Religion of AkhenatenAmenhotep IV was the tenth king of Egypt's 18th dynasty and was perhaps the most controversial due to his break with traditional religion. Some have said that he was the most notable king to sit on the throne of Egypt. Amenhotep IV was traditionally raised by his parents, Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy worshiping Amen. Amenhotep IV, however, preferred Aten, the Sun God who was once worshiped. Early in his reign, he changed his name to Akhenaten, meaning "He who serves the Aten," and renamed his queen Nefer-Nefru-Aten, meaning "Beautiful is the beauty of the Aten." The king and his queen, leaving Thebes behind, constructed elaborate buildings at Akhenaten (Amarna) "The Horizon of Aten". He then sent his officials to destroy the statues of Amen and desecrate places of worship. These actions were so contrary to tradition that opposition arose against him. The domains of the great temples of Thebes, Memphis and Heliopolis returned to the throne. Corruption arose from the mismanagement of such large levies. Akhenaten died in the 18th year of his reign. His successor, Horemhab, claimed that his reign began on the date of Amenhotep III, thus erasing the entire reign of Akhenaten. The young prince was at least the second son of Amenhotep III by his principal wife, Tiy: an older brother, Prince Thutmose. , had died prematurely. There is some controversy over whether or not the old king associated his son to the throne in a co-regency. There are some pretty strong arguments for and against. One point in favor of a co-regency is the appearance during the last years of Amenhotep III's reign of artistic styles which were later considered part of the "revolutionary" Amarna art introduced by Akhenaten; on the other hand, "traditional" and "revolutionary" artistic styles could easily have coexisted during the early years of Akhenaten's reign. Regardless, if there had been a co-regency, it would not have lasted longer than the short period before the new king took his preferred name of Akhenaten ("Servant of Aten") in the year 5. The beginning of the era of Akhenaten his reign does not mark a great discontinuity with that of his predecessors. Not only was he crowned at Karnak (temple of the god Amon) but, like his father, he married a lady of non-royal blood, Nefertiti, daughter of the vizier Ay..