Amarna
/əˈmɑːrnə/noun
An archaeological site in Egypt, known for its ruins of the ancient city Akhetaten.
Did you know?Amarna was once the capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten, who attempted to shift Egypt's polytheistic worship to a single sun god, Aten, marking a radical religious transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
Akhetaten
“Horizon of the Aten, referring to the sun god.”
14th Century BCE
Egyptian
Amarna
“Modern designation for the site of the ancient city, derived from its nearby village.”
19th Century
English
Amarna
“Adopted by Western archaeologists to refer to the archaeological site.”
20th Century
English
Amarna
“Became synonymous with discoveries revealing the Amarna Period's unique art and culture.”