The Invention of Monotheism in Ancient Egypt
Abstract
Akhenaten’s policy of religious reform has been described in such terms as radical and epiphanic conversion to monotheism, moderate and organic movement to a limitedly practiced henotheism, and even as a conceptual form of natural philosophy not focused on religion at all. While there is clear disagreement over the motivations for the shift to Atenism in Egypt, one thing is certain: The abrupt end to Akhenaten’s 17-year reign left the pogrom instituted by the king towards the pantheon of Egyptian deities unfinished, and thus the end-goal of Akhenaten’s campaign was never truly realized. Regardless of his intentions, Akhenaten fostered a nascent religious system in which one god was elevated above all others. He left behind a wealth of artistic, textual, and archaeological evidence that showcases the conceptual transition to the worship of one deity responsible for the creation and perpetuation of the universe. This talk aims to explore this surviving Amarna evidence to identify potential parallels and synergies with Mazdean traditions.
Citation
Cooney, Kathlyn. "The Invention of Monotheism in Ancient Egypt," Contextualizing Iranian Religions in the Ancient World - 14th Melammu Symposium. February 18, 2020.
About the Speaker
Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney
University of California, Los Angeles
Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney is a Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture. She served as Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA from 2016 to 2025. Cooney’s research in coffin reuse, primarily focusing on the 21st Dynasty, is ongoing. Her research investigates the socioeconomic and political turmoil that have plagued the period, ultimately affecting funerary and burial practices in ancient Egypt. This project has taken her around the world over the span of five to six years to study and document more than 300 coffins in collections around the world, including Cairo, London, Paris, Berlin, and Vatican City. Her most recent trade book, The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World, appeared in 2021 with National Geographic Books. Her latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches, will be published in 2024 by The American University in Cairo Press.