The decoration of the sarcophagus which he placed in latter tomb makes it quite certain that, when he made it, he had rejected the cult of Aten, and that he was, at all events outwardly, a loyal follower of the god Amen-Ra. On the death of Ai several pretenders to the throne rose in Egypt, and a period of anarchy followed.
Of the details of the history of this period nothing is known, and the only certain fact about it is that the power of the XVIIIth Dynasty was broken, and that its downfall was certain.
During the reigns of Tut-ankh-Amen and Ai the prosperity of the city Khut-Aten declined rapidly and,
as soon as the period of anarchy which followed their reigns began, its population left it, little by
little, and its downfall was assured.
The artists and work-men of all kinds who attained work there under Amen-hetep found their occupation gone, and they departed to Thebes and the other cities whence they had come.
Under the reign of Heru-em-heb the decay of the city advanced and it became generally deserted
and, very soon after, men came from far and near to carry off, for building purposes, the beautiful
white limestone blocks which were in the temple and houses.
Heu-em-heb was the nominee of the priests of Amen-Ra, and he used power and influence to stamp
out every trace of the worship of Aten, and succeeded. Thus Amen-Ra, conquered Aten, Thebes once
more became the capital of Egypt, the priests of Amen regained their ascendancy and, in less than
twenty-five years after the death of Amen-hetep IV, his city was deserted, the sanctuary of his god
was desecrated, his followers were scattered, and his enemies were undisputed of the country.
*****
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AKHENATEN/TUTANKHAMEN
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