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Great Hymn to Aten

A text for line-by-line reading, with transliteration, translation, and resources.

Praise text preserved in Ay’s Amarna tomb, depicting the world’s life, Aten and the king’s special knowledge.

Modern diagram distinguishing universal life in the hymn from the king’s particular knowledge. Not an inscription facsimile, an Aten portrait or proof of every Egyptian’s creed
Modern diagram distinguishing universal life in the hymn from the king’s particular knowledge. Not an inscription facsimile, an Aten portrait or proof of every Egyptian’s creedIL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Metadata

These are descriptive fields, not conclusions.

Edition
2

Text

Preserved in thirteen columns. This study uses UCL’s displayed text and translation, without claiming inspection of the original or a royal autograph. Humans, animals, Egypt and foreign lands inhabit an AtenAtenSolar divine power central to Akhenaten’s program, depicted by disk and rays, with a history predating the king.Glossary · Click to read the explanation-sustained world. [1]

The diagram distinguishes creation’s reach and particular royal knowledge, not an inscription facsimile. Hoffmeier reads inherited solar language with new monotheistic nuances, while finding no direct transmission to Psalm 104. [2][3]

References and notes

  1. UCL Digital Egypt. “Belief and the Great Hymn to the Aten.” Ay’s tomb, 13 columns; creation, life, lands and the king’s special knowledge. Displayed text used, without claiming a royal autograph. Return to the text ↑
  2. James K. Hoffmeier (2015). “The Hymns to Aten: A Monotheistic Manifesto,” pp.211–237. Author reads older solar language with new monotheistic nuances; Aten as creator and sustainer. No undisplayed details inferred from the abstract. Return to the text ↑
  3. James K. Hoffmeier (2015). “The Influence of Atenism in Egypt and the Bible?” pp.238–266. Abstract concludes no direct connection between Psalm 104 and the Great Hymn; considers Mosaic monotheism by analogy, without a demonstrated transmission chain. Full chapter not read. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «Great Hymn to Aten», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/texts/great-hymn-to-aten