Tell al-Amarna
Tell al-Amarna is located midway between Memphis and Thebes in the province al-Minya, some 300 km south of Cairo. Pharaoh Akhenaten was the first who headed a monotheistic 
religion in history. He left Thebes, which at no stage accepted his cult, and built the new capital ‘Akhetaten' - in a place at Amarna where the sun rises between two mountains forming a wide 'V'.
The city, so it is said, existed only over the span of 20 years and was abandoned following Akhenaten's death in 1332 B. C.E. The city complex consisted of temples, which had no roofs to allow direct worship of the sun, palaces and mud brick houses for a population that reached well into the 10thousands. The royal tombs of Akhenaten and his family were discovered several kilometers outside the city, but his mummy was never found.
Akhetaten's successor was Smenkhkare, a mysterious person who gave way to much rumor, too. Some suggested Akhenaten's wife Nefertiti was ruling in the disguise of a man. Later Tutankhaten, who was only 9 years old, ascended the throne was forced to move back to Thebes .
What exactly happened is not known, an epidemic might have well taken its poll on the residents. Excavations show that life expectancy was 30 years and bone analysis favors this theory. However fact is that the Aten cult died out.
During the short period of Akhetaten a new kind of artistry evolved. The Pharaoh and his family were portrayed in a naturalistic way with long skulls and soft, almost female body features. He and his wife Nefertiti, known for her beauty, clearly show affection for each other, though the central theme are the rays of the sun nurturing the royal family while the family herself is permanently portrayed giving offerings to Aten. Most of the fine art is found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The new style opposed with its realistic depiction the formal style of earlier dynasties. The art also broke with the convention to portray women with lighter skin than men.
Among the main attractions of Tell al-Amarna are the tombs in the hills. The tomb of Huya, the Superintendent of the Royal Harem and Steward of Queen Tiy, the mother of Akhenaten, show his life-size statue and wall decorations depicting Akhenaten and his mother.
Mery-Re was the high priest of the Sun, his tomb show wall-decorations which are in good condition with its the original colours intact. Again the paintings show mostly Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti, but also Mery-Re when he was appointed high priest. 
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published June 30, 2008
Source: Angela