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Early Cartouche of the God Aten
Early cartouche of the god Aten, calcite alabaster. New Kingdom of Egypt, 18th Dynasty, 1351-1334 BCE.
At the upper part of this votive plaque of the God Aten, there are two "early" cartouches of Aten. On the right, it reads "The living Re-Horakhty, Rejoicing in the horizon" while that on the left reads "In his name as Shu, who is in the Aten". Below them, a figure of Akhenaten (r. 1353-1336 BCE) is flanked by cartouches.
The one on the right, below Akhenaten's left hand is the nomen cartouche (birth name) of Akhenaten which reads "Beautiful are the Forms of Re, the Unique one of Re". The prenomen (throne name) lies below his right elbow and reads "Effective for the Aten". On the extreme right side, Nefertiti's cartouche can be seen and reads "Beautiful are the Beauties of Aten, the Beautiful one has come".
Neues Museum, Berlin.
Questions & Answers
How long were the gods & goddesses of ancient Egypt worshipped?
- The gods & goddesses of ancient Egypt were worshipped from the Predynastic Period (c. 6000-3150 BCE through the Roman Period of Egypt (30 BCE- 646 CE).
How did people worship the gods of ancient Egypt?
- People worshipped the gods through festivals and private rituals. There were no "worship services" as one would understand them today. Clergy communed with the god/goddess at the temple and people could visit the temple complex but were not allowed in the temple itself.
Who was the most popular deity of ancient Egypt?
- Isis was the most popular deity of ancient Egypt. Temples were raised in her honor outside of Egypt as far away as Roman Britain and her cult was a major contender with early Christianity.
Who was the most powerful deity of ancient Egypt?
- The most powerful deity of ancient Egypt was Amun. Amun was worshipped the longest and his clergy was so wealthy that their power rivaled that of the monarch.
