04 egyptian architecture

*for educational purposes only*

FROM 5000 B. C. – 1st CENTURY A. D.GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

Egypt known as “ The Land of Pharaoh “, & “desert Land “. The “ Nile River” is their means of communication , highway , & lifeline . Egypt’s greatest wealth was its fertile “soil”.


•GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE•STONE – abundant building material except on temples & pyramids•Soft stone – limestone , sandstone , alabaster .•Hard stone – granite , quartzite , basalt , porphyry•SAND DRIED BRICKS – made up of clay & chopped stone for pyramids & temples.•DATE PALM – for roofing’s & PALM LEAVES – for roofing materials .•ACACIA – for their boat•SYCAMORE – mummy cases


CLIMATIC INFLUENCEStructure have no downspout , drainage ,

gutters due to absence of rain . No windows to cut heat penetration and sandstorm.


RELIGIOUS INFLUENCEPyramids were built bec. they believe in “ Life

after Death “ & for the preservation of the dead body. Pharaoh is not only king but also “god” both political & religious ruler, when he dies he becomes “osiris”, god of dead. They’re “monotheistic” in theory & “ polytheistic” in practice.


DIFFERENT EGYPTIAN GODS:AMUN—RA : chief godRAH : symbol of the sun , hope for eternal life ,

sun god fr. HeliopolisATUM : world creatorOSIRIS : god of the deadISIS : wife of osirisHORUS : sky god, son of osiris, also

reincarnation of “ Ra” himselfSET : dread god of evil, brother of pleasureTHOT : ibis headed god of wisdomANUBIS : jackal headed god of deathPTAH : god of craftsmenSERAPIS : bull god*for educational purposes only*

HISTORICAL INFLUENCE30 DYNASTIES – started from 3rd Millennium

B.C. to Roman Period. Egypt was part of Persian Empire for 2 Centuries, before the invasion of “ALEXANDER the Great “.


ANCIENT KINGDOM ( 1ST – 10TH DYNASTY )Development of two types of tombs

MastabaPyramid

MIDDLE KINGDOM ( 11TH – 17TH DYNASTY )

Important PersonalitiesMENTUHETEP IISENUSRETSAMENEMHAT I


NEW EMPIRE ( 18TH – 30TH DYNASTY )

Important PersonalitiesTHOTMES 1 HATSHEPSUTTHOTMES 1VAMENOPHIS IIIRAMESES IRAMESES II


THE PTOLEMAIC PERIODImportant Personalities

PTOLEMY II PTOLEMY III

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERSIMPLICITYMONUMENTALITYSOLIDITY OR MASSIVENESS


SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE MONARCHY – form of government PHARAOH – King of Egypt, ruler , highest priest in Egypt SON OF PHARAOH – normal successor to the throne VIZIER – King’s most powerful official CHANCELOR- he controls the royal treasuries, granaries ,&

supervises the census CHIEF STEWARD- in charge of the King’s personal estate &

household. SOCIAL RANKS:

1. NOBLE FAMILIES- royal throne with his family 2. SOLDIERS, VIZIERS, CHANCELLORS, CHIEF STEWARDS

– next to leaders 3. FISHERMEN, FARMERS, CRAFTMENS, MERCHANTS -

ordinary Egyptians 4. SLAVES- lowest form


SYSTEMS OF CONSTRUCTION:POST & LINTEL; COLUMNAR OR

TRABEATED.FEATURES OF EGYPTIAN

ARCHITECTUREBATTERWALL- inclination from base to top of

the façade.HIEROGLYPHICS- use as ornaments, pictures

& writings from the walls


http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/ancient-hieroglyphics-wall-kom-ombo-temple-egypt-34657493.jpg


EXAMPLE OF STRUCTURESTOMBS ( 3 TYPES)MASTABA- flat top or tapered solid temple3 IMPORTANT PARTS

OUTER CHAMBER- where offerings were placed SERDAB – inner chamber containing the statues of

the deceased member of the family SARCOPHAGUS – chamber containing the “ coffin”

reached by an under ground shaft.


PYRAMIDS – evolved from MASTABA ; w/ four sides facing the Cardinal points , they were made by 100,000 men for 100 years.STEP PYRAMID – evolved from MastabaBENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID – 2 degrees of

inclination of slopeSLOPE PYRAMID – parts ( king’s chamber ,

Queen’s chamber , subterranean chamber, grand gallery, airshafts.


STEP PYRAMID – evolved from Mastaba

http://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/dsteppyramid2-5.jpghttp://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/dsteppyramid2-6d.jpg*for educational purposes only*

BENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID – 2 degrees of inclination of slope

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FykQH-1UcLE/TjXR2NGqxnI/AAAAAAAAET8/4Oy1uZt02Wk/s1600/Bent%2BPyramid.jpghttp://www.ancient-egypt.org/topography/dashur/snofru/bent_pyramid_airview.jpg


SLOPE PYRAMID – parts ( king’s chamber , Queen’s chamber , subterranean chamber, grand gallery, airshafts.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SHb1-568MjM/TX1412wWBjI/AAAAAAAABKU/p1aj2DRBibE/s1600/Pyramid.jpg*for educational purposes only*

PYRAMID OF THE CHEOPS OR KHUFU (146.4 mts. High & ( 750 sq. ft. ) in plan two times the area of the famous “ St. Peter Basilica in Rome”.

http://www.guardians.net/articles/images/Plan_Great_Pyramid.jpg*for educational purposes only*

PYRAMID OF CHEOPS or “Khafra” ( 143.0 mts. high ) & (705 sq. ft. ) in plan.

http://guardians.net/egypt/pyramids/Khafre/images/Khafre7.gif*for educational purposes only*

PYRAMID OF MYKERINOS or “Menkaura “ (109.0 mts. high) & (218ft. high)

http://www.ancient-egypt.org/topography/giza/mykerinos/map3d.gif*for educational purposes only*

PARTS OF PYRAMID COMPLEX: elevated causeway Offering chapel Mortuary Valley bldg.

ROCK CUT TOMB OR ROCK HEWN TOMB – cut deep into the mountain rock


TEMPLES ( 2 TYPES) Montuary – built in honor of the Pharaohs Cult – built for the worship of the gods, only high

priest can enter in both types of temple. PARTS OF AN EGYPTIAN TEMPLE

Entrance Pylon – massive sloping towers fronted by an obelisks known as gateways in Egypt .

Hypaethral Court – large outer court open to the sky

Hypostyle Hall - a pillared hall in which the roofs rest on column.

Sanctuary – usually surrounded by passages & chambers used in connection w/ the temple service.

Avenue of Sphinx – where mystical monster were placed.


EXAMPLE OF TEMPLES

1) Great Temple of Abu – Simbel – entrance forecourt leads to an imposing façade formed by a pylon carved w/ 4 Colossal seated statues.( RAMESSES 1-1V)

2) Great Temple of Ammon, Khanak – most grandest temple in Egyptian planning & was commenced by Amenemhat 1 ; occupying an area of 1,200 ft. x 360 ft

3) Temple of Ammon, Der – El – Bahari 4) Temple of Queen Hatshepsut5) Temple of Elephantine 6) Temple of Hathor, Dendera 7) Temple of Horus, Edfu 8) Temple of Isis, Philae 9) Temple of Khons, kharnak, by Ramesses III 10)Temple of Luxor 11)Temple of Mamimisi 12)Temple of Mentuhetep, Thebes 13)Temple of Seti I, Abydos 14)Temple of Ramesseum, Thebes


The Great Temple of Abu- Simbel It is one of the rock- hewn temples at this place commanded by the indefatigable Rameses II. An entrance forecourt leads to the imposing façade, 36 m ( 119 ft. ) wide and 32 m ( 105 ft. ) high formed as pylon, immediately in front of which are four rock-cut seated colossal statues of Rameses, over 20 m ( 65 ft. ) high.

http://www.culturefocus.com/egypt/pictures/abu-simbel-11small.jpghttps://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/014ebc28e4.jpg


http://www.selectegypt.com/images/The%20great%20pillared%20hall%2022.jpg

http://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/abusimbel3.jpghttp://www.culturefocus.com/egypt/pictures/abu-simbel-13small.jpg

http://www.insightguides.com/docs/images/thickbox/fafa7974-be36-4f05-a390-d2e8a4c64292.abu-simbel-egypt-2.jpg


Great Temple of Ammon, Khanak – most grandest temple in Egyptian planning & was commenced by Amenemhat 1 ; occupying an area of 1,200 ft. x 360 ft

http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/temple_of_amun_karnak.gif*for educational purposes only*

http://guardians.net/egypt/images/amuntemple2.jpghttp://www.willgoto.com/pictures/b/Precinct_of_Amun_Re_in_Karnak_temple.jpg*for educational purposes only*

Temple of Queen HATSHEPSUT , Mt. Der – El - Bahari Queen of Egypt, famous for her funerary temple @ Mt.Der-El-Bahari.

http://www.egypttourinfo.com/uploads/13-05-29_03-02-28pm_249967493736423.jpg

http://www.sandrashaw.com/images/AH1L10Hat2.jpg*for educational purposes only*

http://hawkebackpacking.com/images/pictures/africa/egypt_2007/luxor_hatshepsut/egypt_2007_luxor_hatshepsut_04.jpg


OBELISKS – are monumental pillars usually in pairs at the temple entrances considered the symbol of “Heliopolis” the sun god. They are square in plan & stands at the ht. of 9 to 10 times the diameter of the base. The four sides tapers to the top on the form of a small pyramid.

http://toptravelservice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Egyptian-Obelisks-2.jpghttp://www.bible-history.com/archaeology/egypt/obelisk-luxor-thebes.jpg*for educational purposes only*

SPHINX– a mystical monster with a body of a lion and head of a man or “ androsphinx”, body of a lion & head of a hawk or“ heiraosphinx “, & body lion & head of a ram or “criosphinx”.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza_-_20080716a.jpg*for educational purposes only*

CAPITALS & COLUMNS Bud & Bell Capital Volute Capital Hathor – Headed Capital Polygonal Columns Palm type CapitalOsiris Pillars Papyrus Capital Square Pillars


MOULDINGS – “Gorge and Hollow Moulding “ The torus mould in Egyptian temples were used to cover the angles .

Gorge and hollow moulding


ORNAMENTS Lotus Papyrus & Palm

– for “ fertility” Solar Discs & Vutures

w/ wings – for “ protection ”

Spiral & feather ornament – for “ eternity ”

Scarab or sacred beetle – for “ resurrection”


EGYPTIAN ORNAMENTS


04 egyptian architecture

Education