Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, Ancient royal stone markers near Tell El-Amarna, Egypt
The Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten are sixteen limestone stones carved into the cliff faces surrounding Tell el-Amarna that mark the boundaries of the ancient city of Akhetaten. They feature engraved inscriptions with royal declarations and are scattered across the landscape.
Pharaoh Akhenaton commissioned these boundary stones in the fifth year of his reign to mark the limits of his new capital dedicated to the sun god Aten. Additional inscriptions were added in the eighth year of his reign.
The inscriptions on these stelae show early forms of Late Egyptian language, moving away from the traditional royal texts used elsewhere. This change in writing reveals how communication shifted during this unusual period of transformation.
These stones are scattered across open desert landscape and can be difficult to reach, as they are distributed at various locations in and around the Tell el-Amarna cliffs. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and prepare for uneven ground and strong sun exposure.
These stones contain two separate royal proclamations reaffirming the permanence of the city, showing how important the founding was to the pharaoh. The repeated message across multiple stones underscores the significance of this new capital in Akhenaton's vision.
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