Akhetaten (el-Amarna)

City founded by the pharaoh Akhenaten. Abruptly abandoned following Akhenaten's death, after an occupation of only about 25 to 30 years, el-Amarna is the best preserved example of an Egyptian settlement of the New Kingdom, including temples, palaces and large areas of mud brick private housing. There are also two groups of rock-tombs (largely unfinished) at the northern and southern ends of the semicircular bay of cliffs to the east of the city, such as the priest Panehsy and chief of police Mahu. The plundered and vandalized remains of the royal tomb of Akhenaten and his family, several kilometers to the east of the cliffs, were rediscovered in the late 1880's. Much of the western side of the city, including houses, harbors and the main palace of the king, has now vanished under the modern civilization. However, a large number of structures have been preserved in the desert to the east, along with the wells, grain-silos, bakeries and refuse dumps that comprise the basic framework of production and consumption throughout the community.

Northern Tombs:

   1 - Huy - Superintendent of the Harem; Overseer of the Double Treasury of the Great Royal Wife; Steward of Queen Tiji
   2 - Meryre(2) - Royal Scribe; Overseer of the Double Treasury; Overseer of the Harem of the Great Royal Wife Nefertiti
   3 - Ahmose - Royal Scribe; Fan Bearer on the right of the King; Steward of the Akhenaten's House; Overseer of the Court of Justice
   4 - Meryre(1) - High Priest of the Aten; Great of Seers of the Aten in the House of Re; Fan Bearer on the Right of the King
   5 - Pentu - Royal Scribe; Chief Physician of the King; First Servant of the Aten in the Mansion of the Aten in Akhetaten; The Two Legs of the Lord of the Two Lands; Chamberlain; One Who Approaches the Person of the King; Noble of the First Rank Among the Sole Companions; Chef of Chiefs
   6 - Panehesy - Chief Servant of the Aten in the House of the Aten in Akhetaten; Second Prophet of the Lord of the Two Lands Neferkheperure-Waenre; Overseer of the Double Granary of the Aten in Akhetaten; Overseer of Cattle of the Aten in the House of the Aten

Southern Tombs:

    7 - Parennefer - Royal Craftsman, Pure of Hands; Overseer of All the Craftsmen of the King; Overseer of All the Works of the King in the House of the Aten; Foremost of Commoners; One Who Accompanies the Lord of the Two Lands in Every Place; Overseer of Prophets of All the Gods
    8 - Tutu - Chamberlain; First Servant of Neferkheperure-Waenre in the House of the Aten in Aketaten; First Servant of Akhenaten in wia-Barque; Overseer of All Craftsmen of the Lord of the Two Lands; Overseer of All Works of His Majesty; Overseer of Silver and Gold of the Lord of the Two Lands; Overseer of the Treasure of the Aten in Akhetaten; Chief Spokesman of the Entire Land
    9 - Mahu - Chief of the Police of Akhenaten
   10 - Ipy - Royal Scribe; High Steward; Overseer of the Great Harem of Pharaoh; Steward of Memphis
   11 - Ramose - Royal Scribe; Steward of Nebmaatre; Scribe of Recruits; General of the Lord of the Two Lands
   12 - Nakhtpaaten - Vizier
   13 - Neferkhepruhersekheper - Mayor of Akhenaten
   14 - May - General of the Lord of the Two Lands; Overseer of the House of Pacifying the Aten; Steward of Waenre in Heliopolis; Overseer of All Works of the King; Royal Scribe; Scribe of Recruits; Overseer of Cattle of the Temple of Re in Heliopolis; Fan Bearer on the Right of the King
   15 - Suty - Standard Bearer of the Bodyguard of Neferkheperure-Waenre
   16..18 - unknown
   19 - Sutau - Overseer of the Double Treasury of the Lord of the Two Lands
   20..22 - unknown
   23 - Any - Royal Scribe; Scribe of Offerings of the Lord of the Two Lands; Scribe of Offerings of the Aten; Steward of the House of Aakheperure (Amenhotep II)
   24 - Paatenemheb - Royal Scribe; General of the Lord of the Two Lands; Overseer of Works in Akhetaten
   25 - Ay - God's Father; Fan Bearer of the Right of the King; Overseer of All the Horses of the Lord of the Two Lands; Royal Scribe; Chief of Archers

Aerial view from 1932 of the central part of the city

A staircase led to a roof from the private royal quarters of the Northern Palace, probably Nefertiti's own domain