Ancient Egyptian Culture

1
Ancient Egyptian Culture

• Religion, Architecture, and Daily Life in the
  Old Kingdom

2
Daily Life in the Old Kingdom

• Society focused on Agriculture.
• Majority of population involved in farming.
• Growing season lasted 8-9 months.
• Life revolved around the flooding cycles of the
  Nile.
• People farmed on a subsistence level.
• The only people that did not farm were the royal
  family and the priests.

3
Ancient Egyptian Religion

• Based on Polytheism.
• Some sources count as many as 2000 gods and
  goddesses.
• Some locally followed and some worshiped
  throughout kingdom.
• Chief gods were Amon-Ra (sun god) and Osiris (god
  of the underworld).

4
Ancient Egyptian Religion Continued

• Strong belief in afterlife.
• Believed that death was a transition phase in
  lifecycle.
• Went to great lengths to preserve the dead and to
  make sure they had all the comforts of their
  worldly possessions.

5
Egyptian Architechture

• During the 3rd Dynasty (c. 2650-2575 b.c.) first
  monumental stone architecture appeared.
• The Mortuary Complex of Djoser was constructed c.
  2686-2648 b.c.

6
Mortuary Complex of Djoser

• Consisted of a walled inclosure, the southeastern
  palace, and a stepped pyramid.
• Designed and built by architect Imhotep.
• Marked a dramatic change in Egyptian architecture
  and led to construction of further pyramids.
• Step pyramid stood 197 feet tall.

7
Egyptian Architecture Continued

• During the 4th Dynasty (c. 2575-2467 b.c.)
  possibly the greatest Egyptian structures were
  built.
• The Pyramids at Giza were constructed around
  2550-2490 b.c.

8
The Pyramids at Giza

• There are three huge pyramids at Giza.
• They were built by the Pharaohs Menkaure,
  Chephren, and Cheops.
• The pyramid of Cheops is the largest and it is
  called The Great Pyramid.

9
The Great Pyramid

• Oldest and largest of the Giza Pyramids.
• Originally 481 feet tall, but due to erosion and
  other factors it stands at 455.21 feet tall.
• Stood as worlds tallest building until Lincoln
  Cathedral was built in 1300 A.D.
• Base covers an area of about 9 acres.

10
The Great Sphinx

• Chephrens workers carved the Sphinx out of a
  single piece of limestone over 4,500 years ago.
• The body is 200 feet long and it stands over 65
  feet tall.
• It is thought to be a likeness of Chephren.

11
Conclusion

• The Ancient Egyptians built some very impressive
  monuments that still stand to this day.
• Their architecture was very advanced for its
  time.
• Their civilization was far ahead of many others
  of the time.