“Great Hymn to the Aten”

Questions for Further Study

• 1. How did historical events surrounding the Eighteenth Dynasty in Egypt contribute to the emergence of the “Great Hymn to the Aten”?
• 2. In what sense could it be said that the “Great Hymn to the Aten” represents a first step away from polytheism toward later monotheism? What influence might the hymn and the reign of Akhenaten have had on Jewish conceptions of God?
• 3. Why do you think that the sun or a sun god was often a central figure in early polytheistic religions?
• 4. In what sense was Akhenaten a religious rebel in ancient Egypt? Why do you think his successors tried to undo Akhenaten’s religious innovations?