Hanna
Senior Honors
Akhenaten Study Guide

Respond thoughtfully to the follow-up questions.  Record your answers in your notebook, and quote from the text as much as possible.

Chapters 1 and 2

  1. What was the name of the city that Akhenaten built?
  2. What are your thoughts about the advice that Meriamun's father gives him at the bottom of page 5 and onto page 6?
  3. How old do you think Meriamun is?
  4. Describe the High Priest of Amun, both in appearance and character.
  5. How are the wives of the pharaohs depicted in chapter 2?
  6. How is Akhenaten depicted in chapter 2?
  7. What is your response to the Priest's statement that "without power, wisdom is nothing but chatter"?
  8. How does the Priest explain the decisions of Akhenaten's "candidates for his chamber" to pledge their loyalty to his One and Only God?
  9. What is your response to Akhenaten's explanation of his One and Only God?
  10. According to the Priest, Akhenaten's rule left Egypt in what state?
  11. What two demands did the Priest ultimately put on Akhenaten?  How did Akhenaten react?  What happened?

Chapter 3

  1. In what capacity did Ay first come to know Akhenaten?
  2. How were the two eventually related?
  3. How does Ay characterize the young Akhenaten?
  4. How does Ay explain Akhenaten's relationship with his mother?
  5. How did the young Akhenaten commit blasphemy?
  6. Why did Akhenaten choose Aten to worship over Amun?
  7. How did Akhenaten's parents attempt to "cure" him?  What happened?
  8. Explain the revelation of Akhenaten's One and Only God.
  9. How did Nefertiti and Akhenaten first meet?
  10. Re-read the dialog between Akhenaten and Ay that runs from the bottom of page 38 to the middle of page 39?  What are your thoughts about Akhenaten's beliefs?
  11. Like The High Priest of Amun, Ay acknowledges that these two and others met in Akhetaten to discuss Egypt's predicament shortly before Akhenaten was stripped of power.  How does Ay's description of this meeting differ from The High Priest of Amun's?

Chapter 4

  1. Sometimes it is our friends who complete us, which explains why sometimes people who are so different become good friends.  How does this concept apply to Akhenaten and Haremhab?  How does it apply to you?
  2. How does Haremhab demonstrate that Akhenaten was paradoxical?
  3. What do you think Haremhab's answer is to Meriamun's final question?  Why do you think he chooses not to say this (whatever it might be)?

Chapters 5 and 6

  1. Do you feel that there is a connection between Akhenaten’s monotheism and his belief in monogamy?
  2. What is your response to the concept of a harem?
  3. What information does Tadukhipa provide about Tiye, Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and the harem?

Chapters 7, 8, and 9

  1. Re-read page 82.  What are your thoughts on Toto’s concept of “divine justice?”  Apply this concept and your thoughts to the world today.
  2. What was Toto’s solution for dealing with the “heretic?”
  3. Mutnedjmet repeats what claims made earlier by Tadukhipa?
  4. Which version of Nefertiti, Tey’s or Mutnedjmet’s, do you side with?

Chapters 10 and 11

  1. What claim does Mae make that confirms a claim made earlier by Toto?
  2. Which characters are ‘for’ Akhenaten?  Which characters are ‘against’ Akhenaten?

Chapters 12 and 13

  1. What is ironic about Maho’s position as chief of police in Akhetaten?
  2. What interesting observation does Nakht make on page 125 about the source of Akhenaten’s inspiration?  How does this reflect the connection between faith and truth?  Use an example from your own life.
  3. Who does Nakht blame for Akhenaten’s thinking?
  4. Why does Nakht finish his thoughts by saying “This is a story of innocence”?

Chapters 14 and 15