<P> One of the best - known 18th Dynasty pharaohs is Amenhotep IV , who changed his name to Akhenaten in honor of the Aten , a representation of the Egyptian god , Ra . His exclusive worship of the Aten is often interpreted as history 's first instance of monotheism . Akhenaten 's wife , Nefertiti , contributed a great deal to his new take on the Egyptian religion . Nefertiti was bold enough to perform rituals to Aten . Akhenaten 's religious fervor is cited as the reason why he and his wife were subsequently written out of Egyptian history . Under his reign , in the 14th century BC , Egyptian art flourished under a distinctive style . ( See Amarna Period . ) </P>
what was the most important new religious figure of the new kingdom of ancient egypt
Aten