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Egyptian Sequence #2
Akhenaten: Son of the Sun
In ancient Egypt during the magnificent eighteenth dynasty the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, the strong and beautiful Nefertiti, are engaged in a dramatic battle against the wealthy, corrupt and dangerously powerful priests of Amun. Haunting and full of surprises, The Son of the Sun, gives a fascinating glimpse into an ancient civilisation. It is a story about hate and love, despair and hope, but more than that it is the story of extraordinary spiritual and psychic powers being tested to their limits.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
About the author
Moyra Caldecott
62 books30 followersStarted academic career by obtaining degrees in English Literature and Philosophy.
* Briefly lectured in English Literature at university level.
* Raised three children and had a most interesting and stimulating life as the wife of Oliver Caldecott in London from 1951 to 1989. (Oliver was an editor at Penguin, Readers Union, and Hutchinson and founded his own publishing firm Wildwood House with his partner Dieter Pevsner. His last editorial post was at Rider, for Century Hutchinson. He was also a very good artist.)
* Took evening classes in palaeontology (geology always a favourite subject), religious studies and mythology.
* Was secretary of the Dulwich Group in the ’sixties, a most successful poetry reading group. Read a lot. Wrote books. Met many interesting people and had many interesting discussions. Travelled a lot.
* Her life has also been enriched by the interests of her children: Religion – Conservation – Art.
* She has had various experiences she considers to be ‘paranormal’, including a dramatic healing from angina. She gives talks to various personal growth and consciousness raising groups, and groups interested in the ancient sacred sites of Britain.
* Her most successful book so far, Guardians Of The Tall Stones, is set in ancient Bronze Age Britain, and is required reading for some groups visiting the sacred sites of Britain from America. It has been in print continuously since 1977.
* Myths and legends are a particular passion and she follows Jung and Joseph Campbell in believing that they are not ‘just’ stories but actually deep and meaningful expressions of the universal and eternal in the human psyche.
* Briefly lectured in English Literature at university level.
* Raised three children and had a most interesting and stimulating life as the wife of Oliver Caldecott in London from 1951 to 1989. (Oliver was an editor at Penguin, Readers Union, and Hutchinson and founded his own publishing firm Wildwood House with his partner Dieter Pevsner. His last editorial post was at Rider, for Century Hutchinson. He was also a very good artist.)
* Took evening classes in palaeontology (geology always a favourite subject), religious studies and mythology.
* Was secretary of the Dulwich Group in the ’sixties, a most successful poetry reading group. Read a lot. Wrote books. Met many interesting people and had many interesting discussions. Travelled a lot.
* Her life has also been enriched by the interests of her children: Religion – Conservation – Art.
* She has had various experiences she considers to be ‘paranormal’, including a dramatic healing from angina. She gives talks to various personal growth and consciousness raising groups, and groups interested in the ancient sacred sites of Britain.
* Her most successful book so far, Guardians Of The Tall Stones, is set in ancient Bronze Age Britain, and is required reading for some groups visiting the sacred sites of Britain from America. It has been in print continuously since 1977.
* Myths and legends are a particular passion and she follows Jung and Joseph Campbell in believing that they are not ‘just’ stories but actually deep and meaningful expressions of the universal and eternal in the human psyche.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 22, 2012
Akhenaten: Son of the Sun is an interesting, enjoyable read about the reign of Akhenaten, told through the eyes of his close friend, an Oracle named Djehuti-kheper-Ra. It uses a mysticism interpretation of Ancient Egypt and Akhenaten. I am not fond of these interpretations and would have steered away from Son of the Sun if I had not read that it was told the perspective of Smenkhkara.
As I understand it, Caldecott revised Son of the Sun in 1990 to follow "King Nefertiti" theories put forward by J. R. Harris and Julie Samson. I found this disappointing. For one, I believe that Smenkhkara is not to be equated with Neferneferuaten, who may have been Nefertiti (see Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunset , James Allen, The Amarna Succession for further discussion of this theory). For another, I think that Smenkhkara is one of the most overlooked figures in Amarna narratives, so yes, disappointing to see the one novel I know of from his POV has written him out!
I really, really enjoyed the writing in this. It was just poetic enough that the mysticism elements (or "magic") didn't seem over the top, and worked well within the narratives. I did feel they were a bit too heavy on exposition during the first few chapters. I also enjoyed that Akhenaten is effectively a "good man", his actions during the Aten revolution are shown as flawed.
In terms of historical accuracy, it was pretty good, though there were a few mistakes. I enjoyed that Caldecott employed the Egyptian names of cities (Waset for Thebes and so on) and gods (Djehuti instead of Thoth). A number of the relationships Caldecott depicts have been disapproved by the 2010 DNA results.
3.5 stars.
As I understand it, Caldecott revised Son of the Sun in 1990 to follow "King Nefertiti" theories put forward by J. R. Harris and Julie Samson. I found this disappointing. For one, I believe that Smenkhkara is not to be equated with Neferneferuaten, who may have been Nefertiti (see Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunset , James Allen, The Amarna Succession for further discussion of this theory). For another, I think that Smenkhkara is one of the most overlooked figures in Amarna narratives, so yes, disappointing to see the one novel I know of from his POV has written him out!
I really, really enjoyed the writing in this. It was just poetic enough that the mysticism elements (or "magic") didn't seem over the top, and worked well within the narratives. I did feel they were a bit too heavy on exposition during the first few chapters. I also enjoyed that Akhenaten is effectively a "good man", his actions during the Aten revolution are shown as flawed.
In terms of historical accuracy, it was pretty good, though there were a few mistakes. I enjoyed that Caldecott employed the Egyptian names of cities (Waset for Thebes and so on) and gods (Djehuti instead of Thoth). A number of the relationships Caldecott depicts have been disapproved by the 2010 DNA results.
3.5 stars.
May 30, 2019
Great work of literature
It is something of an amazement that there was a rise of a patriarchal religion before the rise of Abrahamic religions. The Amun priesthood ruled in the ancient age of the Matriarchical-based religion. The symbolism here reaches out from the pages, Sun is man and Moon is woman. The story here incredible, yet it teaches as it unfolds. All the world is potential, as our priest-prince eloquently states. Therefore, this is more truth than tale. Well done.
It is something of an amazement that there was a rise of a patriarchal religion before the rise of Abrahamic religions. The Amun priesthood ruled in the ancient age of the Matriarchical-based religion. The symbolism here reaches out from the pages, Sun is man and Moon is woman. The story here incredible, yet it teaches as it unfolds. All the world is potential, as our priest-prince eloquently states. Therefore, this is more truth than tale. Well done.
March 31, 2018
Disappointed .
I fell in love with this era after reading nerfertiti by Michelle Moran.
It’s just an interesting time during the ancient world and I just didn’t feel this novel did it any justice it was light and no character obtained any type of depth the intrigues of the court were over looked and then it was over before I started.
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
I fell in love with this era after reading nerfertiti by Michelle Moran.
It’s just an interesting time during the ancient world and I just didn’t feel this novel did it any justice it was light and no character obtained any type of depth the intrigues of the court were over looked and then it was over before I started.
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
February 11, 2015
Dieses Buch schildert das Leben Echnatons. Dieser Pharao der glanzvollen achtzehn Dynastie bricht mit den Traditionen und stellt Aton als den einzigen Gott in den Mittelpunkt der kultischen Verehrung. Die mächtigen und über die Jahre immer reicher gewordenen Priester des Amun, die sich zuerst zurückgestellt, dann sogar verfolgt und gedemütigt sehen, sinnen auf Wege, ihre frühere Stellung widerzuerlangen.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews