OP, I had a tremendous laugh reading your words, "What about that weirdo Akhenaten?" because I had been reading about that very weirdo this morning! We're on the same track in terms of finding answers to today's "problem" buried in history. And buried (((they))) want it, and in their hands to control and master.
<Bloodlines. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if all the so called gods were just deified people of the forgotten past.
My theory about the creation of gods during ancient times is a little more simple. Consider how easy it is for people to believe literally anything. Our history is replete with countless sweeping myths of strength, opulence, beauty, knowledge, powers etc, all of it an ideal based upon projections of people reflecting on what they don't have. In an age without modern day factual recording technology such as photography, video, sound… anyone (then and now) can believe and say anything about anyone/ anything, and who's to say they're wrong? All it takes a smile behind the untruth, and boom, you have a believer, and sure enough, the untruth spreads. So and so believed it, so therefore I believe it. And now you (threatening tone, leverage) must believe it.
Gods? Yesterdays sports and film heroes.
Unfortunately, a common strain among those cultures who believed in and worshiped many gods, one over-riding impulse became dominant, that of achieving money and power. The more you wanted that, the more you had to sacrifice to achieve it. Sell your soul and do the unthinkable.
As for specifics of what that unthinkable meant, pick among the worst. That was the common problem among those cultures. Whatever else was good (their math and science advancements), they still had fucking Moloch eating children, plus oppressive slavery and corruption.
One monotheistic religion did not come in heavy handed with a god to end all gods. Their underlying principles and rules of behavior were often superior, based upon justice, and love.