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Lisa's Reviews > Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet
Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet
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This review is going to be long and probably has a "my feelings, let me show you them" vibe. Sorry.
The short version is that while an accessible book, this book does have a number of drawbacks. Namely, Reeves presents certain sensationalist theories as conclusive, when they're anything but.
Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet is an easy to read book. Reeves writes well for the general public, and the book is beautifully presented with lots of illustrations and photos, though the vast majority are in black and white.
This is not the book to read if you think Akhenaten was an enlightened, sensitive man who was cruelly misunderstood. It's one of the most honest, and, in my opinion, one of the most fair accounts of Akhenaten's reign and revolution. It presents the negative aspects of Akhenaten's reign (of which there are many) as well as arguing that there was a valid reason behind Akhenaten's actions. Reeves's Akhenaten is dangerous, inept and perhaps fanatical, but he's also a more understandable figure. He's not "mad" or insane and Reeves is quick to highlight the good aspects of Akhenaten's reign.
However, Reeves also shows a taste for the more sensationalist and perhaps more Hollywood-friendly side of Egyptology. Reeves argues in support of many controversial theories – I would say that Reeves hasn't met one he doesn't like, but he doesn't appear to be fond of the "gay Akhenaten" theory. Fair enough, there is no real evidence that Akhenaten and Smenkhkare were lovers, and it would get in the way of Reeves's Nefertiti theory.
Some of Reeves's theories include father/daughter incest, multiple suggestions of assassination (Tutankhamun, Kiya and Akhenaten), Nefertiti-as-Smenkhkare, Kiya in disgrace, the KV55 mummy being Akhenaten, Queen Tiye's father, Yuya, being incredibly influential, and the dangerously powerful Amun priesthood.
Some of these things have been debunked since this book was published. The majority remain uncertain (and yes, that includes the identity of KV55, which is still being fiercely debated by Egyptologists). Reeves's theories could be true, and just as easily could not be true.
If you want to read a more balanced account of Nefertiti's life and times, pick up Joyce Tyldesley's book on Egypt's infamous queen – though you may want to wait as I think her next book is also about Nefertiti. If you want to explore the Amarna succession, try Aidan Dodson's Amarna Sunset. While both are decisive, they are more balanced than Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet.
One of the things I absolutely have to mention is Reeves's discussion of Hatshepsut, as off-topic as it sounds. Hatshepsut is over a century before Akhenaten's reign, what could she possibly have to do with the Amarna period?
Well, you see, if she hadn't been so power-hungry, the Amun priesthood would never have grown so powerful and threatening to the kings. You see, she had to make deals to get her hands on the double-crown, and that involved promoting the high priests of Amun into high-ranking government positions.
Ugh.
And as soon as Thutmose III got into power, he spent most of his reign trying to fix what Hatshepsut had done. He also spends decades fighting to secure his own succession and to prevent anyone else was going to "pull a Hatshepsut". 20 years after Aunty Hatshepsut has died, he then feels safe enough to order the destruction of her monuments, attacking her memory and soul. Despite this, he doesn't attempt to move his mortuary temple away from hers, and (from memory) he doesn't deface the depictions of Hatshepsut in her traditional female roles.
The next three kings between Thutmose III and Akhenaten are all trying to redress the balance until Akhenaten becomes king and a little too over-enthusiastic. If only that darn woman had stayed in her place...
To me, this all seems frankly ludicrous and deserving of three letters: W. T. F.
If you are thinking of reading of Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet, keep a salt shaker to hand. You'll need it for all the grains of salt to go with Reeves's comments.
The short version is that while an accessible book, this book does have a number of drawbacks. Namely, Reeves presents certain sensationalist theories as conclusive, when they're anything but.
Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet is an easy to read book. Reeves writes well for the general public, and the book is beautifully presented with lots of illustrations and photos, though the vast majority are in black and white.
This is not the book to read if you think Akhenaten was an enlightened, sensitive man who was cruelly misunderstood. It's one of the most honest, and, in my opinion, one of the most fair accounts of Akhenaten's reign and revolution. It presents the negative aspects of Akhenaten's reign (of which there are many) as well as arguing that there was a valid reason behind Akhenaten's actions. Reeves's Akhenaten is dangerous, inept and perhaps fanatical, but he's also a more understandable figure. He's not "mad" or insane and Reeves is quick to highlight the good aspects of Akhenaten's reign.
However, Reeves also shows a taste for the more sensationalist and perhaps more Hollywood-friendly side of Egyptology. Reeves argues in support of many controversial theories – I would say that Reeves hasn't met one he doesn't like, but he doesn't appear to be fond of the "gay Akhenaten" theory. Fair enough, there is no real evidence that Akhenaten and Smenkhkare were lovers, and it would get in the way of Reeves's Nefertiti theory.
Some of Reeves's theories include father/daughter incest, multiple suggestions of assassination (Tutankhamun, Kiya and Akhenaten), Nefertiti-as-Smenkhkare, Kiya in disgrace, the KV55 mummy being Akhenaten, Queen Tiye's father, Yuya, being incredibly influential, and the dangerously powerful Amun priesthood.
Some of these things have been debunked since this book was published. The majority remain uncertain (and yes, that includes the identity of KV55, which is still being fiercely debated by Egyptologists). Reeves's theories could be true, and just as easily could not be true.
If you want to read a more balanced account of Nefertiti's life and times, pick up Joyce Tyldesley's book on Egypt's infamous queen – though you may want to wait as I think her next book is also about Nefertiti. If you want to explore the Amarna succession, try Aidan Dodson's Amarna Sunset. While both are decisive, they are more balanced than Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet.
One of the things I absolutely have to mention is Reeves's discussion of Hatshepsut, as off-topic as it sounds. Hatshepsut is over a century before Akhenaten's reign, what could she possibly have to do with the Amarna period?
Well, you see, if she hadn't been so power-hungry, the Amun priesthood would never have grown so powerful and threatening to the kings. You see, she had to make deals to get her hands on the double-crown, and that involved promoting the high priests of Amun into high-ranking government positions.
Ugh.
And as soon as Thutmose III got into power, he spent most of his reign trying to fix what Hatshepsut had done. He also spends decades fighting to secure his own succession and to prevent anyone else was going to "pull a Hatshepsut". 20 years after Aunty Hatshepsut has died, he then feels safe enough to order the destruction of her monuments, attacking her memory and soul. Despite this, he doesn't attempt to move his mortuary temple away from hers, and (from memory) he doesn't deface the depictions of Hatshepsut in her traditional female roles.
The next three kings between Thutmose III and Akhenaten are all trying to redress the balance until Akhenaten becomes king and a little too over-enthusiastic. If only that darn woman had stayed in her place...
To me, this all seems frankly ludicrous and deserving of three letters: W. T. F.
If you are thinking of reading of Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet, keep a salt shaker to hand. You'll need it for all the grains of salt to go with Reeves's comments.
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Reading Progress
April 30, 2012
– Shelved
April 30, 2012
– Shelved as:
ancient-egypt
May 6, 2012
–
Started Reading
May 6, 2012
–
54.33%
"I'm starting to think Reeves goes for the most sensationalist, Hollywood-friendly theories..."
page
113
May 7, 2012
–
Finished Reading
August 31, 2012
– Shelved as:
amarna
April 30, 2018
– Shelved as:
reviewed
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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message 1:
by
Anna
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rated it 2 stars
Sep 19, 2018 03:48PM
I have just finished reading the section dealing with Hatshepsut, and I had the same reaction. I keep writing in the margin "evidence?"
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There is none! And the whole thing with Thutmose III hating Hatshepsut is wildly blown out of proportion and it may have been Amenhotep II who began the destruction of her monuments, not Thutmose III.
Lisa wrote: "There is none! And the whole thing with Thutmose III hating Hatshepsut is wildly blown out of proportion and it may have been Amenhotep II who began the destruction of her monuments, not Thutmose III."Exactly. Glad it's not just me noticing these things. I'm going to finish the book, but a third of the way into it and there's just so much jumping to conclusion with no evidence.
Yep. I'm not exactly fond of Nicholas Reeves as an author or an Egyptologist because of that - that, and the fact he tends not be exactly rational about Nefertiti.
