Akhenaten sent his officials to destroy the temples of Amun. Then the king and his queen left Thebes behind and moved to a new capital in Middle Egypt, half way between Memphis and Thebes. He called it Akhetaten -The Horizon of the Aten (now called Amarna).

The ordinary people did not change gods, however, and continued to worship Amun secretly.

With Akhenaten taking less interest in affairs of state, it was his general, Horemheb, who was left to keep everything under control.

Nefertiti died in the 12th year of Akhenaten's reign and Akhenaten died in 1336 BC, after reigning for 16 years. He was succeeded by his brother Smenkhkare.