Akhenaton and his queen Nefertiti, were directed to the new site by the Aton itself and in a foundation ceremony in year 5, day 13 of the 8th month of his reign, proclaimed that a new city be created and completely dedicated to the worship of the Aton.

The dedication ceremony is proclaimed on three boundary stela (X, M & K) carved into the limestone cliffs at the northern and southern extremities of the new city.

artwork by Amarna Project

A further eleven stela were subsequently cut on both banks of the river to define the boundaries with greater precision - a unique form of delimiting a town not found elsewhere in Egypt.