Why hasn’t the style of Egyptian art changed for 3,000 years?

Key Term: Egypt- Egypt, a country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, dates to the time of the pharaohs.

Key Term: Egyptian- a native of ancient or modern Egypt, or a person of Egyptian descent.

 Paintings that decorated the walls of the tombs in Egypt were intended to keep alive the history.  The pictures and models found in Egyptian tombs were connected with the idea of providing the soul with helpmates in the other world.  These wall-paintings provide an extraordinary vivid picture of life as it was lived in Egypt thousands of years ago.

 Located in the Nile river valley.  Civilization developed by 3000 B.C.E.

 Protected from invaders by:  Mountains to the south  Vast deserts on both sides  Mediterranean Sea to the north

 Their unique location kept Egypt separate from the rest of the world.  Because of this, Egyptians had a unique and enduring style of life and art for about 3,000 years.

 People were made up of:  Hunters and fishermen  Soldiers  Slaves  Priests  Scribes  Artists and craftsmen  Farmers and herdsmen

 Egyptian artists and scribes were honored and admired.

Key Term: Scribe- a scholar who can read and write. Scribes wrote on papyrus.

Key Term: Papyrus- a reed pounded to make a heavy type of paper.

Key Term: Pharaoh- an Egyptian leader. Believed to be half man and half god.

 The afterlife of the pharaoh is an important theme in ancient Egyptian art.

 Made bricks  Used sails on the water  Used wheels on the land  Harnessed animals for work  Trained donkeys to carry people  Combined copper and tin to make bronze  Forged tools from copper  Used hieroglyphics

Key Term: Hieroglyphics- an early form of picture writing.

 The greatest architectural achievement of the Ancient Egyptians were the pyramids.  Built as tombs for pharaohs.  They contained items that the Egyptians believed the pharaoh would been in the afterlife  Much of the art that remains was preserved in the pyramids.

 The first pyramid was built for King Zoser.  Built around2600 B.C.E  It was designed and build by artist/architect Imhotep.

Key Term: Imhotep- the first artist whose name is recorded in history.

 The Three “great pyramids” are located in Giza.  They are guarded by the Great Sphinx.  The sphinx is carved from a rocky ledge.  It was damaged by rock and wind.

 The pyramids and tombs contained the mummified remains of the pharaohs.  Ancient Egyptians believed that the soul would need to use the body in the afterlife, so the bodies were carefully preserved.  Many items were left there to be used by the soul in the afterlife.

 After embalming, mummies were carefully wrapped in yards of linen bandages.  Ancient Egyptians even mummified animals.

 Painted relief sculptures lined the walls of the pyramids.  This is called a stele.

Key Term: Stele- a carved upright stone slab used as a monument.

 This stele shows Ramses II slaying his enemies.

 Sculptures are stiff, formal, and stylized.  Faces face forward, and the left foot is slightly ahead of the right. There are no open spaces in the stone that the figures are carved from.

 Artists used materials found in the Nile river valley:  Gold  Turquoise  Red coral  Glass

 This gold mask rested on the head of the mummy of King Tutankhamen.

 Ramses II faces forward.  He appears to be ridged.  This is typical of Ancient Egyptian sculpture.

 Craftsmen made furniture, jewelry, pottery, and other useful items.

 Ancient Egyptians followed a very strict set of rules in their art.  One of these rules was to show the human body from the most familiar or visible angle.

 The figures appear to be ridged any stylized. The left foot is facing forward.  Paintings tell use about the daily lives of the Ancient Egyptians.  Gods are often depicted in tomb paintings.

Video-The Style of Ancient Egyptian Art