AKHETATON, 15 Mechir . -- The Egyptian nation this morning was ordered by royal decree to cease worshipping all the gods of Egypt except Aton, the sun-god. The change was given full legal force by a royal announcement made at Akhetaton, the Pharaoh's new capital. At the same time, the King announced that he had changed his name from Amenhotep IV (which contains the name of the discredited deity Amen) to Akhnaton.

Observers have commented on the similarity between Pharaoh Akhnaton's newly instituted religion and the faith of the Hebrews in one God. But members of the clan os Israel are quick to pint out that the belief in a sun-god still constitutes idol-worship.

With the proclamation of Aton as the sole god of Egypt, the belief in and worship of all the traditional Egyptian deities becomes illegal. The royal militia, acting under Pharaoh's orders, has gone into action throughout the land, shutting up all the temples to Egypt's multitudinous gods, who, according to the King, are not really gods at all. Images and pictures of these deities are going to be removed from the temples and, wherever possible, destroyed. Likewise, inscriptions mentioning them are to be obliterated.

The only symbol to remain will be that of the sun's disc, sending out its rays in all directions.

Taken from 'Chronicles: News of the Past' © 1954, 1967