Ancient EgyptNotes

Art Achievement:

Paintings, drawings, hieroglyphics, artistic expression through architecture, sculpture, metalworking

Significance: Artwork represented everyday life in ancient Egypt,

offered instructions on religion and afterlife, hieroglyphics allowed communication and record keeping

Paintings

• Most paintings were lively and colorful• Detailed painting covered temple and tomb

walls• Also painted on canvas, papyrus, pottery,

plaster, and wood• People’s heads and legs are always painted

from the side, but upper bodies and shoulders are painted straight ahead

Paintings on a wall in a tomb

Carvings and Jewelry

• Obviously very skilled stoneworkers (tombs, pyramids, statues)

• Jewelry was made and worn by both men and women

• Jewelry included necklaces, bracelets, and collars

• Also liked to use gold to make items for Pharaohs tombs

Architecture• Achievement:– Pyramids, Temples, Tombs

• Significance– Building was done without mortar, pyramids

ensured king’s union with the gods, architecture reflected their religion

Pyramids and Temples

• The Egyptians not only built the great pyramids, but also hundreds of magnificent temples

• Rows of sphinxes lined the path to the entrance• Once you entered the gate there was usually a

huge obelisk (a tall, four-sided pillar that is pointed at the top)

• Huge colorful/painted columns held up the roof• Beautifully painted walls, lots of statutes of the

gods and Pharaohs

Karnak Temple

Abu Simbel Temple

Government• Achievement:– Structure of government established, Theocracy– Religion and government were tightly entwined

• Significance:– Pharaoh was absolute monarch, Pharaoh was both

the head of government and religion, Pharaoh had control over people, improved government efficiency

The Pharaoh

• The Pharaoh would pick his own successor• This was usually the oldest son and very rarely

was it a woman• It was common practice for the Pharaoh to

share power towards the end of his life with his successor to ensure a smooth transition

• The Pharaoh virtually had limitless power and control

Amenhotep

King Tut

Government Structure

• There were 42 Nomes in Ancient Egypt• Nomes are comparable to our states• Each Nome had a governor that was appointed

by the Pharaoh to run that area• Other government officials included:– Priests - Chief Treasures– Viziers - Minister of Public Works– Army Commanders - Tax Collectors

Laws

• Ancient Egypt was a land of many laws• There was a court system to determine guilt

and punishments• Punishment was intended to fit the crime• Doing wrong and committing a crime brought

shame and disgrace to the entire family• Caning, dismemberment, and executions were

not uncommon punishments

Taxes

• Ancient Egyptians had to pay taxes just like we do today

• The tax rate was very heavy, especially for the lower classes

• Taxes took take the form of money, goods, labor, or military service

The Archives

• Everything was recorded and stored in huge vaults

• This included:– Wills - Trial Transcripts– Conscription lists - Nile River flood levels– Tax Lists - Census records– Letters - Inventory of food– Weather

Religion• Achievement:– Detailed description of afterlife and how to

prepare for it, mummification, • Significance:– Preserved the body for the afterlife, Pharaoh was

believed to be a living god

Multiple Gods

• Re – the sun god• Osiris – god of the underworld• Isis – goddess of magic• Horus – sky god; god of the pharaohs• Thoth – god of wisdom• Geb – the Earth God• Ptah – creator of the world• Anubis – god of the dead

Re (the sun god)

Osiris(god of the underworld)

Horus(the sky god)

Thoth(god of wisdom)

Geb(the Earth god)

Anubis(god of the dead)

How Egyptians Worshipped

• Every major city had a temple built to honor a specific god

• Each temple collected payments from worshippers and the government

• Most families also worshipped at home with household shrines to certain gods

• Much of Egyptian religion focused on the afterlife (the afterlife was a happy place)

The Afterlife

• To preserved the body for the afterlife = mummification

• Had to have a body in the afterlife to eat and drink

• Would leave objects in the tomb that one would need in the afterlife (furniture, clothing, tools, jewelry, weapons, games, dishes, food, drinks, etc)