Message #71085

[Bianca]

p. 113



the articles of a creed.

A very interesting characteristic of the hymns to Aten is the writer's insistence on the beauty and power of light, and it may be permitted to wonder if this is not due to Mitannian influence, and the penetration into Egypt of Aryan ideas concerning Mitra, Varuna, and Surya or Savitri, the Sun-god.

Aten, or Horus of the Two Horizons, corresponds closely to Surya, the rising and setting sun, Ra to Savitri, the sun shining in full strength, "the golden-eyed, the golden-handed, and golden tongued." "As the Vivifier and Quickener, he raises his long arms of gold in the morning, rouses all beings from their slumber, infuses energy into them, and buries them in sleep in the evening." 1

Surya, the rising and setting sun, like Aten, was the great source of light and heat, and therefore
Lord of life itself. He is the Dyaus Pitar, the "Heaven-Father."

Aten, like Surya, was the "fountain of living Light,"

2, with the all-seeing, eye, whose beams revealed his presence, and "gleaming like brilliant flames "

3 went to nation after nation.

Aten was not only the light of the sun which seems to give new life to man and to ail creation,
but the giver of light and all life in general. The bringer of light and life to-day, he is the same who
brought light and life on the first of days, therefore Aten is eternal.

Light begins the day, so it was the beginning of creation; therefore Aten is the creator, neither
made with hands nor begotten, and is the Governor of the world.

The earth was fertilized by Aten, therefore he is the Father-Mother of all creatures. His eye saw everything and knew everything.

The hymns to Aten suggest that