Amarna, Archaeological site in Minya, Egypt.
Amarna is an archaeological site in Minya Governorate along the eastern bank of the Nile River. The foundations stretch for about 8 miles (13 kilometers) and include areas for administration, residential quarters, workshops, and ceremonial spaces.
Pharaoh Akhenaten founded the capital around 1346 BC as the center of his religious cult. After his death, inhabitants abandoned it within a few decades, and later rulers systematically erased all references to the place from official records.
The settlement takes its name from a local tribe that inhabited the area centuries after its collapse. Many building remains show reliefs depicting sun rays ending in hands, blessing the royal couple.
The site is wide open and lies on a desert edge with little shade. Visitors should come early in the morning and bring plenty of water, as temperatures rise quickly.
Clay tablets containing diplomatic letters from neighboring kingdoms were found here in an archive room. This correspondence includes details on marriage negotiations, trade discussions, and military reports from the 14th century BC.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
