Donald Krist

Hymn to the Sun: a Novel Donald Krist

Historically accurate Hymn To The Sun traces three lives through some of ancient Egypt's most turbulent and transitional years: The Pharaoh Akhenaten, the world's first monotheist, whose belief in one God in Egypt's polytheistic society caused a revolution over three thousand years ago and produced his world-classic literary masterpiece Hymn To The Sun that formed the basis for his worship ceremonies to the Aten; Queen Nefertiti, Akhenaten's beautiful and beloved wife who grew up with him and, until the very last, stood by her beleaguered husband; And Aye, the power behind the thrones of four Pharaohs and who helped develop what museums today exhibit as treasured reminders of that era. Successful in various arts, war, politics and power struggles, Aye marched in youth from a poor stonecutter's home in Athribis to become Pharaoh of Egypt and custodian of Akhenaten's and Tutankhamon's treasures. This novel answers questions historians have been asking for centuries: What happened to the Pharaoh Akhenaten? How did he die? And why? What happened after his death to the one-God religion Akhenaten founded? What happened to Nefertiti? And their daughters? Why was the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamon so full of treasure when it was discovered?