Art of Ancient EgyptArt of Ancient Egypt3 T3 T’’s: s:

Tombs, Temples, and Tombs, Temples, and TimelessnessTimelessness

Four PeriodsFour Periods• PredynasticPredynastic 2950-2575 2950-2575

• Old KindomOld Kindom 2575-2150 BCE 2575-2150 BCE

• Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom 1975-1640 BCE 1975-1640 BCE

• New KingdomNew Kingdom 1540-1075 BCE 1540-1075 BCE– Armana Period 1353-1336Armana Period 1353-1336

Gift of the NileGift of the Nile• Longest river in the worldLongest river in the world

• Made civilization possibleMade civilization possible–Calm, predictableCalm, predictable

• Kept land fertileKept land fertile

• Annual floodsAnnual floods

Written LanguageWritten Language

• Pictographs became heiroglyphicsPictographs became heiroglyphics

• Heiroglyphs represented objects, Heiroglyphs represented objects, ideas, or soundsideas, or sounds

• Deciphered through Rosetta StoneDeciphered through Rosetta Stone

ReligionReligion

• PolytheisticPolytheistic

• Gods were animal, human or bothGods were animal, human or both

• Strong believers in the afterlifeStrong believers in the afterlife

Triple Concept of SpiritTriple Concept of Spirit

• KaKa-Soul of deceased-Soul of deceased

• AkhAkh-Lived in heavens as spirit-Lived in heavens as spirit

• BaBa-in and out of touch with deceased. -in and out of touch with deceased. – Human head, bird body.Human head, bird body.

BurialBurial

Body preservation for KABody preservation for KA1.1. SandSand

2.2. MastabasMastabas

3.3. Stepped PyramidStepped Pyramid

4.4. PyramidPyramid

MummificationMummification

Egyptians developed embalming technique Egyptians developed embalming technique

4 step mummification process:4 step mummification process:

1. Organ Removal1. Organ Removal

2. Body Treatment2. Body Treatment

3. Wrapping3. Wrapping

4. Protection4. Protection

TombTomb

• Mummy in sarcophagusMummy in sarcophagus

• Food, drink, clothing, utensilsFood, drink, clothing, utensils

• Images of deceasedImages of deceased

• Ushabtis-statuettes to do work in afterlifeUshabtis-statuettes to do work in afterlife

The PharaohsThe Pharaohs• Deified with absolute powerDeified with absolute power

• Pharaohs communicated with godsPharaohs communicated with gods

• Sons of RA, the sun god.Sons of RA, the sun god.

• RARA’’s emblem was a s emblem was a pyramidal pyramidal stone, hence stone, hence pyramid shaped tombs.pyramid shaped tombs.

Painting/Relief ConventionsPainting/Relief Conventions

• Profile head, legs, feetProfile head, legs, feet

• Frontal eye, torso, armsFrontal eye, torso, arms

• ¾ view waist¾ view waist

Sculpture ConventionsSculpture Conventions

• Solid, static, stiff, cube-likeSolid, static, stiff, cube-like

• Slim, young, beautiful, timelessSlim, young, beautiful, timeless

Canon of ProportionsCanon of Proportions

• Strict set of rules for figuresStrict set of rules for figures

• Grid always drawn 18 units high Grid always drawn 18 units high

• Figure drawn over gridFigure drawn over grid

Palette of NarmerPalette of NarmerPredynasticPredynastic

c. 3000c. 3000

• Two sided palette commemorate NarmerTwo sided palette commemorate Narmer’’s s victorious unification of upper and lower victorious unification of upper and lower Egypt.Egypt.

• One of first historical artworksOne of first historical artworks

• EVERY image shows NarmerEVERY image shows Narmer’’s POWER. s POWER.

• Registers/hierarchical scale/low reliefRegisters/hierarchical scale/low relief

• Canon/Composite viewCanon/Composite view

Mastaba LayoutMastaba LayoutOld KingdomOld Kingdom

• Preceded PyramidsPreceded Pyramids

• Flat-topped, rectangular structure built Flat-topped, rectangular structure built over burial chamberover burial chamber

• Shaft originally for Ka to leave if both body Shaft originally for Ka to leave if both body and statue died, later filled in for and statue died, later filled in for protectionprotection

Stepped Pyramid of DjoserStepped Pyramid of DjoserOld KingdomOld Kingdom

• 11stst architect named Imhotep architect named Imhotep

• 11stst pyramid (royal tomb). pyramid (royal tomb).

• Huge staircase to the RA in the heavensHuge staircase to the RA in the heavens

• Burial chamber below ground, stepped Burial chamber below ground, stepped pyramid is solidpyramid is solid

Great Pyramids of GizaGreat Pyramids of GizaOld KingdomOld Kingdom

• 3 pyramids-Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure3 pyramids-Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure

• Khufu=KafreKhufu=Kafre’’s fathers father

• Khafre=MenkaureKhafre=Menkaure’’s fathers father

• Pharaohs buried in pyramidsPharaohs buried in pyramids

• Each side is oriented toward a point on the Each side is oriented toward a point on the compass.compass.

• Each pyramid had a mortuary templeEach pyramid had a mortuary temple

• Face sunset-symbolizes deathFace sunset-symbolizes death

The Great Sphinx, from GizaThe Great Sphinx, from Giza

• Body of a lion and head of a pharaohBody of a lion and head of a pharaoh

• In KhafreIn Khafre’’s complex-portrait of him?s complex-portrait of him?

• Intelligence/human and strength/beastIntelligence/human and strength/beast

• Originally brightly painted to stand out in the desert.Originally brightly painted to stand out in the desert.

• Immovable, eternal silent guardian of the tomb. Immovable, eternal silent guardian of the tomb.

• Carved in situCarved in situ

Seated Khafre, 2500 BCE, Old KingdomSeated Khafre, 2500 BCE, Old Kingdom

• No spaces, serving to unify the king/throne.No spaces, serving to unify the king/throne.

• Special dioriteSpecial diorite

• Idealized features.Idealized features.

• Carved lions serve as guardians.Carved lions serve as guardians.

• The falcon God, Horus, is shown enfolding The falcon God, Horus, is shown enfolding the kingthe king’’s head with his wings, protecting s head with his wings, protecting him. him.

• Temple statue of Khafre projects dignity, Temple statue of Khafre projects dignity, power, and above all, permanence.power, and above all, permanence.

• Frontal, symmetrical, rigid, motionless, Frontal, symmetrical, rigid, motionless, cubiccubic

Menkaure and a QueenMenkaure and a QueenOld KingdomOld Kingdom

c. 2500c. 2500

• Made of stone Made of stone

• Temple statueTemple statue

• Portrayed with idealized bodiesPortrayed with idealized bodies

• Gaze confidently and serenely into the Gaze confidently and serenely into the futurefuture

• ““Eternal stillnessEternal stillness””

• One leg forward, influenced early Greek One leg forward, influenced early Greek artistsartists

Seated Scribe Seated Scribe Old KingdomOld Kingdom

• Features are more realistic than idealizedFeatures are more realistic than idealized

• Formality is relaxed and realism is Formality is relaxed and realism is increased as a human subjectincreased as a human subject’’s s importance is decreased.importance is decreased.

Ti Watching a Hippo HuntTi Watching a Hippo HuntOld KingdomOld Kingdom

• Painted relief in the mastaba of Ti, a government official

• Hunt shown as a memorial to the deceased.

• Hippos-agents of evil

• Heirarchy of Scale

Hippo from Tomb of SenbiHippo from Tomb of SenbiMiddle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

c.1985-1795c.1985-1795

• Hippopotami are seen as agents of evil. Danger in water and with eating grain.

• Plant life drawn on side

• 3 of 4 legs broken on purpose to keep hippo from harming deceased

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom• Old Kingdom was characterized by long

succession of pharaohs ruling all of Egypt.

• Mostly peaceful, wealthy

• Due to a series of droughts, invasions, and in-fighting, the Middle Kingdom emerged as a time of turmoil and scaled back architecture

Rock-Cut Tombs, Beni HasanRock-Cut Tombs, Beni HasanMiddle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

• New form of tomb for rulers and high ranking officials-rock cut tombs

• hollowed out of the faces of cliffs

• small burial chambers inside

• In situ-Latin for “in its original location”

Non-functional columns-Non-functional columns-non-load bearingnon-load bearing

New KingdomNew Kingdom

• Country began to gain its strength back politically and economically

• At the height of the New Kingdom, rulers undertook extensive building programs along the length of the Nile

New Kingdom ArchitectureNew Kingdom Architecture• Temples built to honor the gods and

emphasize pharaoh’s power

• Two massive pylons (flat, sloping walls) flanked the entrance to each section often with a pair of obelisks

• A long corridor led to an enormous hypostyle hall, which led to the main sanctuary.

Front of TempleFront of Temple

Reconstruction Drawing of Hypostyle Hall, Reconstruction Drawing of Hypostyle Hall, Great Temple of Amun at KarnakGreat Temple of Amun at Karnak

New KingdomNew Kingdom

• Amun-god of the air and sky

• Temple of Amun:

– Largest columned temple in world

– 134 columns, 24 meters high

• Hypostyle Hall-Columns support the roof

• Purposes

– lead Pharaoh and High Priest only to an inner sanctuary containing images of the gods

– permit extra light in this area

• Base of column waist high

• Columns-sunken reliefs

Flower and Bud Columns, Flower and Bud Columns,

Great Temple of Amun at KarnakGreat Temple of Amun at KarnakNew KingdomNew Kingdom

• Capitals-top of column

• Inspired by papyrus with open and closed buds

• Within hypostyle hall

• Egyptian columns are based on plant forms

HatshepsutHatshepsut

• HistoryHistory’’s first great female rulers first great female ruler

• Crowned King of EgyptCrowned King of Egypt

• ““Female HorusFemale Horus””

• Often portrayed as sphinxOften portrayed as sphinx

• Represented in male pharaoh costumeRepresented in male pharaoh costume

Funerary Temple of HatshepsutFunerary Temple of HatshepsutNew KingdomNew Kingdom

c.1470 BCEc.1470 BCE

• 3 colonnaded terraces and 2 ramps3 colonnaded terraces and 2 ramps– Terraces originally had gardensTerraces originally had gardens

• Visually coordinated with the natural setting- Visually coordinated with the natural setting- – long horizontals and verticals long horizontals and verticals – patterns of dark and lightpatterns of dark and light

• Harmonized with its landscape*Harmonized with its landscape*

Hatshepsut's SphinxHatshepsut's SphinxNew KingdomNew Kingdom

• Sculptors portrayed her as having male and female characteristics.

• In traditional pharaoh dress

• Part pharaoh part lion: again, intelligence of human with strength of a lion

Hatshepsut with offering jarsHatshepsut with offering jarsNew KingdomNew Kingdom

• Destroyed, put back together

• Offering to RA, only knelt before gods-not mortals

• Anatomically male

Updated 9/12/14Updated 9/12/14It IS the AMARNA period!It IS the AMARNA period!

Grace was right! Names that Grace was right! Names that are really similar are hard for are really similar are hard for

me to get straight/spell correctly me to get straight/spell correctly because my brain sees one because my brain sees one

thing and thinks its something thing and thinks its something else…UGH! Sorry!!else…UGH! Sorry!!

Amarna Period Amarna Period • Amenhotep rules, controversialAmenhotep rules, controversial

• Monotheistic-Aton-represented only as a sun Monotheistic-Aton-represented only as a sun diskdisk

• Changed name to Changed name to Akhenaton Akhenaton (servant of Aton) (servant of Aton)

• Defaced all the other god images, emptied Defaced all the other god images, emptied temples. temples.

Amarna StyleAmarna Style

• Naturalistic RepresentationsNaturalistic Representations

• Refined SensualityRefined Sensuality

• Unprecedented IntimacyUnprecedented Intimacy

• Specific featuresSpecific features– Thin armsThin arms– Prominent belliesProminent bellies– Full lipsFull lips– Heavily lidded eyesHeavily lidded eyes– Dreamy expressionDreamy expression

Akhenaton and His FamilyAkhenaton and His FamilyAmarnaAmarna

• Sunken reliefSunken relief

• Unprecedented for Egyptian royal figures- Unprecedented for Egyptian royal figures- relaxed poses, curved outlines, flowing draperyrelaxed poses, curved outlines, flowing drapery

• Humanity of royal family*Humanity of royal family*

• Aton-sun disk-rays turn into hands. Ankh giving Aton-sun disk-rays turn into hands. Ankh giving the breath of lifethe breath of life

Queen TiyQueen TiyAmarnaAmarna

• Mother of AkhenatonMother of Akhenaton

• shown here as older--more relaxation of rules in shown here as older--more relaxation of rules in this period.this period.

• Stylized naturalism. Armana StyleStylized naturalism. Armana Style

• Tiny wood carving w/gold, silver, lapis lazuliTiny wood carving w/gold, silver, lapis lazuli

Bust of Nefertiti by ThutmoseBust of Nefertiti by ThutmoseAmarnaAmarna

• AkhenatonAkhenaton’’s wifes wife

• Life size portrait bust. The queen wears a Life size portrait bust. The queen wears a deep, tall, unique, blue crown deep, tall, unique, blue crown

• Graceful, refined, idealizedGraceful, refined, idealized

• Armana styleArmana style

• Painted Limestone

Akhenaton Pillar StatueAkhenaton Pillar StatueAmarnaAmarna

• Long, curving body, feminine featuresLong, curving body, feminine features

• long neck, full lips, heavy lidded eyes, dreamy long neck, full lips, heavy lidded eyes, dreamy expressionexpression

• Weak arms, narrow waist, protruding belly, wide Weak arms, narrow waist, protruding belly, wide hips hips

• Not heroically proportional body of a pharaoh. Not heroically proportional body of a pharaoh.

King Tutankhamen-New KingdomKing Tutankhamen-New Kingdom

• Inside famous tomb discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter

• Mummified body inside coffin• Gold coffin 6’7”• Smooth idealized features-

traditional

Return to traditionReturn to tradition

• King Tut was the son of Akenaton

• Rejected monotheism

• Returned Egypt to polytheistic religion

Ramses IIRamses II

• Egypt’s last great warrior pharaoh

• Ruled for 77 years

• Average life expectancy was 35 years.

Ramses II Temple Ramses II Temple New KingdomNew Kingdom

• Sandstone

• Rock-cut statues at entrance to temple

• 4 images of himself to proclaim greatness

• Shape of beard is reflected in shape of wall-influenced by pylon

• *Sacrificed refinement due to size (approx. 65’tall).

Ramses II Court and PylonsRamses II Court and PylonsNew KingdomNew Kingdom

• Pillar statues

• Columns had sunken reliefs with stories told through registers

• Used precise cutting and weight to hold stone in place

• Similar to post and lintel

Queen Nefertari Making an Offering Queen Nefertari Making an Offering to Isisto Isis

• Painting inside the tomb of Nefertari, the favorite Queen of Ramses II

• Small rock tomb was north of temple at Abu Simbel. Shows her great importance to Ramses

• One of the most detailed and decorated tombs

• Here she offers two jars to Isis

Judgement before Osiris, from the Judgement before Osiris, from the Book of the DeadBook of the Dead

New KingdomNew Kingdom

• Page from Book of the Dead– book of spells and charms

• On Papyrus scroll

• Anubis (jackal headed god of underworld) weighs heart against feather. If guilty, hippo/lion hybrid eats heart.