Amarna

 The First Capital of Monotheism

King Amenhotep IV (c.1352–1336 BC) led what is often described  as  a  “religious  revolution”  that  was  primarily  aimed  at  the  god  Amun,  whose  main  cult  center  was  in  Thebes  (modern  Luxor).  During  his  rule,  the  sun-disk,  “Aten”, came to be the only god that he worshipped. These changes  coincided  with  the  king  changing  his  name  to  "Akhenaten", which was followed by the founding of a new capital on virgin soil in Middle Egypt (in modern al-Minya Governorate): “Akhetaten” (The Horizon of Aten). Boundary stelae,  sixteen  of  which  have  been  discovered  so  far,  were  carved  in  the  hills  and  mountains  surrounding  the  city,  delimiting its territory. Akhetaten lies on the east bank of the  Nile,  where  it  is  bordered  by  the  hills  into  which  the  tombs of high officials were carved. Akhetaten has a clear layout: spanning the north-south length of the city is the Royal Road, on either side of which lie the most important royal,   religious,   and   administrative   buildings.   At   the   southern end of the Royal Road was the Royal Palace, and farther  down  the  Great  Aten  Temple.  Akhenaten’s  high  officials lived in luxurious homes surrounded by gardens, and   even   the   homes   of   artists   and   their   studios have been unearthed as well. After Akhenaten’s  death,  the  city  was  abandoned  and destroyed.