The Aten was the disc of the sun and originally an aspect of Ra, the sun god in traditional ancient Egyptian religion.

Mar 10, 2025 · Aton, in ancient Egyptian religion, a sun god, depicted as the solar disk emitting rays terminating in human hands, whose worship briefly was the state religion. The pharaoh Akhenaton (reigned 1353–36 bce) returned to supremacy of the sun god, with the startling innovation that the Aton was to be the only god (see Re).

Nov 5, 2016 · In ancient Egyptian mythology, Aten, also spelled Aton, is the sun-disk and worshipped from as early as the 3rd dynasty as an aspect of Ra. The worship of a deified form of Aten became a state religion during the rule of Amenhotep …

Jan 8, 2021 · Aten is the "Sun disk god" of ancient Egypt: he is the incarnation of the Sun. The god Aten appears during the 25th century BC as a minor god of Egypt. However, it was in 1353 BC that Aten really entered the posterity by becoming the single god of Egypt throughout the reign of Akhenaten, the so-called "heretic pharaoh."

Oct 30, 2023 · Aten, often depicted as a radiant sun disc with extending rays ending in hands, stands as a symbol of life-giving energy and omnipresence. Unlike the anthropomorphic representations of many Egyptian deities, Aten’s portrayal as a sun disc emphasized its universality and encompassing nature.

The Aten was not a new god but an obscure aspect of the sun god worshipped as early as the Old Kingdom. “Aten” was the traditional name for the sun-disk itself and so the name of the god is often translated as “the Aten”.

Nov 14, 2024 · In the depictions of the Aten, the disk shone down with sun-like rays, enlightening and blessing the royal family with god-like status and apparent wisdom. Mainstream scholars say the Aten was merely the Sun but was the Aten much more than that?

The Aten was not a new invention of Akhenaten - rather, it was portrayed as a sun disc even in his father's time. It has been identified with various pharaohs in previous times, and it has even be argued that Akhenaten equated the Aten with his father, Amenhotep III.

Oct 6, 2024 · The Sun Disk, or Aten, is visually represented as a circle with rays extending outward, often ending in hands that bestow life and blessings upon the pharaoh and his family. This imagery conveys the Aten’s nurturing and life-giving qualities, embodying the …

Jan 4, 2025 · Aton, the sun disk god, played a pivotal role in ancient Egyptian religion, especially during Akhenaten's reign, symbolizing light and divine power