Short Reign: Akhenaten's reign lasted for about 17 years, which was relatively short compared to other pharaohs of his time. This limited the duration and impact of his religious reforms.
Resistance from the Priesthood: The established priesthood of ancient Egypt was closely tied to the traditional polytheistic religion. They opposed Akhenaten's radical shift towards Aten worship, fearing a loss of power and influence. The priesthood's resistance created significant obstacles to the widespread acceptance of Atenism.
Lack of Popular Support: While Akhenaten constructed temples dedicated to Aten and promoted his religious ideology, there is limited evidence of widespread public support for his reforms. Many Egyptians likely remained attached to the traditional gods and rituals they had grown up with.
Political Instability: Akhenaten's reign was marked by a decline in Egypt's foreign relations and internal stability. The focus on Aten worship and the construction of a new capital city (Akhetaten) diverted resources from other areas of governance, leading to discontent and instability.
Reaction after Akhenaten's Death: After Akhenaten's death, his successors, especially Tutankhamun and Horemheb, swiftly dismantled his religious reforms. They restored the traditional polytheistic religion, dismantled temples dedicated to Aten, and removed references to Akhenaten's reign from monuments. This active reversal of Akhenaten's changes effectively ended the Aten-centric religious period.
Overall, the combination of factors such as Akhenaten's short reign, resistance from the priesthood, limited popular support, political instability, and the actions of his successors prevented his religious changes from taking a lasting hold in ancient Egypt.