---
title: Statue of Akhenaten
author: Elsie McLaughlin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6913/statue-of-akhenaten/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Statue of Akhenaten
_Authored by [Elsie McLaughlin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/theegyptgeek/)_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/6913.jpg)
## Image Caption
This fragmentary statue of the [pharaoh](https://www.worldhistory.org/pharaoh/) [Akhenaten](https://www.worldhistory.org/Akhenaten/) (Amenhotep IV) dates from the [Amarna Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amarna_Period_of_Egypt/) (c. 1353-1336 BCE), and was originally housed in a [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) complex to the Aten near [Karnak](https://www.worldhistory.org/Karnak/), in what is now modern-day Luxor. Currently on display in the Louvre Museum in [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/), it is a prime example of the exaggerated "[Amarna](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amarna/) Art" style. In almost all official court artwork, Akhenaten is depicted in a highly stylistic manner, with an elongated face, distorted facial features, spindly limbs and a feminine body shape. It is unlikely that the king actually looked this strange; rather, his appearance was likely exaggerated for symbolic/religious reasons.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Elsie McLaughlin is an aspiring Egyptologist, whose areas of interest include the Amarna Period, gender, female kingship, and the history of the early New Kingdom, as well as the relationship between royal women & warfare in the New Kingdom.
## Cite This Work
### APA
McLaughlin, E. (2017, July 26). Statue of Akhenaten. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
McLaughlin, Elsie. "Statue of Akhenaten." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 26, 2017. .
### MLA
McLaughlin, Elsie. "Statue of Akhenaten." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 Jul 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Elsie McLaughlin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/theegyptgeek/ "User Page: Elsie McLaughlin"), published on 26 July 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.