Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt3,500 - 500 BCE3,500 - 500 BCE

King Tut Tomb (New Kingdom)

Giza Sphinx (Old Kingdom)

Maps of EgyptMaps of Egypt

Egyptian ArtEgyptian ArtRecorded roughly between Recorded roughly between 3,500 and 500 BCE3,500 and 500 BCEEgypt’s history is divided into Egypt’s history is divided into periodsperiods

–Pre-Dynastic (3500-3000 BCE) Pre-Dynastic (3500-3000 BCE) Egypt was not yet unifiedEgypt was not yet unified–Old Kingdom (2700-2280 BCE)Old Kingdom (2700-2280 BCE)–Middle Kingdom (2050-1800 BCE)Middle Kingdom (2050-1800 BCE)–New Kingdom (1550-1200 BCE)New Kingdom (1550-1200 BCE)–Late Period (After 1080 BCE)Late Period (After 1080 BCE)

Artistic ideas all through this time were Artistic ideas all through this time were the same: Rigid and conservativethe same: Rigid and conservative

The 3 most important things to The 3 most important things to Egyptians: (1) their king, (2) the Next Egyptians: (1) their king, (2) the Next World, (3) the Nile - this is reflected in World, (3) the Nile - this is reflected in their arttheir art

Tomb paintings, sculptures, pyramids, Tomb paintings, sculptures, pyramids, and pottery were the art forms of and pottery were the art forms of ancient Egypt.ancient Egypt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOUjDIX37o4

The Art of Ancient EgyptThe Art of Ancient Egypt

Sculptures and Pyramids (tombs)Sculptures and Pyramids (tombs)– Huge to show powerHuge to show power– Contained art showing pharaoh's daily Contained art showing pharaoh's daily

life believing this made their spirit (Ka) life believing this made their spirit (Ka) enjoy a happy afterlife.enjoy a happy afterlife.

– Some burial chambers were deep Some burial chambers were deep underground/some built in center of underground/some built in center of pyramidpyramid

Paintings and DrawingsPaintings and Drawings– Head, pelvis, legs, feet in profile but eye Head, pelvis, legs, feet in profile but eye

and shoulders in front view.and shoulders in front view.– Pharaohs appear stiff and formalPharaohs appear stiff and formal– Peasants/workers are shown farming, Peasants/workers are shown farming,

buildingbuilding

The ArtistsThe Artists

No independent artists, instead No independent artists, instead skilled craftsman who supervised skilled craftsman who supervised making sculptures, pyramids, making sculptures, pyramids, paintings, and drawingspaintings, and drawings

Bound to king, therefore, guaranteed Bound to king, therefore, guaranteed economic securityeconomic security

Historic record shows they were not Historic record shows they were not slavesslaves

Egyptian Social PyramidEgyptian Social Pyramid

1.Pharaoh2.The Royal Family3.Scribes, Architects4.Craftspeople, Slaves

__1__

____2____ _______3_______

__________4 _________

Art and KingdomsArt and Kingdoms

Pre-Dynastic (3500-3000 BCE)Pre-Dynastic (3500-3000 BCE)

Pottery from Hierakonpolis tomb (Hierakonpolis was palace city of upper Egypt.)

The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BCE)The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BCE)– Rapid development of the qualities that Rapid development of the qualities that

make Egyptian art (flat paintings, stiff make Egyptian art (flat paintings, stiff sculptures)sculptures)

– Age of the pyramidsAge of the pyramids

Nofret and Prince Rahotep

Palette of Narmer (Narmer was the king)

Palette of King NarmerPalette of King Narmerfrom Hierakonpolis, Egyptfrom Hierakonpolis, Egypt

3,000-2,920 B.C.E.3,000-2,920 B.C.E.slateslate

approximately 25 in. highapproximately 25 in. high

• Every image on the palette conveys Narmer’smight and importance.

• He is protected by Gods: Hathor (protective goddess)Horus (falcon god of the sky and kingship)

• Narmer’s name appears in a pictograph in a smallsquare at the top

• He wears the white crown of Upper Egypt, andfrom his waistband hangs a ceremonialbull’s tail, signifying strength.

•Holding a mace (a club), Narmer bashes hisenemy. Two more dead enemies below his

feet.

•The papyrus (a plant from Lower Egypt) and man’s head represent that Lower Egypt has been tamed.

• He is taller, more central and more powerful. He destroys his enemies and their cities. ThePalette is a statement of his power for itcelebrates the king’s divine right to ruleand illustrates his ability to do so.

• Narmer is shown in the top register wearinga Red Crown of Lower Egypt, makingit clear that he now rules both lands.

• Decapitated bodies have been placed inrows with their heads between theirfeet. (looking from above)

• The intertwining necks of the two felinecreatures is possibly another referenceto the union of the Two lands.

• The bull in the bottom register menaces a fallen foe outside the walls of a fortress. The bull, an animal of strength may symbolize the king. These images affirm the absolute power of the ruler over the entire country of Egypt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgZiO3JfXk

Giza and SaqqaraGiza and Saqqaraburial sitesburial sites

Great Pyramids of GizaGreat Pyramids of GizaDynasty 4Dynasty 4

2601-2515 BCE2601-2515 BCE• The pyramids were built by kings Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaura• The oldest and largest pyramid is that of Khufu standing 450’ tall and

covering 13 acres. It was finished with a polished limestone.• Khafra’s pyamid is slightly smaller than Khufu’s and Menkaura’s is

considerably smaller with a polished red granite base.• Each cut stone block weighed on an average of 2.5 tons.• These immense monuments reflect not only the desire of kings to attain

immortality but also the strength of the Egyptains’ belief that a deceased ruler continued to affect the well-being of the state and hispeople from beyond the grave.

Old Kingdom Old Kingdom cont.cont.Great Sphinx

Giza, Egypt2520-2494 B.C.E.sandstoneapproximately 65 ft. high

The Great Sphinx combines the pharaoh’s head with a crouching lion.

Great Sphinx

Giza, Egypt

Khafra , approximately 5’6” tall

from Giza, Egypt

2500 BCE

anorthosite gneiss

The figure conveys dignity, calm, and above all permanence with the body firmly anchored in the block it ensured a lasting presence.

The statue was carved of anorthosite gneiss an unusual stone from Nubia. When the stone is out in the sunlight it glows a deep blue.

Symbolism

Khafra sits erect with falcon god Horus on theback of his throne.

Lion paws form the thrones legs - a symbol of regal authority

Lotus and papyrus plants symbolize the king’s power over Upper and Lower Egypt.

A linen headdress with a cobra symbolizeRa and the false beard is symbolic of royalty.

Menkaura and KhamerenebtyGiza, Egypt2500 BCEgraywackeApproximately 54 ½ in. high

• Menkaura is Khafra’s son who has beensculpted with his queen, Khamerenebty.

• This statue was discovered in Menkaura’s valleytemple – close by Menkaura’s pyramid

• Menkaura is depicted as a Egyptian ideal – athletic and youthful with a balanced pose of one foot forward.

• The queen is equally youthful wearing a sheer, loose fitting garment which reveals the curves of her body. She also strides forward but with a smaller step.

• The couple ‘s separate figures, close in size,form a single unit, tied together by thestone. They are further united by the queen’s symbolic gesture of embrace.

Seated ScribeSaqqara, EgyptDynasty 52494-2345 BCEPainted limestone, 21 “ high

• The seated scribe is from thetomb of Kai

• Kai was a vizier (like a prime minister)

who advised the king• This statue could be a representation

of Kai • His statue appears more lively and less

formal than the royal portraits.• His pupils are slightly off-center – giving the illusion

of being in motion

Like other Egyptians, most scribes came to their occupation by following their fathers’ footsteps. Training began at age five for boys. (And they were always boys; girls usually didn’t learn to read and write.) They mixed pigments for ink, rubbed rough papyrus with a stone to create a writing surface, and made brushes from reeds. They mastered practical math for accounting. Most important, they memorized the Egyptians’ 700-plus formal hieroglyphic symbols, as well as hieratic script. They learned by copying selected texts: sample correspondence, instructions on proper morals and behavior, and eventually manuals on government administration. As an educated class in a largely illiterate society, scribes also performed very personal services for their fellow villagers. When a peasant needed to compose a letter, formally petition for redress, or even offer a specific prayer to the gods, he went to a scribe to write it down.

The Middle Kingdom (2050-1800 The Middle Kingdom (2050-1800 BCE)BCE)– Same style but higher quality Same style but higher quality

craftsmanshipcraftsmanship– Rules for artists were reduced somewhat Rules for artists were reduced somewhat

and more naturalism was permittedand more naturalism was permitted

Bani Hasan - Bani Hasan is a small village and an important archaeological locality in Middle Egypt. There are 39 ancient tombs here of Middle Kingdom

Rock-cut tombsBani Hasan, Egyptca. 1,950-1,900 B.C.E.

Interior hall of rock-cut tombof Amenemhet (Ruler of the 12 dynasty)

Tomb art included wall paintings, reliefs, and small figurines.

Model showing brewing, baking and butchery

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mharrsch/1312007949/in/photostream/(other figurines from Middle Kingdom tombs)

Middle Kingdom cont.Middle Kingdom cont.

Portrait of Sesostris IIIDynasty 12, 1836-1818 BCEYellow quartzite, height 17

3/4”

• Reflects the new sensibility –shows the monarch ispreoccupied and

emotionally drained . He is wise in the

ways of he world but lonely,

saddened and burdened by

responsibility.

• Sesostris was a dynamic king and

a successful general.

• He maintained armies to patrol the

country’s borders andconstructed large-scale channel connecting to

the Nile.

The New Kingdom (1550-1080 BCE)The New Kingdom (1550-1080 BCE)– Combo of Old (huge scale) and Middle Combo of Old (huge scale) and Middle

(craftsmanship/quality) but reached a (craftsmanship/quality) but reached a peak and then began to declinepeak and then began to decline

Portrait of Tutankhamun Four Colossi of Ramses II

The religious ideas of King Akhenaten radically The religious ideas of King Akhenaten radically changed Ancient Egypt from a polytheistic religion, changed Ancient Egypt from a polytheistic religion, worshipping many gods, to monotheism  which was worshipping many gods, to monotheism  which was the worship of one god. Aten, the life-giving sun the worship of one god. Aten, the life-giving sun deity (depicted as the sun disc) became the single deity (depicted as the sun disc) became the single supreme god. He abandoned Thebes, capital of supreme god. He abandoned Thebes, capital of Egypt, and built a new capital calling it Akhetaten Egypt, and built a new capital calling it Akhetaten (“Horizon of the Aten”)(“Horizon of the Aten”)

Akhenaten - Egyptian Pharaoh1369-1332 BC

Queen Nefertiti Akhenaten's Great Royal Wife

Akhenaten and His Family, 1348-1336 BCE Limestone relief

Akhenaten, Queen Nefertiti, and three daughters exemplifies the new openness anda new figural style. The outlines of the figures have been carved into the surface of the stone instead of being formed by cutting away the background – the king and queen sit on cushioned thrones playing with their children. The artist has conveyedthe engaging behavior of the children and the loving concern of their parents in a way not even hinted at in earlier royal portraiture in Egypt.

King TutankhamunKing Tutankhamunruled 1336-1327 BCEruled 1336-1327 BCE

Tutankhamun returned to the religious beliefs of Amun and moved his court to Thebes. (turning his Tutankhamun returned to the religious beliefs of Amun and moved his court to Thebes. (turning his back on Akhenaten’s city, Amarna)back on Akhenaten’s city, Amarna)

Tutankhamun died quite young and was buried in the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun died quite young and was buried in the Valley of the Kings. King Tut's Tomb lay undisturbed for roughly 3,300 years until English archaeologist Howard Carter King Tut's Tomb lay undisturbed for roughly 3,300 years until English archaeologist Howard Carter

discovered it Nov. 1, 1922. Carter and his team happened upon it as they dug near a spot where discovered it Nov. 1, 1922. Carter and his team happened upon it as they dug near a spot where the tomb of Ramses VI had been found years earlier. the tomb of Ramses VI had been found years earlier. Digging thirteen feet below the Ramses tomb they discovered a staircase that led to King Tut's Digging thirteen feet below the Ramses tomb they discovered a staircase that led to King Tut's Tomb.Tomb.

The tomb room contained more than five thousand objects, many of which were covered with gold The tomb room contained more than five thousand objects, many of which were covered with gold and beautifully carved. The most famous of these objects is probably the lifelike gold mask that and beautifully carved. The most famous of these objects is probably the lifelike gold mask that covered the face of Tutankhamun's mummy. Also uncovered were military items, clothing, jewelry, covered the face of Tutankhamun's mummy. Also uncovered were military items, clothing, jewelry, and many statues of Tutankhamun and Egyptian gods.and many statues of Tutankhamun and Egyptian gods.

King Tut’s body lay inside three nested coffins. The innermost coffin in the Shape of a mummy made of several hundred pounds of solid gold decoratedWith colored glass and semiprecious gemstones.

The ruler holds a crook and flail – an implement used in threshing grain. The flail symbolizes the Pharaoh's role as provider of food for his people and the crook symbolizes his role as the shepherd of his people.

King Tut’s mummy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euEZkUILBjM&feature=related

Temple of Ramses IIfrom Abu Simbel, Egyptca. 1290-1224 B.C.E.colossi approximately 65 ft. high

King Ramses is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire.

The facade of the Great Temple of Ramses is about 38 meters long and 31 meters high. The temple is dedicated to the most important gods of the New Kingdom, Ptah (the creator god of Memphis), Amun-Re (the great god of Thebes) and Re-Harakhte (sun god of Heliopolis), as well as to the Pharaoh Ramses II himself. The four colossi, statues of Ramses II (c. 1290-1224 BCE), are more than 20 meters high and about 4 meters from ear to ear.