cover image Akhenaten, King of Egypt

Akhenaten, King of Egypt

Cyril Aldred. Thames & Hudson, $35 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-500-05048-4

Until recently, the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten was considered a revolutionary reformer, an idealist and pacifist. But now his monotheism is seen as short-lived, quickly forgotten by the masses after he died; some scholars even consider him an atheist. The romantic image of his deep bond with queen Nefertiti was challenged when a secondary queen named Kiya turned up. We know more about Akhenaten's incest with his daughters, and there is much speculation that the effeminate visual representations of this broad-hipped pharaoh signify that he suffered from a pituitary disorder. In this careful survey of the archeological evidence, Aldred, author of Akhenaten, Pharaoh of Egypt, reviews controversies such as whether the king shared power with a co-regent and the meaning of the ``Amarna Letters,'' 350 cuneiform slabs. Over 100 photographs and sketches bring the latest finds to light. History Book Club and Macmillan Book Club selections. (July)