Egypt

1
Egypt

• Dates and Places
• 3500-1000BCE
• Nile River Valley

Prehistory Prehistory

• People
• Divine rulers
• Agriculture
• Hieroglyphic writing system
• Polytheism

Great Pyramids, ca. 2551-2528BCE. Fig. 1-1.
2
Egypt

• Themes
• Gods
• Rulers
• Life and death
• Offerings
• Forms
• Stone and mud brick construction
• Natural and conceptual treatments of figures
• Registers of space
• Hierarchy of scale

Thutmose, Nefertiti, ca. 1353-1335BCE. Fig. 1-34.
3
Egypt Predynastic Period
Palette of King Narmer, ca. 3000-2920BCE. Fig.
1-22
4
Egypt Predynastic Period

• Example
• Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
• Divine ruler and gods
• Symbols of authority
• Hieroglyphs
• Hierarchy of scale
• Composite view

Palette of King Narmer, ca. 3000-2920BCE. Fig.
1-22
5
Egypt Early Dynastic Period
Imhotep, Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precint of
Djoser, 2630-2611BCE. Fig. 1-24.
6
Egypt Early Dynastic Period

• Example
• Funerary precinct
• Burial pyramid and temples
• Pyramid based on mastaba
• Symbol of kings godlike power
• First named artist in recorded history

Imhotep, Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precint of
Djoser, 2630-2611BCE. Fig. 1-24.
7
Egypt Old Kingdom
Great Pyramids, ca. 2551-2528BCE. Fig. 1-1.
8
Egypt Old Kingdom

• Example
• Funerary precinct with burial pyramids and
  temples
• Pyramid symbol of god Re
• Testifies to kings power
• Masonry construction with internal chambers
• Stone facing reflected sun

Great Pyramids, ca. 2551-2528BCE. Fig. 1-1.
9
Egypt Old Kingdom
Menkaure and Khamerernebty(?), ca. 2490-2472BCE.
Fig. 1-27.
10
Egypt Old Kingdom

• Example
• Sculpture for kings temple
• Home for kings ka
• Symbols of rulership
• Ideal proportions of godlike king
• Timeless double portrait
• Typical Egyptian pose
• Queens pose indicates marriage

Menkaure and Khamerernebty(?), ca. 2490-2472BCE.
Fig. 1-27.
11
Egypt New Kingdom
Restored view of the temple of Amen-Re, Karnak,
begun 15th century BCE. Fig. 1-31
12
Egypt New Kingdom

• Example
• Temple complex for god Amen-Re
• Along Nile River
• Symbolic architecture and landscape design
• Pylon temple on symmetrical axis
• Restricted access to hypostyle hall

Restored view of the temple of Amen-Re, Karnak,
begun 15th century BCE. Fig. 1-31
13
Egypt New Kingdom
Thutmose, Nefertiti, ca. 1353-1335BCE. Fig. 1-34.
14
Egypt New Kingdom

• Example
• Brief period of monotheism and political change
• Influential queen
• Named sculptor
• Rejection of artistic tradition?
• Ideal beauty over true likeness
• Inlaid eyes

Thutmose, Nefertiti, ca. 1353-1335BCE. Fig. 1-34.