Now Akhenaten's 3,400-year-old world has been brilliantly recalled in an exhibit titled "Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen," which opens this week at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Part of the city's eight-month tribute to ancient Egypt (operas, ballet and an IMAX film), it is a unique assemblage of more than 250 objects from Egypt's 18th dynasty, some of which have languished unseen in storerooms and private collections for decades. They range from larger-than-life statues of Akhenaten to exquisitely sculpted reliefs and dazzling jewelry to such poignant reminders of everyday life as a perfectly preserved child's sandal.
The exhibit illuminates a murky period in Egyptian history that curator Rita Freed describes as having "all the elements of a soap opera." When Amenhotep IV, as he was originally called, ascended the throne in 1353 B.C., Egypt was a flourishing empire, at peace with its neighbors. Yet there were troubling signs. His father Amenhotep III had already challenged the powerful priesthood by proclaiming the sun god Aten as foremost among Egyptian deities and himself as his living incarnation.
His son shook things up even more, not only changing his name to honor the new god (Akhenaten means "one who serves Aten") but also banishing the older gods, especially the priestly favorite Amen. Some scholars believe Akhenaten's monotheism, a historic first, inspired the Hebrew prophets, but it had the more immediate effect of freeing Egypt's artists. They could now portray the Pharaoh and the voluptuous Nefertiti (who may have shared the throne with him) in a far more casual, realistic way. Akhenaten's cone-shaped head, elongated face, fingers and toes, pot belly and flaring hips have led some scholars to suggest that he had hydrocephalus or Marfan's syndrome.
He was certainly a revolutionary, propelled either by madness or by great vision. Still, his changes did not endure. After his death, his son-in-law (and perhaps son) Tutankhamen moved the political and religious capitals back to Memphis and Thebes respectively and reinstated the old gods. Egyptian art returned to its classic, ritualized style. And like Camelot, Akhenaten's once bustling capital became only a mythic memory. "Pharaohs of the Sun" will remain in Boston until February, then travel to Los Angeles, Chicago and Leiden, the Netherlands.
1.Which of the following event did not happen during Akhenaten’s reign over Egypt?
[A] He banished the older gods.
[B] People had to worship one god--- the sun god Aten.
[C] Egyptian artists suffered from a more casual, realistic way of portraying.
[D] He built a new capital along the Nile.
2.We can learn from the text that in Boston, many activities are held as tribute to ancient Egypt except ________.
[A] pageant
[B] ballet
[C] operas
[D] movie
3.The views of Akhenaten and his father on the sun god Aten are _____.
[A] opposite
[B] controversial
[C] complementary
[D] similar
4.Tutankhamen, according to the text, probably ________.
[A] moved the political capital back to Thebes
[B] gave the older gods back their previous position
[C] might had got some disease that made his face longer than the healthy people
[D] moved the religious capital back to Memphis
5.What can we learn about the exhibit on ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty?
[A] It mainly consists of statues of the pharaohs of that time.
[B] It will last for eight months in Boston.
[C] It is very enlightening for people to know that period.
[D] The objects on the exhibit used to be stored in private collection.
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