Ancient Egyptian Art

Early Pyramids

Zozer’s stepped pyramid - similar to Babylonian ziggurats

Why build Pyramids?

• Belief in the afterlife demanded: 1. Bodies be interred whole2. Material goods for use in afterlife be

present

• The need to protect the bodies demands good burial tombs1. First were mastabas2. Then pyramids3. Then later… hidden tombs

Mastaba

3-3: Section (top), plan (middle), and restored view (bottom) of typical Egyptian mastaba tombs.

The First Pyramid:

One of the most renowned figures in Egyptian history is Imhotep, the royal builder for King Djoser (r. 2630-2611 BCE) of the Third Dynasty.

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Image gallery Imhotep, Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precint of Djoser, Saquara Egypt Dynasty III

Each person must provide for the happiness of his afterlife- would reproduce daily life in tombs for their Ka (spirit) to enjoy- blurring of line between life and death

Tomb was like afterlife insurance

3000 BC -the start of the old kingdom

Pharaoh was supreme ruler and a god- basis of all civilization and of artwork

Knowledge of civilization rest solely in tombs

Imhotep: Doctor, Architect, High Priest, Scribe and Vizier to King Djoser

ANCIENT EGYPT

Built on a mastaba, burial chamber deep underground with a shaft linking it to the pyramid, meant to serve as a great monument

Part of a huge funerary district with temples and other buildings, scenes of religious celebration before and after death

Image gallery Imhotep, restored plan

Information goes here

ANCIENT EGYPT

The Djoser Complex

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When it was complete, the complex covered just over 15 hectares and contained a number of different elements. Obviously, the step pyramid was the dominant element, towering some 60 meters above the plain. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest structure in Egypt, perhaps even in the world, and would have dominated the western skyline when view from the capital city of Memphis. In addition, there were large courtyards to the north and south of the pyramid, a number of temples, shrines and other buildings, and a southern tomb. The whole thing was enclosed by massive limestone walls over 10 meters high and studded with towers.

Djoser's funerary temple was one of many buildings arranged around several courts. Most were dummy structures with stone walls enclosing fills of rubble, sand, or gravel. The buildings imitated in stone masonry various types of temporary structures made of plant stems and mats erected in Upper and lower Egypt to celebrate the Jubilee Festival.

The translation into stone of structural forms previously made out of plants may be seen in the long entrance corridor to Djoser's funerary precinct.

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From plant to stone:

Old Kingdom Art

The Great Pyramid

• Tomb for Khufu• an almost perfect square (deviation .05%) • Orientation is exactly North, South, East

West • 2,300,000 blocks, 500ft high • 20 years to build• Average block weighs 2.5 tons

– Some weigh 9 tons!

Great Pyramids

Gizeh, Egypt

Pyramids of Menkaure, ca. 3,000-2,920 B.C.E.; Khafre, ca. 2520-2494 B.C.E.; Khufu ca. 2551-2528 B.C.E.limestonelargest (Khufu) approximately 450 ft. high

Great Pyramids

Gizeh, Egypt

Pyramids of Menkaure, ca. 3,000-2,920 B.C.E.; Khafre, ca. 2520-2494 B.C.E.; Khufu ca. 2551-2528 B.C.E.limestonelargest (Khufu) approximately 450 ft. high

Image gallery Great Pyramids, Gizeh, Egypt, Dynasty IV

Burial Chamber is in the center of the pyramid rather than underneath

Originally covered in smooth stone that would be reflective in the sun. (Almost blinding to the eyes.)

Funerary district is much more organized than Djoser- surrounded by mastabas and smaller pyramids

These pyramids take the shape of the pyramidal stone ben-ben which is known to have been associated with the sun god Re .

Fourth Dynasty pharaohs considered themselves to be the sons of Re and his incarnation on earth.

Egyptians always buried their dead on the west side of the Nile, where the sun sets.

The largest of the pyramids is about 450 feet tall and has an area of almost 13 acres. It contains almost 2.3 million blocks of stone, each weighing about 1.5 tons.

ANCIENT EGYPT

The Great Pyramids at Gizeh are the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world

Image gallery Section of the Pyramid of Khufu, Gizeh, Egypt

Tomb Raiders tunnels are marked in this schematic drawing by the dotted lines.

The thieves were unable to locate the carefully sealed and hidden entrance, so they started their tunneling about 40 feet above the base and worked their way into the structure until they found the ascending corridor.

Many of the royal tombs were plundered almost immediately after the funeral ceremonies had ended.

The immense size of these pyramids was an invitation to looting.

ANCIENT EGYPT

3-9: Section of the Pyramid of Khufu, Gizeh, Egypt.

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The Great Pyramid of KhufuKhufu Belongs to the Horizon

Original Height: 146.6 m (480.96 ft)Current Height: 138.75 m (455.21 ft)Length of Side: 230.37 (755.8 ft)Angle: 51º 50’ 40”Estimated Volume: 2,521,000 cu m

Image gallery Reconstruction of the Dynasty IV Pyramids

ANCIENT EGYPT

Khafre and the Sprinx:

The funerary complex at the Pyramid of Khafre at Gizeh included the pyramid itself with the pharaoh's burial chamber, the mortuary temple, the causeway, and the valley temple. According to one theory, the complex served not only as the king's tomb and temple, but also as his palace in the afterlife.

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Image gallery Great Spinx, Gizeh, Egypt, Dynasty IVca. 2520-2494 bc

65 feet tall

The Spinx commemorated the pharaoh and served as an immovable, eternal silent guardian of his tomb.

This guardian stood watch at the entrances to the palaces of their kings. It gives visitors coming from the east the illusion that it rests on a great pedestal.

The face of the Spinx is thought to be an image of the pharaoh Kafre.

ANCIENT EGYPT

Great Sphinx

Gizeh, Egypt

ca. 2520-2494 B.C.E.sandstoneapproximately 65 ft. high

Great Sphinx

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Pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu

Queen Pyramids in front

Pyramid of Khufu

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29Figure 3-9 Section of the Pyramid of Khufu, Gizeh, Egypt.

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Figure 3-5 Restored plan (top) and view (bottom) of the mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Egypt, Dynasty III, ca. 2630–2611 BCE.

II. Mummies

• Not known when it started in Egypt• Perfected by time of New Kingdom• How to make a mummy: 70 steps

– 1) Removal of the brain through the nostrils – 2) Removal of the intestines through an incision in the side – 3) Sterilization of the body and intestines – 4) Treating, cleaning, dehydrating the intestines – 5) Packing the body with natron (a natural dehydrating agent) and leaving

for 40 days – 6) Removal of the natron agent – 7) Packing the limbs with clay or sand – 8) Packing the body with linen (soaked in resin), myrrh and cinnamon – 9) Treating the body with ointments and finally wrapping with a fine linen

gauze, not less than 1000 square yards .

Canopic Jars made of alabaster for storage of heart, stomach, intestines and liver which were also treated

Inner coffin

Mummy

Second inner coffin lid

Second inner coffin

Shawabti box

Gift bearers

Model boat

Funerary Gifts