"The Pharaoh's sinister smile seemed to whisper love me… but fear me.." Embark on a journey into ancient Egypt's shadows with our latest episode, as we delve deep into the enigmatic life of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh whose legacy was damned by his own people. We uncover the intriguing tale of Akhenaten's formative years, shaped under the towering influence of his illustrious father, Amenhotep III. With the help of The Amarna Letters, we'll untangle the mysteries surrounding Akhenaten's bizarre physical traits and his shocking depiction in royal imagery, foreshadowing the turbulence of his later rule. As the young Pharaoh's arrogance grows, we witness Akhenaten's defiance against the powerful priesthood of Amun and his audacious vision to revolutionize ancient Egypt. Finally, we follow The Pharoah in his bold quest to establish a new capital city devoted to the sun god Aten, setting the stage for a monumental upheaval in the ancient world. Tune in to unravel the dark story of the heretic pharaoh, offering insights into one of history's most fascinating and controversial figures. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00-Introduction to Akhenaten 00:05:17-Finding the Amarna Letters 00:13:50-Background on the 18th Dynasty 00:20:49-Amenhotep III and The Aten 00:26:30-Amenhotep’s new portrayals 00:30:45-Akhenaten becomes Pharaoh 00:36:35-Akhenaten’s obsession with The Aten Help support the show on Patreon! Sources and Attributions on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices