Country in Africa that had remarkable stability (as opposed to Mesopotamia)

In Neolithic era, composed of two ethnic areas: Upper Nile (south) and Lower Nile (north)

[distinctions made based on direction of Nile's flow]

Areas were united, forming the first unified nation

Separated chronologically into the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms

order

stability

perpetuity

obsession with immortality

These concepts manifest themselves in Egyptian art, pharoas, buildings, culture, dieties, burial practices, etc.

Egyptian system of writing

Unlike cuneiform, Egyptians did not simplify their characters as the language developed

Eyptian kings who were also viewed as gods on Earth.

Much of Egyptian heiroglyphics and art focuses on them

Pieces of stone carved on both sides with low reliefs

one side featured a carved out depression

may have been used to apply eye makeup to deflect sun's glare

one of the earliest extant historical art forms known

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The Palette of Narmer

ca. 3000 BCE

Features King Narmer

order

stability

Narmer has slain enemies. Falcon represents Lower Egypt, which is under his control.

Entwined cats represent unity beween Upper and Lower Egypt

King = godlike figure

alter ego/life force the egyptians believed in

continued living after the body passed away

Thus, bodies were mummified and goods were left in tombs for egyptians to take with them into the afterlife

structures built over walled Egyptian graves; evolving from primative dirt mounds into the pyramids

Generally a rectangular stone/brick structure with sloping slides and a shaft connected to the underground tomb (through which the ka would leave)

Interior walls were decorated with reliefs and paintings

Step Pyramid of Pharoah Djoser

ca. 2750 BCE

Third Dynasty

Imhotep built six mastabas of consistant height but decreasing size, one upon the other

Nearly 200 ft tall

built to protect/mark the tomb of Djoser

Earliest example of columns (in interior)

"Dummy" buildings filled with sand or rubble around a pyramid

Probably existed for the ka

the column is composed of stacked cylindrical segments as opposed to being cut from one stone

Seen at the Step Pyramid of King Djoser

closely placed parallel groves in columns

seen in Step Pyramid of King Djoser

columns that are attached to a wall, instead of free standing

seen in Djoser's pyramid

[image]

The Great Pyramids of Giza

ca. 26C BCE

Built by three kings in the Fourth Dynasty

Largest: 480 ft high, 13 acre base

Originally covered in smooth limestone and capped with Gold

pyramids are perfectly oriented to the cardinal points of a compass (N, S, E, W)

[image]

The Great Sphinx

ca. 26C BCE

Carved in situ and is the earliest known colossus.

Outside Khafre's pyramid at Giza

Symbol of Egyptian power

"in place"

When a statue is carved out of the rock in its location

example: The Great Sphinx, Mt. Rushmore

A giant statue

Ex: The Great Sphinx

[image]

King Djoser

ca. 2750 BCE

Old Kingdom of Egypt

First royal portrait in history

Imhotep

Formal composition

Shows themes of stability, ordeor, etc.

Created using the subtractive method

bilaterally symmetrical

lines smoothed with abrasion

Kafre

ca. 26C BCE

Kafre = builder of the second great pyramid at Giza

Modeled after the statue of Djoser

order, stability, and strength

Seated Scribe Statue

ca. 2500 BCE

Old Kingdom - Ancient Egypt

Increased realism in these statues due to the scribe's low social status

however, still shows order, and rigidness

Ti watching a hippopotamous hunt

ca. 2400 BCE (Fifth Dynasty)

Old Kingdom - Egypt

Ti has typical egyptian stance

No attempt to create distance in work (technique unknown to Egyptians at thsi time)

composite view

parallel lines --> order

dry fresco

works painted on dry plaster

(ex: Ti watches a hippo hunt)

Seen in ancient Egypt

an open area of a building with a row of columns, supporting the ceiling above.

Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary temple had three rows of these, connected by ramps

all, thin, four-sided shaft of tapering stone that rises to a pyramidal point

The New Kingdom Egyptians placed these in front of their temples to the gods

Horizontal projection immediately below the springing of an arch, sometimes immediately above the capital, sometimes used instead of a capital

In New Kingdom Egyptian architecture, these rested on columns and supported lintels

bell shaped capitals of Egyptian columns

seen along with bud-capitals in New Kingdom temples

Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

ca. 1450 BCE

New Kingdom - Egypt

Created by Semut

Terraces originally held lush gardens

Typical Egyptian order; lines of temple correspond with lines of mountain

Interior courts, etc. were also symmetrical

[image]

Mortuary Temple of Ramses II

ca. 1250 BCE
New Kingdom - Egypt

rock-cut shrine

Not tomb, but primary worship site

Statues of Ramses = 70 ft high

Interior: Many 32 foot columns in the shape of Ramses

[image]

Typical plan of a New Kingdom Egyptian temple

• Pylon: Large gate in front of temple
• Courtyard: Large, open (no roof)
• Hypostyle Hall: large, dark room with column. Only light is from small windows cut into roof
• Second Hall: Very dark, columned. Only priests and Pharoahs could enter
• The Sanctuary: dark, mysterious. Only high priests and Pharoahs could enter; contained statue of god/goddess
• The Sacred Lake: Next to temple, represented the world before time began (water used in rituals)

evolve in Middle and New Kingdoms of Egypt

very simple (blocks with heads on them)

Akhenaton

ca. 1350 BCE
Abandoned worship of traditional Egyptian gods to worship only aton

elongated neck, small arms and oddly shaped body were a radical change in Egyptian sculptury

Thutmose - Queen Nefertiti

ca. 14C BCE

New Kingdom - Egypt

contrasting sharp and smooth lines

striking neck

never ment to be displayed; model for Thutmose only

Funerary Mask of King Tutankhamen

ca. 1323 BCE

vulture of upper egypt and serpant of lower egypt on his head

ceremonial beard

mask inlade with precious stones

found in king tut's tomb