1340s BC

Events and trends

*c. 1348 BC — Amenhotep IV changes his name to Akhenaten.
*1348 BC–1336 BC: Akhenaten and his family, relief from Akhetaten (modern el-Amarna) was made. 18th dynasty. It is now in Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Ägyptisches Museum.
*c. 1348 BC–1336 BC: Nefertiti, bust from Akhetaten (modern Amarna) was made. 18th dynasty. It is now in Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Ägyptisches Museum.
*c. 1348 BC–1336 BC: Tish-shaped vase, from Akhetaten (modern Tell el-Amarna) was made. 18th dynasty. It is now in the British Museum, London.
*c. 1348 BC–1327 BC: State ship, detail of a tempera fascimile by Charles K. Wilkinson of a wall painting in the tomb of the governor of Nubia Amenhotep Huy in Qurnet Murai was made. 18th dynasty. It is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
*1347 BC — Legendary King Erechtheus II is reportedly killed by lightning after a reign of 50 years and is succeeded by his younger brother Cecrops II.
*1346 BC — Pharaoh Amenhotep IV of Egypt begins his Cult of Aten and begins construction of Amarna intended to be his new capital.
*1345 BC — Pharaoh Amenhotep IV of Egypt renames himself to Akhenaten.
*1344 BC–1322 BC — Beginning of Hittite empire.
*c. 1340 BC — Citadel walls are built in Mycenae.

ignificant people

* 1341 BC/1340 BC — Birth of Tutankhaten, later Pharaoh of Egypt as Tutankhamun (approximate date)