a short time of monotheism (atenism) happened when akhenaten (amenhotep iv) was pharaoh. he focused the religion on the egyptian sun god aten. the aten is usually shown as a sun disk with rays coming out of all sides. akhenaten built a new capital at amarna with temples for the aten. akhenaten's religion only lasted until his death. the old religion was quickly restored by tutankhamun, akhenaten's son by his wife kiya.