 Border post U, Tell el-Amarna | ||
| Tell el-āAmārna · تل العمارنة | ||
| Governorate | Minyā | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 195 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Tell el-Amarna (Arabic:تل العمارنة, Tall al-āAmārna; Ancient Egyptian Achetaton ("horizon of the Aten")) is an archaeological site in Middle Egypt. It is located approx. 310 km south of Cairo, 50 km south of el-Minyā and about 400 km north of Luxor. Strictly speaking, the archaeological site is on both the west and east banks. The entire area is bordered by fourteen so-called border steles (in the west to Tūna el-Gebel). In a narrower sense, one means the settlements on the eastern bank of the Nile. Today the villages of et-Till, el-Hagg Qandil, el-'Amariya, Kom el-Nana and el-Hawata are located here from north to south.
background
Tell el-Amarna is an artificial name formed by travelers of the 19th century, which may be derived from the village of el-'Amariya or the Bedouin tribe Beni Amran. Even the indication Tell is imprecise, since it is not a settlement hill, the indication el-Amarna would certainly be more correct.
El-Amarna or Achetaton ("Horizon of Aton") is the one below Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten, 18th dynasty) founded a new capital Ancient Egypt and center of the Aton cult. It is located in the 15th Upper Egyptian Gau. This post was chosen because it de facto was uninhabited until then and was therefore suitable for a new cult center. Possibly the shape of the two mountain ranges in the east played a role, in the middle of which a valley cuts, so that the shape of the horizon hieroglyph results.
The minor one colonization are also documented by archaeological finds. Settlements before the Amarna period are limited to the Paleolithic (flint tool finds), in the post-Amarna period there was only a small amount of settlement, which culminated in the Roman period with the settlement (camp) of Kom el-Nana. In the area of the north graves there was later a small settlement of Coptic Christians who set up a church in the grave of Panehesi (TA 6). It is believed that there might have been a quarry workers' settlement for the nearby alabaster quarries of Hatnub in the Old Kingdom, but this has not yet been proven. For archaeologists, el-Amarna is of course a stroke of luck: to find a city complex that was later hardly built over. Thus, this city complex is an important, albeit atypical, example of the founding of cities in ancient Egypt. There are only a few other archaeologically proven settlements, which is understandable by the transience of the building material clay: Elephantine, Kahun settlement north of the pyramid of el-Lāhūn, Deir el-Madina and Qasr es-Sagha.
The Useful life This city did not last long: the city was founded in the 4th year of the reign of Amenhotep IV and served as a settlement around the end of Tutankhamun's reign. Around 30,000 people lived in the city. The officials return to Thebes with Tutankhamun, so that they were mostly buried there as well. Most of the tombs in Amarna have not been completed and have probably not been used. In the Ramesside era, the city was destroyed and the building material was reused elsewhere.
The Orientation towards a new cult is visible both in the representations of the tombs and in the temple architecture. The temples are still open at the top. Very often the royal couple is portrayed as a mediator to the god Aton.
On the area on the east side, which extended about 7 km in north-south direction and about 4 km in east-west direction (an area of approx. 25 km2) were found by the excavators (Egypt Exploration Society, 1901 - 1907, 1921 - 1936, from 1977; Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft, 1911 - 1914) the following parts of the settlement be localized:
- the North city, to the south of it remains of a bridge (?, large ramp) and the North palace for Queen Nefertiti (Nefertiti) or one of her daughters,
- the northern suburb,
- the "City center" with palace complexes, the large (730 × 275 m with numerous sacrificial altars) and small Aton temple, administration (e.g. for the safekeeping of correspondence, here the famous Amarna letters found - a cuneiform clay tablet archive for correspondence with the Hittite royal court), kitchens, bakeries and military posts. Remnants of the painted palace floor are in today Egyptian Museum of Cairo to see.
- the main settlement in the southern suburb for civil servants and craftsmen. Here stood the house of Panehesi, of which his office and grave (TA 6) are known, and the workshop of the sculptor Thutmose, in which the famous painted Limestone bust of Nefertiti (Nefertiti) was found.
- In the south was the pleasure house Maru-Aten with painted floors and gardens including a pond and further south the river temple. The relief of the ducks in the papyrus thicket from the Maru-Aten is today in the Amarna Hall in Egyptian Museum of Cairo issued.
- In the north of the desert one found Desert altars and one at about level with the city center Workers settlement and the so-called stone settlement, which was only inhabited temporarily.
- Numerous Rock tombs in the mountain ranges on the eastern edge in two groups (in the north graves TA1 - TA 6, in the south graves TA 7 - TA 25).
- The Royal tomb TA 62 in Wadi Abu Hasah el-Bahri, approx. 5 km from the northern group of tombs.
- The area of the capital was called by fourteen Border steles limited. They contain decrees on the boundaries and layout of the city of Akhetaten from the fourth to eighth year of Akhenaten's reign, some of which are framed by statues of the royal family. The area extended to after Tuna el-Gebel.
getting there
In the street
The journey usually takes place in a taxi or by coach. Depending on whether you want to reach other destinations or are traveling with several people, the price is around LE 50 to 100 for a taxi. The archaeological site can be reached via a well-developed asphalt road. South from Mallawī if you turn east, where you will come across a truck ferry dock. The ferry leads to the village of et-Till, the cost of a ferry crossing is LE 13 for a return trip. It is possible that you will have to join a convoy.
By train
One can see the nearby city Mallawī can also be reached by train to hire a taxi from here. The journey time of the express trains from Cairo to Mallawī is a good four hours.
mobility
Due to the spaciousness of the area, you will probably have to bring your own vehicle. The time of donkeys or tractor wagons as a means of transport is over.
In recent years several asphalt roads have been laid out so that important monuments can be reached by car or bus. This also applies to the remote royal grave TA 62. In the south, however, there are only sandy slopes that can also be driven on by car.
Tourist Attractions
Since the excavations were almost a century ago, large parts of the area have silted up again. It will be difficult to see the city center and the southern suburbs.
The ticket office is located in the north of the area near the northern group of tombs and the north palace. The area is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entrance fee for the excavation area is LE 60, for students LE 30. To visit the royal grave TA 62 you have to purchase another ticket for LE 40, for students LE 20 (as of 11/2019).
The graves of the officials usually consist of a columned or pillar hall, which can be joined by another hall. At the end there is usually a niche for the statue of the deceased. The decoration is carried out in the rock or in the stucco plaster. Important motifs are the depiction of the royal family in the palace and on horseback riding and architectural depictions of temples and palaces. The grave area was created underground.
Graves of high officials, graves of the northern group
Graves 1 and 2
- 1 Tomb of Huya (TA 1).
The grave lord was head of the royal harem and the two treasure houses. The tomb consists of a pillared hall with two columns, followed by a transverse hall with a statue niche. The representations include the representation of the royal family with the queen mother Teje and the royal family at meal, the carrying of the king to the reception hall, the awarding of the burial master with the honor gold and the temple of Akhetaton.(27 ° 40 ′ 24 ″ N.30 ° 55 ′ 18 ″ E)
- 2 Tomb of Meryre II. (TA 2).The tomb lord was the royal scribe, head of the two treasure houses. Similar to the grave of Huya, that of Meryre II consists of a pillared hall with adjoining transverse hall and statue niche, but the pillared hall was not completed. The outer wall shows the grave lord praying to the sun. Representations include those of the royal family, the reward of the grave lord and his ride, and that of the royal couple under a canopy receiving foreign tributes.(27 ° 40 ′ 22 ″ N.30 ° 55 ′ 20 ″ E)
Graves 3 to 6
- 3 Tomb of Ahmosi (TA 3) (27 ° 39 ′ 51 ″ N.30 ° 55 ′ 38 ″ E)
- 4 Tomb of Meryre I. (TA 4).The tomb lord was high sun priest of Aton in the temple of Aton, fan-bearer on the right of the king, chancellor of the king of Lower Egypt. The grave is one of the largest and most important. The pillared hall with formerly four pillars can be reached via an anteroom, followed by the unfinished four-pillar hall with a statue niche. One of the depictions is the exit of the royal family with their entourage to the Temple of the Sun, where priests await them. The sun temple is also shown. Furthermore, you can see sacrifices by the royal family, the award of the grave lord with honor gold and the estate of the tomb lord with house, garden and storerooms.(27 ° 39 ′ 50 ″ N.30 ° 55 ′ 39 ″ E)
- 5 Tomb of Bintu (TA 5) (27 ° 39 '49 "N.30 ° 55 ′ 40 ″ E)
- 6 Panehesi's tomb (TA 6).The grave lord was the chief servant of Aton in the residence of Aton in Achetaton (Amarna). Second prophet and servant of the Lord of the Two Lands Nefercheprure in the Temple of Aten. Head of the granaries and the cattle of the Aton. Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt. This grave is similar to the previous one. After passing through the portico with four pillars, one arrives at the next portico and the statue niche. Only the front portico and the statue niche are decorated. The royal family, the award of the grave lord with gold, sacrifices and the ride of the royal family to the temple of the sun are shown again. In Christian times, the northern part of the grave was redesigned into a church with a baptismal font.(27 ° 39 ′ 40 ″ N.30 ° 55 '48 "E)
Graves of high officials, graves of the southern group
Sometimes accessible:
- 7 Ma'hu's tomb (TA 9). The grave owner was a police officer. The shape of the Mahu's tomb is similar to Theban tombs: a staircase leads to the transverse hall, which is followed by an undecorated longitudinal hall. In addition to the well-known scenes of the royal family, the tomb lord is shown kneeling in front of the sun hymn, on the other hand, the southern entrance wall shows the tomb lord leading captured foreigners to the vizier. The coffin chamber has only been completed in this grave and this is perhaps the only official grave that has received a burial.(27 ° 36 '51 "N.30 ° 55 ′ 9 ″ E)
- 8 Tomb of Eje (TA 25).This is the unfinished tomb of the future King Eje. The king himself later settled in the western valley of the Royal Graves Valley buried by Thebes. Only a few representations have already been made, such as the representation of the royal family, that of Eje in official costume, the decoration of Eje and Eje with his wife in prayer. The architecture of the tomb with its 24 planned lotus bundle columns is unique in Amarna. Interestingly, this tomb has a parallel in Thebes West with the grave of Ramose, mayor and vizier under Akhenaten, grave TT 55.(27 ° 36 '38 "N.30 ° 54 '54 "E)
Royal family tomb
- 9 Akhenaten's tomb (TA 62).This remote grave, located in the Wadi Abu Hasah el-Bahri (also Darb el-Melek) on the north side of the wadi, is approx. 5 km east of the valley entrance and approx. 10 km east of the ticket sales point. It was opened to tourists in 2003/2004 (asphalt road, wooden stairs and electric lighting). Obviously the grave was never used for him. Only his daughter Meketaton, who died early, was buried here in a side wing. The representations in the coffin chamber, which was planned as a pillar hall, can hardly be made out: they show, among other things, the royal family worshiping the sun. In the side wing, which was used for the burial of Princess Meketaton, the representations are much better preserved. The first room shows the royal family praying in front of the Sun Temple, the entourage including Asians worshiping, soldiers with horse and carts and a very personal depiction: the royal family and mourning women weeping for their daughter at the death bed - this scene is unique in Egyptian graves. In the register above you can see her wet nurse holding the child, the royal family praying and other mourners. There are no representations in the second room. In the third room one finds the royal family and mourning women again depicted mourning their daughter Meketaton on her deathbed. The princess can also be found under a canopy, her parents and the royal entourage in front of her, and more mourners on another wall.(27 ° 37 '35 "N.30 ° 59 ′ 6 ″ E)
Settlement area
- The 10 North palace(27 ° 40 ′ 12 ″ N.30 ° 54 '13 "E) was originally laid out as the residence of the Nefertiti (Nefertiti) or the Kiya, a concubine, but was ultimately used by his daughter Meretaton. The surrounding wall encloses an area of 110 × 140 m, the buildings were arranged in a U-shape around a central basin. The entrance was on the west. At the end of the central axis was the throne room. Several rooms served as women's quarters (servants). The walls and ceilings, but not the floors, were painted. Most of the remains of depictions come from the women's quarters: these are depictions of nature (papyrus, lotus, birds). The ceilings were decorated with depictions of vine leaves.
- 11 Small temple(27 ° 38 '43 "N.30 ° 53 '46 "E.) downtown. Since silted up, little can be seen of the city center with its palace complexes, the Great and Small Temples. If you still want to explore the area, it is well advised to have a map of this area at hand. Only the superbly reconstructed Small Temple allows the visitor to fathom its structure.
- There are 14 on the outskirts Border steles with decrees on the extent and layout of the city. The stele A on the way to is particularly suitable for a visit Tūna el-Gebel is located - about 500 m from the necropolis on the west side of the road because it is easiest to access here.
- 12 Stele U(27 ° 40 ′ 0 ″ N.30 ° 55 ′ 31 ″ E)
- 13 Stele V(27 ° 38 '44 "N.30 ° 56 ′ 18 ″ E)
kitchen
Below the northern group of graves there is a small restaurant that Akhnaton Cafeteria, with toilets. Nevertheless, it is advisable to carry food and drinks with you.
accommodation
Accommodation options exist in el-Minyā and in Mallawī.
Practical advice
Tourist information
The tourist information in Tell el-Amarna is on Tel .: (086) 225 4088; 221 0517, app. 322; Tel .: (086) 221 0322, app. 322 reachable.
trips
If you just want to get a rough overview, you can visit Tell el-Amarna with that of Tūna el-Gebel and or el-Ashmunein connect. If you want to explore Amarna intensively, you will probably need one or two days.
literature
Tell el-Amarna is described in the scientific literature:
- Graves:
- : The rock tombs of El Amarna. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1903, ISBN 0-85698-159-1 , ISBN 0-85698-160-5 , ISBN 0-85698-161-3 .
- : The royal tomb at el-ʿAmarna. London: Egypt Exploration Soc., 1974, ISBN 978-0-85698-107-4 (Volume 2).
Web links
- Amarna Project of Cambridge University, United Kingdom
