Maru-Aten

Plan of the complex

Located 3 km to the south of the central city area of the city of Akhetaten (today's el Amarna), the Maru-Aten, short for Pa-maru-en-pa-aten (The Viewing-Palace-of-the-Aten),^[1] is a palace or sun-temple originally thought to have been constructed for Akhenaten's queen Kiya, but on her death her name and images were altered to those of Meritaten, his daughter.^[2]

This site is now lost beneath modern fields, but was excavated by Leonard Woolley in 1921.

The Maru-Aten consists of two adjacent enclosures, one slightly larger than the other. Both enclosures contained shallow pools and garden areas planted with trees. Some interesting features of the sunshade include: ^[3]

• The larger of the lakes held a long and narrow causeway with a pier. On one end was a decorated kiosk.^[3]
• The north-east corner of the large enclosure shows an artificial island surrounded by water. On the island a stone platform with offering tables was erected (2 on the plan). ^[3]
• Behind the artificial island a pillared structure provided shade to a collection on T-shaped water basins (number 4). The basins were surrounded by a gypsum pavement decorated with scenes from nature.^[3]

References

1. D. P. Silverman, J. Houser Wegner, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun: Revolution and Restoration, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum 2006, p.87
2. Aayko Eyma ed., A Delta-Man in Yebu, Universal-Publishers. 2003, p.53
3. Kemp, Barry, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and its People, Thames and Hudson, 2012

• Maru-Aten