A Pharaoh Thrice Buried? The Mystery of the Tombs of Pharaoh Akhenaten

Pharaoh Akhenaten is one of the most mysterious kings of Ancient Egypt. Researchers have discovered three tombs dedicated to him – all full of even more secrets. These tombs do, however, provide fascinating hints about the enigmatic pharaoh’s life.

Akhenaten was the successor of his father Amenhotep III, one of the most successful pharaohs of the New Kingdom Period. However, he wasn’t the crown prince of his father’s dreams. He had a weak body and was a dreamer and a poet – not exactly an iconic candidate to become a pharaoh. Despite these apparent short-comings, his reign became one of the most meaningful periods in the entire history of Egypt.

This pharaoh’s home was in Thebes, but later he created his own city called the “Horizon of Aten” – now known as Tell-el-Amarna. Akhenaten believed that this city would also be his eternal home, his final destination, and a monument which would make him famous forever. Unfortunately for him, his fame is more connected with the beauty of his wife and the tomb of his son – Tutankhamun.

A colossal statue of Akhenaten from his Aten Temple at Karnak. Egyptian Museum of Cairo. (Gérard Ducher/CC BY SA 2.5)