Preface
Abbreviations
Map
1. When the Sun Ruled Egypt
2. Sky and Sun Together
3. The Dawn of the Amarna Period
4. The Domain of Aten: the Temples of Aten at Karnak
5. Finding Aten and Founding Akhet-Aten
6. Aten Alone
7. Is Atenism Monotheism?
8. The Hymns to Aten: A Monotheistic Manifesto
9. The Influence of Atenism in Egypt and the Bible?
Index
James K. Hoffmeier was born and raised in Egypt where his passion
for the archaeology of Egypt began. During graduate school, he
worked with the Akhenaten Temple Project and participated in
excavations (1975-1978). From 1999-2008 he directed excavations in
North Sinai and in 2005 he discovered unexpected evidence of
Akhenaten's religious revolution. Since 1976, Hoffmeier has taught
courses on Egyptian history, archaeology, and religion, as well
as
in the field of Old Testament, and has engaged in research and
writing on areas where Egyptology and the Hebrew Bible intersect.
"In the history of ideas one early figure stands out as an
initiator of change, Akhenaten, king of Egypt. His attempt to
simplify understanding of divine power represents a bold exercise
in critical thinking. Hoffmeier's book lays out clearly and
authoritatively the historical context and the nature of the
prevailing concepts against which Akhenaten reacted." --Barry Kemp,
Director, the Amarna Project
"Hoffmeier offers a stimulating and judicious re-evaluation of the
many controversial historical issues related to the Amarna Period.
Particularly thought-provoking is a new interpretation of the
origins of Akhenaten's religious ideas based on a phenomenology of
religion approach. Akhenaten's experience is identified as a
theophany and is examined against other encounters with the divine
found in ancient Near Eastern sources. Exploring the questions of
whether
Atenism was monotheistic and whether it could have influenced
Hebrew monotheism, the book will also be of great interest to
Biblical scholars." --Boyo Ockinga, Associate Professor of Ancient
History,
Macquarie University, Sydney
"James Hoffmeier draws upon the latest scholarly research to inform
this new study of Atenism. Well-versed in the religious traditions
of Egypt, Israel, and the Near East, Hoffmeier utilizes
phenomenological, linguistic, and archaeological approaches to
argue that Akhenaten's 'heretical' religion was a potent
combination of revelation and revivalism. His own excavations of
Atenist remains at the border fortress of Tell el-Borg also bring
fresh evidence to bear
on ever-intriguing issues." --Ellen Morris, Department of Classics
and Ancient Studies, Barnard College
"Hoffmeier does an excellent job placing Akhenaten and his religion
in the broader context of the history and religions of the entire
ancient Near East. Drawing upon texts, archaeological data
(including new evidence from his excavations in the Sinai),
architecture, and art, he provides innovative insight on a subject
that has been extensively studied by so many others." --Emily
Teeter, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
"Hoffmeier's book provides a fluent read, especially for those who
are more or less familiar with Egyptological terminology. All in
all, it is an excellent and stimulating contribution and provides a
truly in-depth introduction to the religion of Akhenaten's period
and its origins." --Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Akhenaten and the Origins of Monotheism is an accessible and lucid
handbook
to the massive history of scholarship on Akhenaten's religion."--
Paul Allen, Yale University
"It is an excellent and stimulating contribution and provides a
truly in-depth introduction to the religion of Akhenaten's period
and its origins."--Peter C. Nadig, Freie Universität Berlin
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
