The Magnificent Heresy: A Single God for Ancient Egypt

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© Copyright 2012 Royston Moore.

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ISBN: 978-1-4269-9444-9

ISBN: 978-1-4669-5369-7 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011918979

Trafford rev. 02/21/2012

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THE MAGNIFICENT

HERESY

A SINGLE GOD FOR

ANCIENT EGYPT

THE FATEFUL HERESY OF AKANATEN

ROYSTON MOORE

PREFACE

Since it seems that possibly about 500 years might be deducted from the chronology of Ancient Egypt after the Thirteenth Dynasty as explained in the Appendices – it is necessary to revise its history after that time. - Not that the events occurring in Egypt, - now known to us from our research, - should not be altered - but Ancient Egypt’s relationships with other countries need to be changed.

If 500 years were deducted from our own history, then this would have been when the Tudors ruled England. Relations then with the countries of Europe would be very different from what they are today. So we must re-write correctly what really happened in those days some 3000 years ago.

This book specialises on one small part of that era – the time of Akhenaten until that of Tutankhamen. However to do this we must consider to a smaller extent the lives of the last six pharaohs of the Royal House begun when Ahmose defeated the Amu and installed himself as pharaoh. The House we now refer to as the Eighteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt

If we fictionalise these events, add dialogue to feel you are actually there, yet keep strictly to what our researches can tell us of this period, perhaps we may seem to make this historical account more enjoyable. So we present this story - factual as it is – as though it is a fictional story, but we must not forget that these events actually did occur as told.

Again we must realise that the morals of Ancient Egypt were very different from what they are today. In those days children were explained at a very early age the functions of their bodies. As they grew up they would enjoy intimate relationships with the opposite sex both before, during and after they married. It seems, also, that these women were well informed in ways of contraception – for except in later years - they rarely bore more than four children.

Remember they lived in a very hot dry climate. Nudity was common, if only to help them to live in comfort. Any clothes they wore were functional being both light and brief. There was no false modesty.

Yet there was undoubtly very real love engendered between men and women, this in spite of their casual attitude to sex. It was these liaisons which eventually led to indolence and complacency.

So this story will be written as if we are actually living at that time. Perhaps, therefore it may shock you, but that is only because we live quite differently today. – Never-the-less enjoy a very turbulent period of Ancient Egypt.

Royston Moore

April 2011

Contents

PRELUDE

MALKATA

COMPLACENCY

AKHETATEN

THE HERESY

SMENKEKERE

EPILOGUE

APPENDICES

PRELUDE

PRELUDE

The Magnificent Heresy Prelude

The Ancient History of Egypt which this book, - though written as fiction, - attempts to describe what really happened in this period, - though it is true it is still not yet confirmed, and may need revision. Here we shall endeavour to elucidate these facts and the uncover the intricate and very passionate love lives of these people in a period of unbridled lust, combined with complacency, which destroyed a great Egyptian Empire. So as to enjoy it, this story is written in a fictional form, but the events did occur as described. - The findings of this research may shock you, but their lives were actually lived, as described in these pages, with all the sensuous liaisons they enjoyed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

One of the greatest mysteries of this period is how, a particularly unimportant and insignificant, family residing in the City of Akhmin, north of No Amen (Luxor) came to play such a decisive and destructive part in Egyptian history. Most authorities maintain they had no royal blood in their veins, nor were they related to royalty in any way. If so, we shall see, that the unions of Pharaohs with females in this family could not have produced a Heiresses to the Royal Throne. This would mean that their right to sit on the Horus Throne of the Two Lands was illegal, and Akhenaten and others, should never have become pharaoh.

There is a mystery concerning who had the right to succeed Pharaoh Amenhotep II. His Premier Wife and sister, Queen Sitamun had born a son, Prince Amenhotep, who lived, at least, to his teens and a daughter, an heiress, Yaret. Succession therefore seemed obvious. The Prince should have married his sister and succeeded Amenhotep. But this did not happen till later. We know that Amenhotep’s relationship with Sitamun, the first, were strained. He was violently in love with Tiaa. Did he, therefore, favour his children by Tiaa, more than those by Sitamun. Sitamun died before him but we do not know whether, Prince Amenhotep died before him. Was it a natural death, or was he murdered, possibly by his step-brother Thutmose, who became Pharaoh Thutmose IV and married his step-sister, Yaret, the heiress and ruled after his father’s death in 911 B.C.

Throughout his life Thutmose claimed his accession was due to his own God Re Harahkte, and not as other 18th. Dynasty pharaohs had claimed, to be from the gift of the Great God Amen Re. Was there another reason for this claim? Was this the beginning of the long drawn out battle with the Priests of Amen Re, whose power, now, threatened the power of pharaoh. A battle which was to continue throughout the next six reigns and lead to the destruction of the empire.

Though this story really begins a few years after Thutmose IV’s death, continuing the lives of his widow, Muterna and his son, Nebmaat Amenhotep now crowned as Amenhotep III, and now married to Tiye, sister of Count Ay and his wife Tey, of the Akhmin Family. However first we must include a little of what happened before his Death

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

            It was the tenth year of the kingship of the Pharaoh of the Two Lands of Egypt, called Tomery by the Egyptians. Menperre Thutmose, (now known as Thutmose IV), was the Eight Pharaoh of this Royal House we now name as the great Eighteenth Dynasty of Tomery, The Dynasty which under its first pharaoh, Ahmose the Great, had rid the land of Egypt of the accursed Amu , who, from the time of Moses, had so ruthlessly ruled Tomery for over four hundred years.

            Menperre Thutmose bore the same name of his illustrious grandfather, known today as Thutmose III, the man who had created this vast empire which ruled the known world from the Euphrates, in the north to Nubia in the south, and who had been the sixth pharaoh of this Dynasty following the reign of the beautiful woman, Makere Hatshepsut. The only Egyptian woman to wear the Double Crown of Egypt as a Female Pharaoh and who as books proclaim is, also, known today as the Queen of Sheba, and as told in the Bible, and to have visited King Solomon, the King of All Israel. Accordingly this Menperre Thutmose, is today called Thutmose III.

Only recently, has it been discovered, that the earlier princes of the 17th. Dynasty, such as Seknenre, had in their old palaces a private shrine to their own local god. Amazingly this was the God Aten, and this had been worshipped as early as the 13th. Dynasty. So it is certain that during the reign of the 18th. Dynasty pharaohs, they also worshipped, in private, the God Aten as well as Amen Re.

Now Aten is the disc, or more correctly, the Eye of the Sun God. It is, also, the disc, or eye, of the God Re Harakhte. So we can see why, even, Thutmose III may have worshipped Re Harakhte as well as his great God Amen Re, explaining Thutmose IV’s worship of this god. Thutmose’s association with Aten is proven as there is a scarab bearing his name inscribed to this god. No doubt these beliefs were discussed with his son Amenhotep, when quite young.

Throughout the remaining five, of the six, pharaohs of this Dynasty, there was a strong relationship with worship of Aten, leading to the destructive religious revolution of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) and his devotion to Aten. We shall see how this developed later.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1.

In the City of Akhmin, a few miles to the north of the City of No Amen, now called Luxor, reside a family which was destined to play such a decisive and destructive part in Egyptian History, and to bedevil the findings of future Egyptologists..

            Thuya, a beautiful, if middle aged woman, was speaking. She sat with her husband Yuya in front of her three children. Her eldest son Ay, her second son Aanum and her nearly thirteen year old daughter Tiye.

            "I know you are deeply in love with Prince Nebmaat and I believe he truly loves you. You are young but for your families sake, and for me, you must encourage him. If he proposes marriage you must accept. I realize you can only hope to become a secondary wife and that in due course he must marry a heiress to the throne if he is to succeed his father, Menperre, but you can still establish yourself as the wife he really wants.

            Thuya continued, Of course this should be his step-sister, Sitamun, but she is barely two years old. He may have to marry his step mother, Yaret, - but neither Nebmaat nor Menperre like her, - so any marriage may be delayed., and this provides your opportunity. Remember, I am of Royal Blood. I have as much right to be recognized as ‘the Chief Lady of the Great God Amen‘s harem ‘, as either Yaret or Sitamun, but no one will believe me. As you know I believe I am related to Divine Queen Aahmes Neferteri, through her daughter Aahmes – the true Sacred Heiress. Now, dear daughter, you may have the chance to help me establish the truth. As Prince Nebmaat‘s wife you can help me and all your family. But I will not allow you to marry Nebmaat just to become his secondary wife.

            Tiye leaped up and hugged her mother. Dearest I have long known of your rightful position but believe me when I swear to you that I truly love Nebmaat – I know he loves me. If he does wish to marry me. I will accept with all my heart, but you will have to show me how I may help and because of what you have just said, show me how I can avoid being known as his secondary wife.

            Thuya smiled. There will be many ways and your two brothers – particularly, Ay, will be the means. Have patience my child. Trust me. Let him seduce you Enjoy your love and wait.

* * * * * * * * * * *

            The bright sun shined forth on the Royal Gardens in the Palace of the Southern Opet near the banks of the River Nile near the City of No Amen. Tomery had enjoyed two capitals since they were established by the late Pharaoh Menperre Thutmose when he became king many years before, after the death of Makere Hatshepsut This was the administrative capital, whilst the northern capital situated near the City of On in Mennefer, and had become the Military capital from which the power of the Empire was enforced.

            His grandson, also named Menperre Thutmose, (now called Thutmose IV) was nearly forty years old, was strolling through the carefully maintained walkways under the shadow provided by numerous trees, generous gifts from the many countries forming his empire. The cool shade sparing him from the glare of the fierce afternoon sun.

            As he walked Menperre had his arm, lovingly around the waist of his sister wife, Muterna, who was four years the younger. As was the custom, Muterna, was dressed as any aristocratic Egyptian woman of this period would be dressed. The only garment in view of the heat was an almost transparent dress of extremely fine linen with a single shoulder strap over her left shoulder which covered her left, full breast, but left her right breast completely exposed. Neither was the rest of her still shapely body concealed and it left to view, the swell of her abdomen, her mound of Venus, and her elegant legs. There was no false modesty in Ancient Egypt.

            Neither Menperre nor Muterna were the children of their father, Amenhotep - (now known as Amenhotep II) - and his premier wife, the elder heiress called Sitamun. Their mother was Tiaa, a semi-royal lady. Sitamun had born their father an elder son, also called Amenhotep, who had died, mysteriously before Menperre had ascended the throne.

Menperre‘s right to rule was based on his marriage to the Sacred Heiress, Yaret, who was Sitamun‘s daughter. A marriage conducted long after his first marriage of love to his full sister, Muterna, to ensure his legality to rule. Yaret had born, recently, to Menperre, a daughter, the younger Sitamun. .

                        Although she had tried, Muterna, so far she had only born her beloved brother, one child, Prince Nebmaat, though she had three miscarriages and one child born dead. It was Nebmaat who accompanied them both on their stroll and who was now in earnest conversation with his mother and father. It concerned the love Nebmaat had for the young Tiye.

                        Hoping to get his fathers approval Nebmaat said Father believe me, I truly love Tiye. I know we are both young, but we both wish to marry. I cannot marry Sitamun, she is too young and I am old enough to want the pleasures of a wife.

                        But why marry her, Menperre asked, Why not make her your concubine, you could have many like her to slake your lust

            Nebmaat replied, No father, that is not enough. I tell you . We both sincerely love each other. In any case, unless you commanded it, her mother, Thuya, would never agree. She is a very proud woman, even claiming to have royal descent.

            I Know well of her claims and I and our authorities. deny it., Menperre responded, How in the name of God Thoth did you meet this girl. You must be very careful of that woman.

Menperre placed his arm around Nebmaat. If it could be proved that Thuya was a true descendent of Queen Aahmes Neferteri then neither me nor any of the proceeding Pharaohs since Amenhotep have the right to claim they are true Pharaohs. We must never give that Akhmin Family any reason to believe their claim. Nebmaat do you understand.

Yes dear father, Nebmaat replied, But I do love Tiye, and there is no reason why I should not marry her. I do not need to accept the Akhmin Families claims in any way. When she is old enough I shall, of course, marry Sitamun, the Sacred Heiress and legitimise my right to rule after you.

Menperre was not satisfied. Nebmaat – How on earth did you meet Tiye?

            I know the reason., Muterna interrupted, Thuya is the handmaiden of your wife Tasherit. Her husband, Yuya, is of Mitanni descent. His family were captured by our grandfather and speaks their language. Our son met Tiye when she visited. Is that not so Nebmaat?

Nebmaat smiled, Yes dearest mother, we have known each other for some time.

            But surely you realize, Tiye can only be one of your secondary wives., Menperre asked, To follow me on the throne, - and I wish to ensure you will follow me, for we have similar views, - you must marry an heiress. Either Sitamun, when she is old enough, or, heaven forbid, after I am dead, your step-mother, Yaret.

            Muterna had been thinking and turned on her brother. "That is not necessarily true. Dear husband you are Pharaoh. Your position is secure. No one dare challenge you. All three of us agree that the priesthood of the Amen Temple are far too powerful. They dared to challenge your own right to rule, even after you married Yaret. Here is an opportunity given to us to discredit, further, their own position. Let us, at least for our own purposes, accept Lady Thuya‘s claims. If so Tiye would be an heiress and give, Nebmaat, a legal right to rule. We have no need to proclaim her as Nebmaat’s premier wife

            Menperre was silent and they awaited his answer.

            Dear father, Nebmaat responded, We all believe that it was the Good God of our ancestors, Re Harakhte, who really made you Pharaoh, not your marriage to Yaret. Privately, we all worship his manifestation, the Solar Disc, Aten. It has been our family god even before we expelled the Amu. Let me marry Tiye. As mother says, why should the priest of Amen Re tell us what we must do?

            Menperre turned and kissed his wife and sister. You both are right. I have no quarrel with our Good God Amen Re. I truly believe he helped us all to gain our freedom from the accursed Amu . It is not with him we should fight. It his priesthood I will challenge, they who would like to really rule this land and not any pharaoh. Their power, their wealth, is due to the generosity of our ancestors which have given them superior strength. You all know my dream. The power of the Sphinx God gave me this throne and why I bow before God Aten. I owe nothing to them.

He continued, You shall marry this girl, if this is your wish, with both your mother and my blessing. However it will take careful planning. You all know what happened to Makere Hatshepsut after the death of her father Okkere, we must not let this happen after my death. We do not want civil war. Pray I live long enough to ensure you follow me on the Horus Throne.

That settled Menperre referred to the huge Egyptian Empire created by his Grandfather It seems we are blessed by the death of our enemy, King Asa of Judah, for his son Jehosaphat, ‘though he walks in the way of his Lord Yahweh’, is deeply religious, - he is not fanatical. Jehosaphat realises the dangers to his country from Damascus and has responded to King Ahab of Israel’s request to, at least, temporarily ceasing their own rivalry. You see, Nebmaat, Jehosaphat respects the power of Egypt and realises, that if Judah should, once again, become a vassal, Judah could call on Egypt for support if necessary. So tribute will be sent to Egypt and re-join the practice of the other vassal countries.

2.

King Jehosaphat of Judah was sitting with his son, Prince Jehoram. "You know son, Jehu the priest, strongly deplores my alliance with King Ahab of Israel, for unfortunately Ahab still does not walk in the way of our Lord and still worships the idols of Baal. However I believe it is in Judah’s interest to work closely with this man. Together we have been able to defeat our common enemy of Syria. Jehoram, I believe the security of Judah is more important than my strong dislike of King Ahab’s religious behaviour.

He smiles and placed his hand on Jehoram’s shoulder. Your marriage to Ahab’s daughter, Princess Athaliah, has brought all of us close together. – Tell me Jehoram has it been a successful marriage.

Jehoram quickly replied, Yea! Dear father very successful, I now love Athaliah very much and she has learned to love me. I will walk, like you, in the ways of our Lord, but I also believe we should let others believe in other religions. It has been these differences whish have led to so many unnecessary wars. – Father, you have done so much for Judah – taught everyone to give up their previous idolatry – Jehu is wrong you have done this for the benefit of Judah – I must accept that you are far more religious than myself.

Now Jehoram stood up still praising his father’s decision, You have overcome so many of our enemies, calling on the Lord to help you, if you followed Jehu’s advice, we would have had not allies against the combined armies of Moab and others, though outnumbered, you were able to overcome them for it seemed their were much divisions between their armies and it weakened their cause by fighting each other. – Father, you have kept the enemies of Judah at bay. But you have done more than that – You have brought good education to or masses.

It was true for Jehosaphat had sent his teachers over the country of Judah to educate the masses and make his country, one where learning had greatly increased the prosperity of Judah. He had instituted a number of reforms of the judicial system, appointing judges in every major city who waged a constant war against corruption. Yet gradually he had taught the people and forced them in the way of the Lord, destroying all idols which many had, up to then worshiped. He may be very religious, certainly far more than his son, but the safety of Judah was far more important than what religions his allies worshiped.

For years the various small countries of the Holy Land had fought senseless wars with each other for the possession of more territory. However Jehosaphat because of his alliances, was able to subdue them and greatly reduce the need for warfare. Even Edom to its south had virtually become a vassal of Judah without the need for invasion. Judah was now far more secure than at any time since the days of his great grandfather, Rehoboam., and he well remembered that Rehoboam had so foolishly stood against the armies of Egypt only to be crushed by the older Menkheperre Thutmose, who had made the whole of Syria part of his enormous Egyptian empire.

Jehosaphat was determined such events should not occur in his lifetime. Vassalage to Egypt was beneficial to Judah. The money which had to be given to that country did in fact make Judah far more safe in its relationships with the surrounding countries. Further more he was a man of peace, and only fought when it became necessary. Now he tested his son on this matter.

Jehoram I have received a demand from Egypt for payment of our vassalage money. – Unlike my father, I believe we should pay. Egypt’s armies are considerable and they could easily invade us through Edom and destroy us in a very short time. – The only reason my father succeeded when he refused to pay, I believe was it was at the time Egypt itself was in some chaos. It was when the younger Menkheperre Thutmose took the throne under unusual circumstances. His right to become Pharaoh was in dispute and Thutmose needed his armies around him to assure his position. So they ignored my father’s refusal. – That situation is not the case today. Therefore, Jehoram. I have decided to pay and become a vassal of Egypt. It will make us more secure.

His son retorted, But father Egypt never intervenes in our struggle with our surrounding countries. They would never help us if we were attacked!

Jehosaphat merely smiled and replied, I agree, but we have to the north and the east great dangers from more powerful enemies who might wish to conquer us. The great Hittite empire could easily pour down from the north to extend their lands, and achieve some success even before Egypt could respond to defend their empire. But we are further south and they could quickly come to help us should it happen. – Also we must never forget we are in danger from the west – the Peoples of the Sea, Greece and other lands with navies could land on the coast. Our armies could not stop them. However if a vassal of Egypt they would quickly respond to help us, as we are vital to them if they are to hold their empire to the north. We can hardly hold our own against Syria and Moab, we would quickly be subdued without Egypt’s help. – So I will pay their ransom money, but demand this protection. I feel certain they will agree – it is in their interest to do so.

So Judah did pay and felt they were now far more secure. In years to come they were to learn that Egypt had become indolent, living is a sense of false security – their armies were not as well trained nor as large as they had been in the past. However this was not appreciated then in Egypt with the new Pharaoh, Nebmaat, far too involved as were all the aristocracy of Egypt in their sensual pleasures. The reason so many great empires had succumbed in the years that followed.

Neither Nebmaat, his mother and his officials, living in indolence enjoying the pleasures their bodies could enjoy, foolishly believed that their riches would continue, even increase and that the mastery of Egypt would last for many years to come.

3.

Nebmaat pressed the partially clothed body of Tiye close to his and then buried his lips on hers. It lasted a long time – reluctant to brake apart. Tiye, he said, you know how much I love you – and I believe you love me just as much. I’ve told both mother and father this and asked their permission to propose marriage to you. However you know I must – sometime when she is older – marry Sitamun - as she is the Sacred Heiress of Amen Re – I must marry her to ensure I become Pharaoh after father dies.

Now he became very self conscious. My father agrees but because of this you would only become my secondary wife – though you know you will be to me the most important one. Immediate Tiye broke away her eyes filled with tears as she said, Dear – dear – Nebmaat – I cannot accept you that way – much as I want to marry you - my family would never allow me to become merely your secondary wife. You see mother believes I have as much right to be considered the Sacred Heiress - perhaps even more then Sitamun.

Now Nebmaat felt angry. Listen Tiye – that is nonsense – if we were to accept this to be the case neither father nor any of the Pharaohs since Amenhotep should have been crowned. – I know your family and your predecessors continue to make this claim – but you cannot prove it. It has been investigated many times but there is not a continuous line of descent, however much you may – in some way be the descendents of Queen Neferteri

Dejected Tiye continued, Yes! I know this. – I love you so much I would not mind being known as your secondary life – but mother and Ay would never let me marry you. Oh! Please Nebmaat let us find a way so we can live together – I do so much want to marry you and give you a family. – I know you truly love me – why oh why – cannot people let this happen.

Once again Nebmaat pulled her to him and embraced her. Then he smiled as he looked up into her tear stained face before once again burying his lips on hers. "Dear Tiye – how