Akhnaton (play)

Akhnaton is a historical drama by Agatha Christie, written in 1937. It tells the story of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten (originally Amenhotep IV), his religious revolution that replaced traditional Egyptian polytheism with Atenism (the worship of the sun disc), and the subsequent political and social upheaval in Egypt.

The play explores themes of religious zealotry, political intrigue, and the conflict between tradition and innovation. Akhenaten is portrayed as a visionary and idealist, but also as someone detached from the practical realities of ruling and vulnerable to manipulation. The play follows Akhenaten's reign, his relationship with his wife Nefertiti, and the opposition he faced from the priesthood of Amun and other powerful figures.

While Akhnaton was written in the 1930s, it remained unpublished and unperformed during Christie's lifetime. It was finally published in 1973 and first performed in 1979. Compared to her detective fiction, Akhnaton is less widely known, but it offers a different perspective on Christie's talent and her interest in historical themes. The play provides a dramatic and romanticized account of a pivotal period in Egyptian history. The play is characterized by its dialogue, character development, and exploration of historical events rather than by suspense and plot twists, typical of Christie's mystery works.