The Influences of the State on the Egyptian Decorative Arts in Tel el-Amarna

Ancient Egyptian art, which remained relatively stable over a period spanning 3,500 years,
aimed to not only preserve political and religious order but to also modify life (Brewer & Teeter
2007:189). Yet, during the Eighteenth Dynasty (ca.1351-1334 BCE) Amenhotep IV, later in
his reign known as Akhenaten, replaced the various traditional Egyptian deities by one deity,
namely the Aten (Silverman 1997:221). This major transformation resulted in not only major
cultural changes but also radically unorthodox Egyptian art forms which were all linked to
Akhenaten's religious agenda (Tiradritti 2002:78-83).
The paper attempts to discuss the impact of the new ideology of Akhnaten on urban
development in the new erected capital, which had embraced the Aten and his messenger,
Aknaten. Moreover, the current paper aims to examine the main artistic characteristics of
Amarna art, and to explore tell what extend the Akhenaten's monotheistic religion’s ideology
had reflected in the nature of the art in this particular period.
In addition, the paper will highlight the prominent features of the paintings and murals in the
Great palace and the King’s house as both structures had endured abounded of paintings and
architectural attributes that help to identify the artistic features in Amarna Art.
Akhnaten and his capital City, Ahetaten:
During Amenhotep IV's early years of his reign, he decided that the Aten needed a new
metropolis (Hari 1985:8). As a result, the king changed his administrative capital from Thebes
to Amarna or ‘Akhetaten 'horizon of the Aten' (Fig 1) (Wilkinson 2003:240-241). The city (Fig
2) was designed differently with open altars, open courtyards, and a royal road for the king.
This new city had witnessed the birth of Armana art style.
The structure of the Great Palace of Aketaten:
The Great Palace (Fig 3) of Amarna was laying on the west side of the royal road paralleling
to the River Nile from its east bank. It was measuring around 400 m from north to south and
around 250 m from east to west. The ”North Harem” wing was located in the South east of the
Great Court,. The Great Palace was probably the administrative central of the royal affairs
with most of the public service buildings close by. (Aldred 1988: 61)
Various of painted floors were found at the Great Palace, which mostly located in the private
section , that was dubbed as the palace ‘Harem’.