Postcard EG-5280

This postcard shows the pharaoh, Akhenaten, praising the sun god, Aten. Akhenaten broke from traditional Egyptian polytheism and instituted monotheism in Egypt. He also broke with the traditional style of art. As shown on this postcard, the poses of the people were much more rounded and naturalistic, vs. the squarish poses typical of Egyptian art. This shift away from traditional polytheism was not generally accepted. After his death, Akhenaten's buildings, monuments, and art style was systematically destroyed. Also, his name excluded from lists of pharaohs kept by subsequent pharaohs, essentially erasing him from memory and history. Akhenaten was rediscovered in the 19th century, although little of his legacy remains.