1. The Stability of Ancient Egypt: Flood and Sun

3. Ancient Egyptian civilization
Developed gradually from 5,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE along the Nile
There were two independent Egypts: Upper and Lower Egypt
Egyptian history is said to begin when Upper and Lower Egypt were united by Narmer, the king of Upper Egypt
There were about 30 dynasties in ancient Egypt
Life was unusually secure in ancient Egypt – why?

4. Ancient Egyptian civilization
Developed gradually from 5,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE along the Nile
There were two independent Egypts: Upper and Lower Egypt
Egyptian history is said to begin when Upper and Lower Egypt were united by Narmer, the king of Upper Egypt
There were about 30 dynasties in ancient Egypt
Life was unusually secure in ancient Egypt – why?
Fertility of the Nile Valley, thanks to the nutrients deposited each year with flooding
Surrounding inhospitable deserts eliminated fear of invasion
The stability of ancient Egypt and the highly centralized government is reflected in the monumental architecture of the pyramids

5. Stepped Pyramid of Zoser, Saqqara, Egypt (2600 BCE)
-early pyramid, typically stepped
-dates from the first dynasty
Ziggurat of Ur

6. Egyptian art and culture
With few exceptions, Egyptian art was remarkably consistent in style over 3 millennia – unquestioning acceptance of convention
Sense of order and continuity pervades ancient Egyptian life and art
Hieroglyphics developed before 3000 BCE

7. Like Sumerian, hieroglyphics represented complete ideas rather than individual units of sound (not phonetic)

8. The meaning of hieroglyphics was unknown until the Rosetta Stone was found and deciphered. The three languages (ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, the late Egyptian ‘Demotic’ language, and ancient Greek) on the stone tell the same thing, allowing us to ‘decode’ ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

9. Religion
Polytheistic (many gods and goddesses with various talents and connections to the natural world)
Humans could, through offerings and sacrifice, influence the gods and goddesses
Most important gods and goddesses related to cosmic forces (sun, earth, sky, air and water) as well as the Nile itself
Gods and goddesses took animal forms that were associated with particular cosmic forces (sun = falcon headed man wearing a sun disc crown, joy and love = cow, which is associated with these qualities)

10. Hathor, Goddess of joy and love, wearing a cow crown
Horus, god of the sun – head of a falcon and sun disc crown

11. Mastaba, earliest burial places of Old Kingdom nobility
-oriented in cardinal directions
-plan is believed to be based on house plans, as the mastaba was a tomb for the soul

12. Architecture in ancient Egypt – the Old Kingdom
The Old Kingdom can be considered the glory days of ancient Egyptian architecture: massive and ambitious mega-projects galore
Egypt lacked timber, although they did import some from elsewhere in Africa, Lebanon, etc.
Most buildings (even the pharaoh’s home) were made of reeds (lotus and papyrus) which were bundled together and matted with mud and clay or mud bricks
Softer stone such as limestone and sandstone was available from nearby quarries
Harder stones were obtained from further away and had to be transported

13. Examples of soft stone and hard stone
the Old Kingdom
Examples of soft stone and hard stone
Sandstone – lighter, more workable stone
Granite – dense, heavy stone

14. Stepped pyramid of King Zoser, 2600 BCE (3rd Dynasty)
the Old Kingdom
Stepped pyramid of King Zoser, 2600 BCE (3rd Dynasty)
-built in Saqqara on the west side of the Nile
-the stepped pyramid is basically a stack of mastabas
-built by Imhotep an astronomer/ writer/priest/physician, and King Zoser’s architect
-came to be deified as the god of medicine and science
Mastaba, earliest burial places of Old Kingdom nobility
-oriented in cardinal directions
-plan is believed to be based on house plans, as the mastaba was a tomb for the soul

15. Imhotep

16. -located on the west bank of the Nile in what is now Cairo
Great Pyramids, Giza
-located on the west bank of the Nile in what is now Cairo
-the west bank of the Nile was used for burials and was associated with death – why?
-pyramids were built in the Fourth Dynasty, Old Kingdom
the Old Kingdom

18. The Pyramids: massive project, huge expense why bother?
the Old Kingdom
The Pyramids: massive project, huge expense why bother?
Pyramids evolved to be an important part of their system of beliefs:
The pharaoh was considered divine and it was believed he or she would return to the gods after death – the pyramid form was meant to soar to heaven and the pharaoh was believed to scale its sides to join the sun god, Ra
Triangular shape of the pyramids may symbolize the falling rays of the sun
Satisfied the Egyptian cultural craving for permanence and the pyramid is one of the most stable geometrical forms

19. Constructing the pyramids:

20. The pyramids were once covered in polished white limestone
the Old Kingdom
The four sides of the pyramids faced the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west)
The blocks of limestone used to create the pyramids came from the east side of the Nile and were floated to the west side on barges
The largest and oldest pyramid, Cheops, used 2.3 million blocks, averaging 2.5 tons in weight! Phenomenal feat of engineering to assemble them
Inside the pyramids: corridors and rooms where the body of the pharaoh was placed along with food and possessions that would accompany him to the afterlife
The pyramids were once covered in polished white limestone

22. Sultan Hassan Mosque, Cairo
the Old Kingdom
The limestone was taken off during the medieval pyramid when many beautiful mosques were built in Cairo
Sultan Hassan Mosque, Cairo

23. the Old Kingdom
Book of the Dead
Always the expectation that there was life after death – this belief influenced all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture
The Book of the Dead explains what the dead had to experience before reaching the ‘Field of Reeds’ or eternal state
What are some of the parallels between what Ancient Egyptians believed and Christian belief?

24. the Old Kingdom
Book of the Dead
Always the expectation that there was life after death – this belief influenced all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture
The Book of the Dead explains what the dead had to experience before reaching the ‘Field of Reeds’ or eternal state
What are some of the parallels between what Ancient Egyptians believed and Christian belief?
Life after death
Judgment day, on which you are judged on what you did in life
If judged favorably, the decease will join other souls in a realm of peace and joy (heaven?)
The concept of ka or soul – the indestructible essence of each person

25. Sculpture Depiction of humans:
the Old Kingdom
Depiction of humans:
Bodies are slim and athletic, rather rigid
Clothes are thin and cling to the body
The king wears a false beard and headdress to symbolize rank
Statues of humans were built to last for eternity in case the mummy was destroyed
A set of standard poses was established in the Old Kingdom and went unchanged for 3,000 years! Being innovative was not the goal.
Sitting on a block
Standing with one foot forward (arms often rigid against the body) but do not appear to be walking
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Kneeling on both knees (rare)

26. Sculpture Depiction of humans:
the Old Kingdom
Depiction of humans:
Bodies are slim and athletic, rather rigid
Clothes are thin and cling to the body
The king wears a false beard and headdress to symbolize rank
Statues of humans were built to last for eternity in case the mummy was destroyed
A set of standard poses was established in the Old Kingdom and went unchanged for 3,000 years! Being innovative was not the goal.
Sitting on a block
Standing with one foot forward (arms often rigid against the body) but do not appear to be walking
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Kneeling on both knees (rare)

27. Sculpture Depiction of humans:
the Old Kingdom
Depiction of humans:
Bodies are slim and athletic, rather rigid
Clothes are thin and cling to the body
The king wears a false beard and headdress to symbolize rank
Statues of humans were built to last for eternity in case the mummy was destroyed
A set of standard poses was established in the Old Kingdom and went unchanged for 3,000 years! Being innovative was not the goal.
Sitting on a block
Standing with one foot forward (arms often rigid against the body) but do not appear to be walking
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Kneeling on both knees (rare)

28. Sculpture Depiction of humans:
the Old Kingdom
Depiction of humans:
Bodies are slim and athletic, rather rigid
Clothes are thin and cling to the body
The king wears a false beard and headdress to symbolize rank
Statues of humans were built to last for eternity in case the mummy was destroyed
A set of standard poses was established in the Old Kingdom and went unchanged for 3,000 years! Being innovative was not the goal.
Sitting on a block
Standing with one foot forward (arms often rigid against the body) but do not appear to be walking
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Kneeling on both knees (rare)

29. Sculpture Depiction of humans:
the Old Kingdom
Depiction of humans:
Bodies are slim and athletic, rather rigid
Clothes are thin and cling to the body
The king wears a false beard and headdress to symbolize rank
Statues of humans were built to last for eternity in case the mummy was destroyed
A set of standard poses was established in the Old Kingdom and went unchanged for 3,000 years! Being innovative was not the goal.
Sitting on a block
Standing with one foot forward (arms often rigid against the body) but do not appear to be walking
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Kneeling on both knees (rare)

30. Relief Sculpture and painting
the Old Kingdom
Relief Sculpture and painting
Tightly linked as reliefs were often painted
Clarity in storytelling was prioritized, rather than naturalistic representation
Big humans = high status
Depictions of humans in relief and painting combines frontal and profile views
Tomb paintings depict daily life were not meant to be viewed except by the soul or ka
Topics generally focused on military exploits

31. The Middle Kingdom Period of political upheaval
Egypt once again divided into Upper and Lower Egypt – no leader could unite Egypt as Narmer had 1000 years earlier
Egypt finally united by Mentuhotep II but most power lay in the hands of governors, not the king
Paintings now featured domestic and farm life
Stone architecture imitates bundled reed and clay architecture

32. The Middle Kingdom Period of political upheaval
Egypt once again divided into Upper and Lower Egypt – no leader could unite Egypt as Narmer had 1000 years earlier
Egypt finally united by Mentuhotep II but most power lay in the hands of governors, not the king
Paintings now featured domestic and farm life
Stone architecture imitates bundled reed and clay architecture

33. the New Kingdom
New Kingdom
a tribe from the Eastern Mediterranean called the Hyksos conquered Egypt, bringing with them the horse drawn carriage and bronze weapons
Egyptians then utilized these tools to re-unite the country for another 1,000 years, until Egypt was conquered by Persia in 525 BCE
The new capital of Egypt in the New Kingdom was Thebes, where much religious and political architecture was built
Art was produced not only for religious purposes but to show off wealth and sophistication

34. Architecture in the New Kingdom
No more pyramids for burials – Egyptians now realized they attracted too many thieves
Royalty and nobility were now buried in chambers hollowed out from the cliffs on the west bank of the Nile in the Valley of Kings
While the Old Kingdom was the era of pyramids, the New Kingdom was the era of temples

35. Architecture in the New Kingdom continued….
Queen Hatshepsut was buried separately from her temple (a New Kingdom development)
Her temple had a stone roof, requiring many columns to hold it up – columns could only be as far apart as the length of a stone lintel
terraces once had gardens
Sculptures were used lavishly and the walls were carved in low relief and painted
Chambers are dedicated to herself and to gods: cow-headed goddess, Hathor; god of embalming and protector of the dead, Anubis

36. Architecture in the New Kingdom continued….
Temples at Luxor – major building center for temples
Domestic architecture – most of what we know about Egyptian culture is from the nobility, who left the most traces
Everyday houses have also been excavated so we know the typical layout of homes
Nobles homes featured gardens, pools, grape arbors
All homes made of mud brick and reeds, even the king’s

37. Mud brick and bundled reed homes – artist’s representation

39. Sculpture in the New Kingdom
Stylistic continuity with Old Kingdom
Four seated statues of Ramses II, dedicated apparently to the Sun God (65 feet high), look nearly identical with Old Kingdom sculpture
Ramses II temple nearly destroyed by the flooding for the Aswan dam
Amenhotep / Akhenaten and Nefertiti

40. Religious Revolution: Amenhotep becomes Akhenaten
Amenhotep believed the sun was the source of all life
He abolished the pantheon of Egyptian gods and established a monotheistic religion to the sun disk ‘Aten’, which he worshipped exclusively
He was so dedicated to Aten that he changed his name to Akhenaten (“the shining spirit of Aten”)
He shifted the capital from Thebes to el-Amarna
All of these changes ended when King Tutankhaten assumed the throne

41. Reliefs and painting in the New Kingdom
Very similar to that found in the Old and Middle kingdoms, although there were some innovations:

42. Reliefs and painting in the New Kingdom
Very similar to that found in the Old and Middle kingdoms, although there were some innovations:

43. Reliefs and painting in the New Kingdom
Very similar to that found in the Old and Middle kingdoms, although there were some innovations:

44. Religious Revolution: Amenhotep becomes Akhenaten
How did Amenhotep’s religion differ from Egyptian religion in general?

45. Religious Revolution: Amenhotep becomes Akhenaten
Amenhotep believed the sun was the source of all life
He abolished the pantheon of Egyptian gods and established a monotheistic religion to the sun disk ‘Aten’, which he worshipped exclusively
He was so dedicated to Aten that he changed his name to Akhenaten (“the shining spirit of Aten”)
He shifted the capital from Thebes to el-Amarna
All of these changes ended when King Tutankhaten assumed the throne

46. Monumental Royal Sculpture:
-intended to preserve and guarantee the king’s existence after death
-materials for funerary images was made of the hardest stone – granite, rather than sandstone or limestone
-idealized physics for royalty only
Sculpture for the everyday
-lesser, non-royal figures depicted more naturally, not idealized types -

47. Reliefs and painting in the New Kingdom
Very similar to that found in the Old and Middle kingdoms, although there were some innovations
Why would such paintings be included in tombs?

48. Father knows best? Advice from an Akkadian and Egyptian father
*see instructive literature on page 47 and page 102

49. King Tutankhamun
-only royal tomb in ancient Egypt to have escaped looters
King Tut’s tomb discovered:
King Tut’s mystery

50. Egypt in the popular imagination
The topic of many films
The pseudo-discipline, ‘Egyptology’
The addition on the Louvre in Paris, by the architect I. M. Pei (1988)
Architecture in the Victorian-era

51. Egypt in the popular imagination
The topic of many films
The pseudo-discipline, ‘Egyptology’
The addition on the Louvre in Paris, by the architect I. M. Pei (1988)
Architecture in the Victorian-era

53. Egypt in the popular imagination

54. http://news. discovery. com/archaeology/cambyses-army-remains-sahara