Egypt's Golden Couple: When Akhenaten and Nefertiti Were Gods on Earth

Akhenaten and Nefertiti were the first individual and the first monotheist, but others have seen them as an incestuous tyrant. Tutankhamun's gold funerary mask and painted bust are the most recognizable artifacts from ancient Egypt. Egypt's Golden Couple is a journey through excavations, museums, hieroglyphic texts, and stunning artifacts to reconstruct an untold story of their reign.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 09 November 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

The life and legacy of Akhenaten, the pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt during the 18th dynasty, have been the subject of radically different and often contradictory biographies. While some view him as the world's first individual and the first monotheist, others portray him as an incestuous tyrant who nearly brought down the kingdom he ruled. Despite this, Akhenaten and his wife, Nefertiti, are best known for their iconic gold funerary mask of their son Tutankhamun and the painted bust of his wife. However, the true identities and lives of these rulers who lived over three thousand years ago remain largely unknown.

It has been one hundred years since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, and while his nine-year rule may be familiar to many, it pales in comparison to the revolutionary reign of his parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti. These two individuals became gods on earth by transforming Egyptian solar worship, making groundbreaking innovations in art and urban design, and merging religion and politics in ways that had never been attempted before.

In Egypt's Golden Couple, renowned Egyptologists John and Colleen Darnell take readers on a journey through excavations, museums, hieroglyphic texts, and stunning artifacts. They piece together an otherwise untold story of the magnificent reign of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, using fascinating scholarship, the suspense of detective work, and adventurous thrills. From clue to clue, they reconstruct the otherwise unknown story of this extraordinary couple, shedding light on their achievements, controversies, and enduring legacy.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti's reign marked a significant turning point in Egyptian history, and their contributions to art, religion, and society continue to be studied and celebrated today. Through their remarkable artifacts and the tireless work of Egyptologists like the Darnells, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of these ancient rulers and their impact on the world.

Weight: 772g
Dimension: 242 x 165 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803991917