefertiti
Nefertiti (Neferetiti, To hate, Nofretete, in Egyptian Beautiful, who came) is the queen of Egypt from the first half of the 14th century. p.n.e., wife of King Amenhotep IV Akhenaten. Its origin is a mystery. She could be the Mithanian Princess Taduhepa, daughter of Amenhotep III and sister of Akhenaten. However, she was probably the daughter of Eje (Aje, Ai), an official and a leader, later king. She had a great influence on Akhenaten and was a supporter of religious reforms.
At all performances of the court in Akhetaton (Tali al Amarina) she is always with her daughters at the king's side, both in everyday life situations, as well as during religious ceremonies. Later she was shown as independent rulers of Egypt – with insignia and in scenes intended only for rulers. She did not give Akhenaten a son, she had six daughters. Nothing is known about the last years of her and Akhenaten's life. No period certificates, and most of the so-called. the facts are just guesses. It is not known, whether Nefertiti's power increased towards the end of her husband's life, or has it decreased. One hypothesis suggests, that the Queen was separated from her sick husband, by ordering himself to be portrayed as a chief pharaoh. There are also no data about her fate after the ruler's death. Some suggest (Reeves czy Harris), that the reigning Smenkhkare after Akhenaten is only a male form of the queen's name, whose titles changed significantly during the reign of Akhenaten.
First it was Nefer nefer uaten Nefertiti, potem Ancheperure Nefer nefer uaten, from where it is not far to the Ancheperure Smenkhkare successor of Akhenaten. It would then be the motor for a return to the ancient Egyptian religion. A bust of her made according to the late Marian portrait principles (currently in Berlin) belongs to the masterpieces of world art.