In 1350 BC sectarian violence is ripping ancient Egypt apart following the death of a powerful pharaoh. In the midst of this turmoil emerges a remarkable triumvirate—a spirited young woman named Nefertiti and the two men she loves: the old pharaoh’s mystic and crippled son Akhenaten and a soldier named Hap.
Nefertiti forges the two men—rivals at first—into the leaders of the greatest religious, artistic, and cultural revolution the world had ever known. In what history recounts as the birth of monotheism, the trio throw out all the old gods of Egypt, whose priests repressed the people by invoking fear. They replace those deities with a single sun god, Aten, who rules through love and harmony with nature.                            It is a painful revolution for Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Hap, filled with familial conflict and tragic losses. But as Act One ends, Nefertiti leads a triumphant exodus from Egypt’s capital of Thebes to build a new utopian world.

Nine years later, the three have built a glorious new capital, whose people thrive on their freedom from the old repressive religion. But trouble brews. The scheming priests, aided by outbreaks of plague and famine, fuel a return of sectarian violence. Akhenaten’s health deteriorates, and Nefertiti shields him from the truth about the rising revolt in Egypt. Finally, as enemies surround their city, Nefertiti’s father, the High Priest Aye, forces a showdown by exposing her deception to Akhenaten.

Akhenaten collapses upon learning about her betrayal. Hap, trying to save the couple he loves, leads a coup. Nefertiti poignantly reconciles with the dying Akhenaten, promising to continue their work. Akhenaten dies. Hap then pleads with Nefertiti to marry him, urging a compromise with the old religion. But she can not go back. She departs with followers to continue their struggle to forge a better world.