ancient egypt

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt3100 BCE – Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by 3100 BCE – Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by Narmer (aka Menes)- capital placed at MemphisNarmer (aka Menes)- capital placed at Memphis2900 BCE – Hieroglyphics develop (Egyptian writing)2900 BCE – Hieroglyphics develop (Egyptian writing)2700 BCE – 365 solar calendar develops – June 21 is 2700 BCE – 365 solar calendar develops – June 21 is beginning of year - greatest Egyptian scientific beginning of year - greatest Egyptian scientific achievementachievement2686-2613 BCE – Pharaoh Djoser orders first pyramid 2686-2613 BCE – Pharaoh Djoser orders first pyramid built by Imhotep (step pyramid)built by Imhotep (step pyramid)2585 – 2470 BCE – Khufu, Khafre (also builds Sphinx) 2585 – 2470 BCE – Khufu, Khafre (also builds Sphinx) and Menkaure order the 3 pyramids of Giza built.and Menkaure order the 3 pyramids of Giza built.


2100 BCE – capital is moved to Thebes by the 2100 BCE – capital is moved to Thebes by the priesthood under Mentuhotep II of the 11priesthood under Mentuhotep II of the 11 thth DynastyDynasty1674 BCE – Egyptian former capital of Memphis 1674 BCE – Egyptian former capital of Memphis falls to Hyksos; Hyksos conquer Lower Egypt falls to Hyksos; Hyksos conquer Lower Egypt and rule it for the next 100 yearsand rule it for the next 100 years1567 - 1550 BCE – Ahmose I conquers the 1567 - 1550 BCE – Ahmose I conquers the Hyksos and reunites Upper and Lower Egypt to Hyksos and reunites Upper and Lower Egypt to begins 18begins 18thth Dynasty Dynasty

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt1478 – 1458 BCE – Hatshepsut rules as first 1478 – 1458 BCE – Hatshepsut rules as first female pharaoh with her son Thutmoses IIIfemale pharaoh with her son Thutmoses III1479 – 1425 BCE – Thutmoses III builds the 1479 – 1425 BCE – Thutmoses III builds the largest Egyptian Empire conquering Israel, largest Egyptian Empire conquering Israel, Mesopotamia and NubiaMesopotamia and Nubia1352 – 1336 BCE – Amenhotep IV changes his 1352 – 1336 BCE – Amenhotep IV changes his name to Akhenaten; changes Egyptian religion name to Akhenaten; changes Egyptian religion to monotheism; moves capital from Thebes to to monotheism; moves capital from Thebes to Akhetaton (Amarna)Akhetaton (Amarna)1336 – 1327 BCE – Tutankhamen restores 1336 – 1327 BCE – Tutankhamen restores capital to Thebes; restores old religion; dies capital to Thebes; restores old religion; dies shortly aftershortly after


1299 BCE – Rameses II fights Hittites at 1299 BCE – Rameses II fights Hittites at Battle of Kadesh which ended in the Battle of Kadesh which ended in the world’s first peace treaty. Rameses II goes world’s first peace treaty. Rameses II goes on to build many temples, buildings and on to build many temples, buildings and even cities during his reign.even cities during his reign.1224 – 1165 BCE – Rameses III repulses 1224 – 1165 BCE – Rameses III repulses the invasion of the Indo-European Sea the invasion of the Indo-European Sea People; he is considered the last of the People; he is considered the last of the great Egyptian pharaohsgreat Egyptian pharaohs


Egyptian History can be broken down Egyptian History can be broken down in 3 major periods:in 3 major periods:Old Kingdom – 2686 – 2181 BCEOld Kingdom – 2686 – 2181 BCEMiddle Kingdom – 2040 – 1700 BCEMiddle Kingdom – 2040 – 1700 BCENew Kingdom – 1550 – 1070 BCE most New Kingdom – 1550 – 1070 BCE most successful periodsuccessful period

Ancient EgyptAncient EgyptAncient Egyptians were Polytheistic Ancient Egyptians were Polytheistic Major Egyptian Gods:Major Egyptian Gods:RaRa (later named Amon-Ra or Amon-Re) – sun god; ruler of the gods (later named Amon-Ra or Amon-Re) – sun god; ruler of the gods OsirisOsiris – god of underworld, resurrection, and plants – god of underworld, resurrection, and plants IsisIsis – goddess of fertility , wife/sister of Osiris – goddess of fertility , wife/sister of Osiris AmenAmen – god of creation; later combined with Ra to create one – god of creation; later combined with Ra to create one leading deity leading deity AnubisAnubis – god of the dead – god of the dead SetSet- god of chaos - god of chaos HorusHorus – protector of the pharaoh, a sky god – protector of the pharaoh, a sky god BastetBastet – Egyptian cat god, protector of souls – Egyptian cat god, protector of souls The The kaka was the Egyptian word for the life force or soul was the Egyptian word for the life force or soul

Ancient Egypt – Art CharacteristicsAncient Egypt – Art Characteristics

Strong sense of orderStrong sense of orderAll figures must stand on horizontal linesAll figures must stand on horizontal linesEgyptian Egyptian canon of proportionscanon of proportions is clearly definedis clearly definedAim at clarity rather than illusionAim at clarity rather than illusionHead, hips, legs and feet always in profileHead, hips, legs and feet always in profileEyes, shoulders and upper torso seen from frontEyes, shoulders and upper torso seen from frontUse of Use of Hierarchic scaleHierarchic scaleHigher ranking officials were depicted within the rules Higher ranking officials were depicted within the rules more strictly seeming almost rigidmore strictly seeming almost rigidFrozen, timeless quality to Egyptian ArtFrozen, timeless quality to Egyptian Art


Canon of Proportions Canon of Proportions – – a set of rules a set of rules governing the proportions of the human governing the proportions of the human body as they must be rendered by the body as they must be rendered by the artistartistHierarchic Scale Hierarchic Scale – – use of relative size to use of relative size to indicate the comparative importance of indicate the comparative importance of depicted objects or peopledepicted objects or people

Pre-Dynastic EgyptPre-Dynastic Egypt

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - Art

Palette of King NarmerPalette of King Narmer3100 BCE3100 BCEMemphis, EgyptMemphis, EgyptRelief SculptureRelief SculptureThis work shows Pharaoh Narmer (Menes) conquering This work shows Pharaoh Narmer (Menes) conquering lower Egypt and uniting it with Upper Egyptlower Egypt and uniting it with Upper Egypt

Ancient Egypt – Art Ancient Egypt – Art

Tomb of Perneb (mastaba)

ca. 2,350-2,323 B.C.E.

Saqqara, Egypt

Architectureapproximately 16 ft. highSimplest form of Egyptian noble tomb

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtStep Pyramid of Pharaoh Step Pyramid of Pharaoh DjoserDjoser2681-2662 BCE2681-2662 BCESaqqara, EgyptSaqqara, EgyptArchitectureArchitectureArtist: ImhotepArtist: ImhotepFirst pyramid structure First pyramid structure builtbuiltFirst known artist –First known artist –Imhotep as architectImhotep as architectOldest stone structure Oldest stone structure ever builtever built

Old Kingdom ArtOld Kingdom Art

Red Pyramid of SneferuRed Pyramid of Sneferu

Sneferu’s Bent and Collapsed Sneferu’s Bent and Collapsed PyramidsPyramids

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtPyramids of GizaPyramids of Giza2530 – 2470 BCE2530 – 2470 BCEGiza, EgyptGiza, EgyptArchitectureArchitecturePyramid of Khufu on right; Pyramid of Khufu on right; Pyramid of Khafre in Pyramid of Khafre in center; Pyramid of center; Pyramid of Menkaure on left in frontMenkaure on left in frontServed as tombs like all Served as tombs like all pyramidspyramidsFace exactly north, south, Face exactly north, south, east and west and are east and west and are aligned to the stars in aligned to the stars in Orion’s beltOrion’s belt

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtGreat Pyramid of GizaGreat Pyramid of Giza2530 BCE2530 BCEGiza, EgyptGiza, EgyptArchitectureArchitectureThe only surviving member The only surviving member of the Seven Wonders of of the Seven Wonders of the Worldthe WorldThe largest stone structure The largest stone structure ever builtever built480 ft tall – 100,000 480 ft tall – 100,000 workers – 23 years to buildworkers – 23 years to build


The Great SphinxThe Great Sphinx2570 – 2544 BCE2570 – 2544 BCEGiza, EgyptGiza, EgyptWorld’s largest World’s largest SculptureSculptureIn the image of KhafreIn the image of KhafreSize was meant to Size was meant to impress visitors and impress visitors and show pharaoh’s show pharaoh’s powerpower

Khafre

ca. 2,520-2,494 B.C.E.

Giza, Egypt

Sculpturedioriteapproximately 66 in. highSeated pharaoh – one of 3 accepted poses

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtMenkaure (Mycerinus) and Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Queen KhamerernebtyQueen Khamerernebty2470 BCE2470 BCEGiza, EgyptGiza, EgyptSculptureSculptureKing slightly taller and much King slightly taller and much more rigid than wifemore rigid than wifeCanon of proportions followedCanon of proportions followedQueen is allowed to be less rigid Queen is allowed to be less rigid – can even place her hand – can even place her hand around his waistaround his waistWeight equally distributed on Weight equally distributed on both feetboth feetNote they are not 100% free Note they are not 100% free standingstanding

Old Kingdom ArtOld Kingdom ArtRahotep and Rahotep and Princess NofretPrincess NofretC. 2620 BCEC. 2620 BCESculptureSculptureMeidum, EgyptMeidum, EgyptPossibly Sneferu’s Possibly Sneferu’s daughter daughter In Egyptian canon of In Egyptian canon of colors, size, posecolors, size, pose

Seated Scribe

ca. 2,450-2,350 B.C.E.

Saqqara, Egypt

Sculpture

painted limestoneapproximately 21 in. highNote that he is not perfect and is in fact a bit flabby


Ka-AperKa-Aper2500 BCE2500 BCESaqqara, EgyptSaqqara, EgyptSculptureSculptureProves Egyptians could Proves Egyptians could create realistic create realistic portrayals of people portrayals of people when not of the nobility when not of the nobility or royaltyor royaltyHeavy set, olderHeavy set, older

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtTi Watching a Ti Watching a Hippopotamus HuntHippopotamus Hunt2500 – 2400 BCE2500 – 2400 BCESaqqara, EgyptSaqqara, EgyptRelief SculptureRelief SculptureTypical Egyptian pose Typical Egyptian pose Ti is larger than servants – Ti is larger than servants – watching and not watching and not participating in the huntparticipating in the huntHippos were symbols of the Hippos were symbols of the god of chaos - Set in Egypt god of chaos - Set in Egypt and looked upon and looked upon unfavorablyunfavorably

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

Rock cut Tombs Beni Hasan 3-5

ca. 1950-1900 B.C.E.

Beni Hasan, Egypt

Architecture

These tombs are cut directly into the cliff

Tomb of Meketre

ca. 1,985 B.C.E.

Thebes, Egypt

Architecture

Many non-royal tombs have been discovered with artifacts

Riverboat

from tomb of Meketre, Thebes, Egypt

Granary


Statuette of an offering bearer


Hippopotamus

1991-1783 B.C.E.

Thebes, Egypt

Sculpture/Craftwork7 7/8 in. longEgyptians loved to use colored faienceFaience -glazed earthenware decorated with opaque colors

New KingdomNew Kingdom

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtMausoleum of Queen Mausoleum of Queen HatshepsutHatshepsut1478 - 1458 BCE1478 - 1458 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptArchitectureArchitectureHatshepsut became the first Hatshepsut became the first female pharaohfemale pharaohFirst important historical First important historical femalefemaleTomb built on terraces – this Tomb built on terraces – this was a temple – the body not was a temple – the body not placed hereplaced here

Hatshepsutwith offering jars

ca. 1,473-1,458 B.C.E.

Deir el-Bahri, Egypt

Sculpture

8 ft. 6 in. highAlthough female, she appears male in all public functions and in monuments and sculpture


The Weighing of the Heart and The Judgement of OsirisThe Weighing of the Heart and The Judgement of Osiris1285 BCE1285 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptIlluminated ManuscriptIlluminated ManuscriptPart of the Book of the Dead – Ancient Egypt’s Holy BookPart of the Book of the Dead – Ancient Egypt’s Holy Book

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtTemple of Rameses IITemple of Rameses II1260 BCE1260 BCEAbu Simbel (Answan), Abu Simbel (Answan), EgyptEgyptArchitectur/Relief SculptureArchitectur/Relief SculptureGreatest example of all Greatest example of all temples Rameses II builttemples Rameses II builtPlaced his name on over Placed his name on over 50% of all New Kingdom 50% of all New Kingdom monumentsmonumentsEgyptian standards Egyptian standards unchanged despite passage unchanged despite passage of centuriesof centuries

Temple of Amen-Re (Amon-Ra)

ca. 15th century B.C.E.

Karnak, Egypt

Architecture

World’s largest religious structure

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtNobleman Hunting in the Nobleman Hunting in the MarshesMarshes1400 BCE1400 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptPaintingPaintingFrom Tomb of NebamunFrom Tomb of NebamunFocus on conveying the Focus on conveying the message of what is going message of what is going on not in realismon not in realismSimilar to Ti relief from Similar to Ti relief from 1100 years earlier1100 years earlier

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtMusicians and DancersMusicians and Dancers1350 BCE1350 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptTomb of NebamunTomb of NebamunPaintingPaintingCombination of Combination of innovation and beauty in innovation and beauty in New Kingdom art; rules a New Kingdom art; rules a bit more flexible – bit more flexible – musicians actually face musicians actually face the viewerthe viewer

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt- The Amarna Revolution- The Amarna Revolution

Amenhotep IV’s religious and artistic revolutionAmenhotep IV’s religious and artistic revolutionIt started as an attempt to thwart the power of It started as an attempt to thwart the power of the priests at Thebes and turned into a full blown the priests at Thebes and turned into a full blown revolution in religious beliefsrevolution in religious beliefsAmenhotep IV proclaims Aten as the only god – Amenhotep IV proclaims Aten as the only god – all others are declared false and their temples all others are declared false and their temples are ordered closedare ordered closedAmenhotep IV changes his name to Akhenaten Amenhotep IV changes his name to Akhenaten (son of Aten)(son of Aten)Akhenaten moves capital from Thebes to new Akhenaten moves capital from Thebes to new capital called Aketaten (Amarna), basically capital called Aketaten (Amarna), basically putting priests out of powerputting priests out of power

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt- The Amarna Revolution- The Amarna Revolution

Major changes are also made in artMajor changes are also made in artAmarna Period Characteristics:Amarna Period Characteristics:Exaggerated features – protruding stomach; Exaggerated features – protruding stomach; large lips, elongated headslarge lips, elongated headsSensitive Portrayals – more intimacy and Sensitive Portrayals – more intimacy and emotion is portrayedemotion is portrayedMore Informal – everyday scenes are depicted More Informal – everyday scenes are depicted Overemphatic Outlines Overemphatic Outlines Stylized realismStylized realism

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtAkhenaten, Nefertiti and Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Their Children Worshipping Their Children Worshipping the Sunthe Sun1348 – 1336 BCE1348 – 1336 BCEAmarna, EgyptAmarna, EgyptRelief SculptureRelief SculptureTypical Amarna period Typical Amarna period characteristics: deep characteristics: deep outlines, exaggerated outlines, exaggerated features, daily life scene, features, daily life scene, intimacyintimacyYet still within Egyptian Yet still within Egyptian basic rulesbasic rules

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtBust of Queen NefertitiBust of Queen Nefertiti1348 – 1336 BCE1348 – 1336 BCEAmarna, EgyptAmarna, EgyptSculptureSculptureLimestoneLimestoneConsidered the Considered the masterpiece of masterpiece of Egyptian ArtEgyptian ArtA symbol of beauty A symbol of beauty even in modern timeseven in modern times

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtQueen TiyeQueen Tiye1390 – 1352 BCE1390 – 1352 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptSculptureSculptureMother of Amenhotep IV, Mother of Amenhotep IV, wife of Amenhotep IIIwife of Amenhotep IIIThis sculpture breaks with This sculpture breaks with tradition before the Amarna tradition before the Amarna RevolutionRevolutionRealistic portrayals of Realistic portrayals of royalty are allowed briefly royalty are allowed briefly during this timeduring this time

Death Mask of Tutankhamen

ca. 1,323 B.C.E.

Thebes, Egypt

Sculpture

gold with semiprecious stones21 1/4 in. highOver 22 lbs. of goldMost famous artifact from Tut’s tomb

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtCover of Tutankhamen’s Cover of Tutankhamen’s CoffinCoffin1336 – 1327 BCE1336 – 1327 BCEThebes, EgyptThebes, EgyptSculptureSculptureSolid gold with gemstonesSolid gold with gemstonesTutankhamen is most Tutankhamen is most famous of pharaohsfamous of pharaohsBecause his tomb was Because his tomb was only one ever discovered only one ever discovered intact – Howard Carterintact – Howard Carter

Wedjat Eye of Tutankhamen

ca. 1,333-1,323 B.C.E.

Thebes, Egypt

Craftworkgold and precious stones2 in. wideSymbol of protection for the king

Ptolemaic EgyptPtolemaic Egypt

Bast (Cat Goddess)

304-31 B.C.E.

Thebes, Egypt

Sculpture11 in. high

Kept evil spirits from tombs

CleopatraCleopatra

Ancient Egypt - ArtAncient Egypt - ArtRosetta StoneRosetta Stone196 BCE196 BCERosetta, EgyptRosetta, EgyptRelief SculptureRelief SculptureInscription in 3 languages Inscription in 3 languages allowed for the allowed for the decipherment of decipherment of hieroglyphics by Jean hieroglyphics by Jean ChampolloinChampolloinThe story in the 3 The story in the 3 languages tells of languages tells of Ptolemy VPtolemy V

Roman EgyptRoman Egypt

Temple of Dendur

from Nubia

ca. 15 B.C.E.Architecture82 ft. longHeld inside Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY

Portrait of a boy

2nd century A.D.

Faiyum, Egypt

Painting encaustic on wood15 in. highPlaced over the mummies of Roman aristocracy in Egypt

Faiyum portraits

2nd century A.D.encaustic on wood


The EndThe EndNext Lecture : Aegean GreeksNext Lecture : Aegean Greeks

ancient egypt

Documents

egyptian writing2700

dynasty1674 bce egyptian

bce thutmoses

bce tutankhamen

bce khufu

bce ahmose

bce hatshepsut rules

egyptian word