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Aten vs. Living Aten
Topic Started: Apr 24 2013, 11:55 AM (399 Views)
Maaritaten
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I have noticed a formulaic expression in many of the Akhetaten tomb inscriptions, that goes along the line of: Grant, O living Aten, that N.N. made in the image of the Aten [...].

Should we assume that Akhenaten and his court made a conscious difference between the two 'titles'? I am inclined to believe that when we stumble upon the wort Aten in isolation we are to understand the physical manifestations of the living Aten, which in turn would be essence, if you will, of the deity.

I had a discussion with a friend of mine on this subject, and he argued if by Aten only the manifestation of the divine is meant, we might as well just translate it 'sun' or 'sun disc'. I feel that it would be inappropriate, and make people think that we Atenists are true sun worshippers. I think that reserving a special title for our god, whether it's his physical manifestations or his essence, sets him apart from a mere physical and naturalistic interpretation of this world and our beliefs.
'Let me be satisfied seeing You, Oh Living Aten!'
- adapted from the Hymn of Tutu, Chamberlain of the Two Lands
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Maaritaten
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I was of course now only speaking in terms of the longer hymns and prayers where the two titles have apparent different meanings. When Aten occurs in names and such, I think it would be reasonable to think that it is an 'abbreviation' of a fuller titler - e.g. Akhenaten instead of a hypothetical *AkhenAnkhaten, which would include the epithet 'living'.
'Let me be satisfied seeing You, Oh Living Aten!'
- adapted from the Hymn of Tutu, Chamberlain of the Two Lands
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