Having read well over a hundred of books and even more articles about ancient Egypt, I disagree with your bashing, which seems a bit outdated nowadays. And keep in mind that Hatshepsut was not worthier in Egyptian views and shares a similar (but not so complete) damnatio meoriae. And by the way, not because she was a woman, earlier and later female Pharaohs didn't face the same fate. Even her lavish propaganda failed to make her a legit ruler in the eyes of the Egyptians that followed (and it also wasn't just Thutmose III who did it). So how is she worthier? Yes, she was a great Pharaoh, but so was Akhenaten. He was a major reformer of society and religion (note that his religion isn't much more geared towards monotheism than the Egyptian religion before). And the 'neglecting foreign policy' is just a common myth, comparable with the Pyramids being built with slave labor - archeology points to other conclusions, but the myth is just too nice to fade away. And on a personal note: I adore the Amarna art style - not as much as Old Kingdom or 26th dynasty art, but Akhenaten's statues are great and the Amarna tomb's are also a great and very interesting visit (and a welcome change), especially Meryra's. And don't get me started on the famous busts...
You lack historical evidence backing your conclusions (for example, dismissing the foreign policy point as simply a myth with no supporting evidence), so I doubt your statement about your reading "well over a hundred of books". Almost all scholars agree Akhenaten
abandoned foreign policy for the most part, taking on rare issues only where he was personally interested (
see, e.g. the Amarna letters). He made art at the expense of a kingdom, and failed to have the foresight to plan for the continual monotheism following his death. Surely he had an idea that wiping out references to the old gods on the old monuments would be unpopular? His reign was essentially a controversial and even traumatizing waste of time. With pretty art. Thanks Akhenaten.
An excerpt from the
Ancient History Encyclopedia (
the largest and most popular ancient history encyclopedia on the Internet) discusses Akhenaten's neglect of foreign policy:
One of the many unfortunate results of Akhenaten's religious reforms was a neglect of foreign policy. From documents and letters of the time it is known that other nations, formerly allies, wrote numerous times asking Egypt for help in various affairs and that most of these requests were ignored by the deified king.
In contrast, Hatshepsut, scholars agree,
is one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs, and very engaged with foreign policy (including but not limited to her expanded trade with Punt). She was nowhere near as reviled as Akhenaten, and her images etc were likely taken down as women were *not* meant to be
pharaohs (almost all other queens were simply queen regents for a time, not pharaohs outright, only Hatshepsut and Cleopatra were, and obviously Cleopatra lived in less conservative Egyptian climes). All pharaohs, especially Rameses II, had "lavish propaganda" so that doesn't instantly delegitimize any of them. Akhenaten reformed nothing in society, only in religion. You might say religion affects society, but his major contribution was to a monotheistic cult that died out with him, and a son that overturned his monotheism and allowed future generations to tear his stuff down. Hatshepsut was less reviled than Akhenaten, as she was legitimate in all ways other than that of her sex. She adopted well to the climes, however, and used both military and diplomacy capably and well, unlike a certain sun-obsessed Akhenaten.
You may "adore the Amarna art style" but that says nothing of Akhenaten's strengths as a ruler. Famous busts are negligible compared with actual accomplishment. Similarly, Trump may have high personal recognition and his own cult of sorts, but that doesn't mean he accomplished anything of note, or created a lasting legacy. People often mistake loud rulers like Louis XIV or Henry VIII for competent rulers.
Besides, what would Akhenaten's agenda be called? "Heretic King"?
