Who was Akhenaten and why is he considered one of the most controversial pharaohs in history?

Akhenaten was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom period, approximately 1353-1336 BCE. He is best known for his religious reforms, which were considered radical for their time. Akhenaten attempted to transform Egyptian religion from a polytheistic system to one focused on the worship of a single deity, the Aten, or sun disk. He even changed his own name from Amenhotep IV to Akhenaten, meaning 'effective for the Aten,' to reflect this shift.

Akhenaten's religious reforms were not universally accepted, and he faced opposition from both the Egyptian priesthood and the general population. His capital city, Akhetaten (also known as Amarna), was built to reflect his new religious beliefs and was located away from the traditional centers of power. Despite his efforts, Akhenaten's reforms did not survive his death, and traditional polytheistic worship was restored in Egypt.

Although Akhenaten's religious reforms are the most well-known aspect of his reign, he is also controversial for his family relationships. He was married to his own sister, Queen Nefertiti, and they had several daughters together. Some historians speculate that Akhenaten's attempts to shift Egyptian religion to monotheism may have been influenced by his desire to consolidate power and eliminate the influence of the traditional Egyptian priesthood, while others suggest he may have had a genetic disorder that contributed to his beliefs and the physical characteristics depicted in his art.