Egyptian Architecture

Early Kingdom Tomb Why did Egyptians Build Pyramids The pyramids were a response to desert landscapes For structures to be visible in the desert they have to be huge The pyramids also represent the Egyptian will to achieve immortality for the pharaohs Pyramids are the everlasting home of the pharaoh’s

Early Kingdom Tomb Pyramid Construction How were the pyramids constructed? No accurate knowledge about the method of construction of the pyramids Estimates vary:~ 100,000 men worked 3-4 months each year for 30 years to build the pyramids. Limestone quarried from nearby Workers paid in food, clothing and drinks

Architectural Ideas Ancient Egyptians viewed earthly dwellings as temporary They paid little attention to house construction The tomb was seen as a permanent dwelling for the afterlife Great effort was put in tomb construction The mummified dead body was buried in a stone box called sarcophagus in the tomb Historical Background Characteristics & Beliefs

Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs Architectural Ideas Believed a dead person needs all her/his worldly goods Tomb usually packed w/ all the treasures of dead person If anything cannot be provided, it is painted on the walls of the tomb

Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs Architectural Ideas Tombs also have charms to protect dead person & her/his property Dead buried in cities of the dead, called Necropolis located in desert

During the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh and his court lived in Memphis When they died they were buried at the Necropolis at Saqqara Necropolis translated means city of the dead; necro=death & polis=city Architecture of the Civilization Introduction

Tombs were most outstanding architectural acheivement of the period Tombs also serve as the focus for the worship of the dead The Tomb evolved during the Old Kingdom from the Mastaba, later to the steppe pyramid and then to the renown ancient Egyptian geometric pyramids we know today Mastaba means “eternal house” or “house for eternity”

Early Kingdom Tombs Mastaba The earliest method of burial in ancient Egypt was in shallow pits in the desert. The desert dried the bodies and preserved them When animals preyed on bodies, people began to dig deeper To prevent this they built a bench-like structure over graves called Mastaba. The earliest Mastaba were decorated with painted patterns in brilliant colors

Early Kingdom Tombs Mastaba

The Serdab and Chapel are located above ground The serdab is a room where the statue of the dead person is kept –Statue acts as a substitute for body in case it is destroyed

Early Kingdom Tombs Mastaba Egyptians believed that the Ka or spirit must return to the body or a copy of it If both body and statue were destroyed, the ka would die The chapel is where the ka is supposed to live forever –Colorful room meant to deceive the gods into letting the ka enter the next world

Early Kingdom Tombs Steppe Pyramid King Zoser (Djoser) was the powerful pharaoh of the third dynasty of the old kingdom The steppe pyramid was built for king Zoser by Imhotep It was built as a funeral complex in the Necropolis Imhotep initially thought of the tomb as a large Mastaba of stone

Early Kingdom Tombs Steppe Pyramid Dissatisfaction w/ result led to stacking of mastaba The result was the stepped pyramid The steppe pyramid shows the stages between the mastaba, the step and the geometric pyramid

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More on Egyptian Architecture

Early Kingdom Tombs Steppe Pyramid Steppe pyramid was 200’ high w/ 6 giant steps Burial chamber is entered from north side & is 92’ down On either side of chamber are store rooms for king’s treasures All treasures buried w/ Zoser have been stolen A stone statue of Zoser also recently found staring out through peep holes in his Serdab

Early Kingdom Tomb Attempts at Pyramid Building After the stepped pyramids, there were several attempt at building a pure geometric pyramid

Early Kingdom Tomb The Pyramids at Giza Construction of a true geometrical pyramid achieved during reign of Cheops, son of Snefru Located at Giza Called Great Pyramid because of size The pyramid is 482’ high on a plan 760’ square

Early Kingdom Tomb The Pyramids at Giza Two additional pyramids built at Giza 2 nd largest in the center built by Chefren, the son of Cheops 3 rd and smallest built by Mykerinus, son of Chefren The three together are referred to as the Pyramids at Giza

Early Kingdom Tomb Pyramid The pyramids designed as part of a funeral complex for burial of pharaoh Chefren’s complex is best preserved example Complex consist of three interconnected units: –A valley temple by the river Nile where the pharaoh’s body was embalmed –A pyramid mortuary temple for rituals –A long narrow causeway connecting the two

Located in Giza is the great Sphinx with the body of a lion and head of Chefren Reason for its construction is not clear A theory holds that it was produced from leftover material It may also have been carved to stand guard over the temple and tomb of Chefren The Sphinx

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MAJOR WORKS Major Works Old Kingdom 1. Mastabas 2. Stepped Pyramid of Saqqara by Imhotep 3. Great Giza Cheops (Khufu) Chephren (Kafra) Mykerinus (Menkaura) Middle Kingdom 4. Rock Cut Beni Hasan New Kingdom 5. Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut 6. Temple of Luxor 7. Temple of Karnak 8. Temple of Rameses Abu Simbel 9. Mortuary Complex of Rameses Medinet Habu 10.Temple of Edfu BC 2650 BC 2575 BC 2530 BC 2500 BC BC BC BC 1500 Deir el-Bahari by Senmut BC BC 1257 BC BC 322 BC