Aton
/ˈɑːtɒn/
nounC2
Definition
Aton is a god from ancient Egypt, symbolized by the sun disk. People believed Aton gave life and light to everything on Earth. The god became very important when Pharaoh Akhenaten made Aton the main god in Egypt, changing the usual religion.
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⚡ See It in Action
Ancient Egyptian sun god represented as a sun disk
- •Pharaoh Akhenaten changed Egypt's religion to worship Aton above all gods.
- •Temples were built to honor Aton as the source of life and light.
- •Aton was shown as a sun disk with rays ending in hands giving life.
Symbol of life and energy in ancient Egyptian culture
- •The sun’s power was linked to Aton’s life-giving strength.
- •Ancient Egyptians believed Aton helped plants grow and kept people healthy.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "Aton" like "sun" (A1 word), but as a special god that gives life and energy to all living things
- ✓Picture a bright, round sun shining in the sky, spreading warm light everywhere
- ✓It's the feeling of warmth on your skin on a sunny day, the source of life and growth
- ✓Sounds like "A-ton" → imagine a big, heavy sun disk shining powerfully above
- ✓Think of stories about gods who control nature, like the sun god in old myths who brings day and life
- ✓NOT like "light" that just shines—Aton is a god, a powerful being that controls the sun’s energy
- ✓NOT like "star" (many stars in the sky), Aton is the ONE sun god worshiped by ancient Egyptians
- ✓NOT like "sunlight" (the light from the sun), Aton is the god who is the sun itself, not just its light
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Ra: another ancient Egyptian sun god (Use when referring to the older, more common sun god before Aton's worship)
- •Solar deity: a god connected to the sun (Use in general discussions about sun gods in different cultures)
- •Sun disk: the symbol representing Aton (Use when describing the image or symbol, not the god)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "Aton" is a proper name, no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From ancient Egyptian language, meaning "disk" or "circle," referring to the sun disk
- •Historical development: Became prominent during the 18th Dynasty under Pharaoh Akhenaten (around 1350 BCE) who promoted monotheistic worship of Aton
- •Modern usage: Used in history and Egyptology to describe the sun god and related religious ideas
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How might the worship of Aton have changed daily life for ancient Egyptians during Akhenaten’s reign?
•Can you think of other examples where a natural thing like the sun is also seen as a god or powerful being?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Pharaoh Akhenaten made Aton the ___ god, changing Egypt’s usual religion.
2.Aton is shown as a sun disk with rays ending in ___ that give life.
3.People believed Aton gave ___ and light to everything on Earth.
4.Unlike the general word "sun," Aton is a ___ with power and meaning in stories.
5.Temples built for Aton were places to ___ and honor the sun god.
6.Aton’s worship focused on the sun as the ___ of life and energy.
7.The symbol of Aton often looks like a ___ shining brightly in the sky.