Akhetaten facts and
mysteries
Akhetaten: A city built by Pharaoh Akhenaten to worship only
one god.
Tall limestone cliffs that mark the beginning of the Arabian
desert brood over the desolate lunar landscape of Akhetaten, a
city built to worship only one god. Archaeologists have yet to
unearth all the mysteries of this ancient city.
Akhetaten was built by Pharaoh Akhenaten during Egypt’s 18th
dynasty. Akhenaten ruled Egypt from 1352 to 1336 BC. Originally
named Amenhotep IV, he changed his name to Akhenaten (glory of
the Aten) in the sixth year of his reign to reflect the new
religion he embraced. Akhenaten was thought to be Egypt’s first
monotheistic pharaoh. He shunned the old ways of worship,
choosing to venerate only the sun god, Aten. Akhenaten called
the Aten the one true god. He set Aten above all the other gods,
including Amun, regarded at that time as the creator of all
life. This didn’t sit well with the high priests of Amun.
Known as the heretic pharaoh, Akhenaten was so dedicated to
the sun god, Aten, that he searched for a new site to move away
from the pressures of the priests of Amun. He found his new city
on a barren strip of land along the Nile some 180 miles north of
Thebes, the old capital. The pharaoh called his new city,
Akhetaten, meaning “the horizon of the Aten.” Then he moved the
entire capital 180 miles north up the Nile to settle in the new
city. Imagine moving an entire CITY that distance! This was long
before the days of U-haul!
Egyptologists believe that after his death, the priests of
Amun smashed Akhenaten’s city to bits and left the memories
lying in the dust. They remained undisturbed for centuries until
Flinders Petrie began excavation of the city in 1892.
WHY I CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT EGYPT
In the summer of 2001, I picked up a National
Geographic article entitled, "Pharaohs of the Sun."
The article detailed the story of a pharaoh named
Akhenaten. Akhenaten was married to the
legendary Nerfertiti. However, he also had a
second wife, Kiya, who mysteriously vanished around
year 12 of the pharaoh's reign. No one knows why or
why her name was erased from the ruins of the
ancient city. Her tomb has never been found.
I became intrigued with the mystery of Kiya.
Who was she? Why did she vanish? I began playing the
writer's game of "what if?" I created a tribe of
great warriors dedicated to Kiya for more than three
thousand years... They were brave, fierce fighters
like the windstorm they were named after...
The Khamsin warriors of the wind. And that was how
Bonnie Vanak -
The Sword and the Sheath was born. |
 The
mystery of Kiya
Who was she?
Kiya was a minor wife to Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt from
1352 to 1336 BC. She mysteriously vanished and her name was
erased from the cartouches and temple walls.
 Akhenaten,
the heretic pharaoh
Akhenaten is the pharaoh who married Kiya and is the
Khamsin's enemy. How did he die? History doesn't tell us.
Nefertiti mysteriously vanished a couple of years after Kiya
did.
How? Egyptologists aren't sure. Ah... a perfect excuse to use
"author's license."
Khamsin warriors know what happened to Nerfertiti... because
they are responsible for her death...
 Who
was Flinders Petrie?
Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie is regarded as the
"father" of archaeology. His painstaking methods of excavation
and recording every detail of a find, including documenting
potsherds, set the framework for those following in his
footsteps. Although he had no formal training, he was so highly
regarded in his field he was named as England's first professor
of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at London's University
College in 1892 after his first season at Amarna (Akhetaten).
This position was funded by Amelia Edwards, a longtime Petrie
admirer.
What of Akhetaten today? Akhetaten is still being excavated
today by Barry Kemp of the University of Cambridge.
Code of honor for the Khamsin warriors of the wind
A Khamsin warrior of the wind waits patiently for the sign of
the white dove that Kiya will send from the west, signifying she
returns to the tribe to reunite with her lover, the Khamsin
leader
A Khamsin warrior of the wind is faithful to his oath to protect
the sacred Almha from discovery
A Khamsin warrior of the wind always leaves the toilet seat down
:-)
A Khamsin warrior of the wind swears allegiance to his sheikh
and the tribe
A Khamsin warrior of the wind honors women and protects them
from all harm
A Khamsin warrior of the wind honors his ancient Egyptian
ancestors
A Khamsin warrior of the wind fights with his scimitar, unless
absolutely necessary, for men of honor fight with swords, not
bullets
A Khamsin warrior of the wind swears an oath of fidelity to his
bride and has only one wife to honor the tradition of true love
between Kiya and Ranefer, founder of the Khamsin
A Khamsin warrior of the wind never harms innocents and protects
women and children, even those not of his own tribe
A Khamsin warrior of the wind must be brave, loyal and true to
his people, and be willing to sacrifice his life to protect them
and the sacred Almha
A Khamsin warrior of the wind never lets his emotions rule in
battle
A Khamsin warrior of the wind frequently meditates in the desert
for spiritual purification
A Khamsin warrior of the wind respects and honors the wisdom and
rulings of the Majli, the council of Khamsin elders
A Khamsin warrior of the wind respects and honors the wisdom and
leadership of Jabari bin Tarik Hassid, the Khamsin sheikh
A Khamsin warrior of the wind never abandons a brother warrior
to the enemy, but will risk his life to save him
A Khamsin warrior of the wind swears allegiance to Kiya, his
ancient Egyptian queen
A Khamsin warrior of the wind must reject material items, such
as gold, for the good of the tribe and to distance himself from
the greed of the world
A Khamsin warrior of the wind considers his mare his beloved
friend and never strikes her
A Khamsin warrior of the wind never asks for directions when
he's lost in the desert!
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