Atonist
/ˈeɪ.tən.ɪst/noun
A person who follows or studies the ancient Egyptian religion centered on the god Aten.
Did you know?Atonism is often called history’s first monotheism, although scholars debate whether Akhenaten’s reforms were true monotheism or exclusive worship of one god.
Etymological Timeline
Late 2nd Millennium BCE
Ancient Egyptian
jtn
“The solar disk, later personified as the deity Aten”
14th Century BCE
Ancient Egyptian
Jꜥḥ-n-jtn
“Akhenaten, meaning approximately “Effective for Aten””
14th Century BCE
Ancient Egyptian
Stela of Aten
“Royal religious texts presenting Aten as the supreme—and eventually exclusive—divine power”
19th Century
Egyptology
Aton
“An Egyptological spelling used for the solar deity’s name”
20th Century
English
Atonism
“The religious system associated with Akhenaten’s worship of Aten”
20th Century
English
Atonist
“A follower, adherent, or scholarly student of Atonism”
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