Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV)

Akhenaten, originally named Amenhotep IV, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled around 1353–1336 BCE. He is best known for attempting to establish a monotheistic religion centered on the worship of Aten, the sun disk, replacing Egypt’s traditional pantheon of gods. His religious reforms drastically changed Egyptian spirituality and art, emphasizing a more naturalistic style. Akhenaten also moved the capital to a new city, Amarna, dedicated to Aten. His reforms were largely reversed after his death, but his brief religious experiment marked a significant departure from traditional Egyptian beliefs and had lasting cultural impacts.