Abstract
The winter before last, one of the most extraordinary and unexpected archaeological discoveries of modern times was made in Upper Egypt. Egypt has always been the land of archaeological surprises, but its last surprise is, perhaps, the greatest that it has ever afforded us. About midway between Minieh and Assiout, but on the eastern bank of the Nile, are the extensive mounds of an ancient city, now known under the name of Tel el-Amarna. They cover the remains of the capital built by Amenophis IV or Khu-en-Aten, "the heretic king," as he is familiarly called in the histories of monumental Egypt. Alone among the Pharaohs of his country he deserted the religion and traditions of his fathers, and endeavoured to impose upon his unwilling subjects a new form of faith. Forsaking the worship of Amen of Thebes, of Ra of Heliopolis, of Ptah of Memphis, he professed himself the devoted adorer of the radiant solar disk, in which he saw the image and symbol of the Supreme Deity.