Although
Atenism, the worship of Aten, had started
out as standard henotheism, it very quickly
became, for reasons that are not very
clear, entirely monotheistic. Indeed,
it is even possible that this is the first
instance of monotheism in the world. Subsequently,
Amenhotep IV started persecuting the worship
of Amun, and erased the name from monuments,
even changing his own name to Akhenaten
in favour of Aten. However, this abrupt
change was unpopular, particularly with
the previous priesthoods, who had now
suddenly found themselves without power.
Consequently, when Akhenaten died, his
name was struck out, and all his changes
undone, almost as if they had not occurred.
Worship of Aten was replaced, and that
of Amun-Ra restored.
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