DOC Amarna Sunrise: Egypt from Golden Age to Age of Heresy by Aidan Dodson in History

Review

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. More than SunriseBy William SuddabyProfessor Dodson gives us more than simply the origins of Akhenaten's religious revolution in fourteenth century BCE Egypt. He revisits much of the material covered in his earlier work "Amarna Sunset" concerning the evident turmoil following Akhenaten's demise; i.e. the reigns of Smenkhkare; Neferneferuaten; Tutankhamen; Ay; and Horemheb; albeit with important updates noting the 2010 mummy DNA analysis and the recent discovery of evidence for Nefertiti surviving into the sixteenth year of her husband's reign. Dodson does not note the 2013 discovery of evidence in Asasif Tomb 28 for a long Akhenaten coregency with his father Amenhotep III (for Dodson's thoughts on this subject see: KMT; Summer 2014; pp. 19-35).The first part of "Sunrise" is a helpful and quite thorough compilation of the surviving artifacts of the Thutmosid Dynasty beginning with Ahmos I through the reign of Akhenaten's father Amenhotep III. Dodson stilll believes that the shadowy Neferneferuaten was actually Nefertiti in a new role; and that Akhenaten Nefertiti were Tutankhuaten's parents; while a very good case can be made that Neferneferuaten was Nefertiti's daughter Meryetaten; and Tutankhuaten was the son of Smenkhkare (Akkhenaten's younger brother) who we know was married to Meryetaten.Many of the black and white illustrations are dim; unfocused; or miniscule; but the book is valuable to Amarna students; and Professor Dodson; as usual; is careful and tentative in his speculations and interpretations.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Very readable and interestingBy K. A. SandersI'm a big fan of Aidan Dodson's work; and was glad to see this "prequel" to his "Amarna Sunset". This is a very confusing time in ancient Egyptian history; made more so by the fragmentary nature of the surviving evidence. All of which makes it fascinating; since there will never be a definitive answer. I enjoy hearing the different theories about the "why" of Akhenaten's actions - well; except for the way out there crackpots - and Aidan Dodson does a good job of distilling the current evidence and speculation into something understandable. What I found most interesting was his idea that makes Nefertiti possible as Tutankamon's mother - if Akhenaten and Nefertiti were 1st cousins; then DNA results on the mummy ID'd as Tut's mother would be the same as if they were siblings. (Akenaten being the son of Queen Tiye and Nefertiti being the daughter of Tiye's brother.)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Monica KiddGreat pics and Info.... On Amarna and The FamilyOf Akhenaten..