In Egyptian myth, the creator god Aten (Aton, Adon, Eton) was never represented in human or animal form. Originally, his solar disk sported wings and arms, but it was eventually refined to a solar disk embellished with the uraeus sporting thin arms like the rays of the sun, each ending with a human hand. When depicted near a royal personage, each hand pointing in their direction held a small ankh.
The pharaoh Akhenaten (originally Amenhotep IV) attempted to steer his nation to monotheistic worship of Aten. Though Aten was worshipped prior to the rein of Akhenaten, the height of Aten worship lasted only through his reign (1372-1355 BC). Most believe his endorsement of the god was a political move against the priesthood of Amun, rather than due to any religious feeling on Akhenaten’s part. At the same time Akhenaten encouraged the worship of Aten, he suppressed worship of Amun-Re.
Akhenaten first built a sanctuary dedicated to Aten adjacent to one honoring Amun at the Karnak complex of Thebes. The main cult was north of Thebes however on the east bank of the Nile at Tell el-Amarna where a huge open-roofed sanctuary was constructed. Here the main ceremonies took place at dawn, and here it was that Akhenaten and Nefertiti, herself a passionate devotee of Aten, relocated for the remainder of his reign to rule from Tell el-Amarna. The following hymn is ascribed directly to Akhenaten:
Thy rising is beautiful in the horizon of heaven,
O thou Aten, who hadst thine existence in primeval times.
When thou riseth in the eastern horizon thou fillest ever land with thy beauties,
Thou art beautiful to see, and art great, and art like crystal, and art high above the earth.
Thy beams of light embrace the land, even every land which thou hast made.
Thou art as Ra, and thou bringest (thyself) unto each of them, and thou bindest them with thy love.
Thou art remote, by thy beams are upon the earth.
It is impossible to piece together precise information on the worship of Aten due to the destruction of his cultural centers following the death of Akhenaten, but it is clear that incense was offered several times a day, accompanied by hymns and the playing of harps and other instruments. Offerings were made of fruits and flowers, and there was no animal sacrifice.
The priests of Amun later destroyed all the temples to Aten and most of the iconography at the end of Akhenaten’s reign. It is believed Akhenaten and Nefertiti were most likely murdered, and the reign of Tutankhaten (later called Tutankhamen “living image of Amen”) directly followed Akhenaten.