Egyptian Art Humanities

Ariel Ekblaw, Renate Roehl, Cassie Ferraro

The Palette of Narmer

The Palette of Narmer

• example of narrative art• depicts a war scene• large size of ruler shows his

importance

• connection to truth: unrealistic heights are an artist’s perception of importance

Temple of Imhotep

Temple of Imhotep

• designed by the high preist Imhotep for King Djoser

• made from a series of mastabas stacked on top of each other

• connection to truth: the Sumerians believed the higher their temples were, the closer they were to the sun god, the god they worshipped

Assyrian Archers Pursuing Enemies

Assyrian Archers pursing Enemies

• example of narrative art• depicts Assyrians driving away their

enemies • not shown to proper scale

• connection to truth: the Assyrians wanted to show the warriors escaping to the castle which is depicted as the largest image in the stele

The Seated Scribe

The Seated Scribe

• shows movement towards naturalism• natural depiction indicates the scribe

is of a lower class• about one foot and a half in height

• connction to truth: people of the lower class are depicted as they truly are, but the upper class is portrated idealistically, artist’s perception

Sumerian Funerary Figurines

Sumerian Funerary Figurines

• Small hands, large eyes• Funerary figurines, laid in temple• One foot in height

• connection to truth: eyes opened widely suggest that these people have just seen their god and are in awe, their religion is their truth

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut

• The woman Pharoah• Typically depicted as a man• Key player in progression of art –

commissioned many artists to build, paint, etc.

• Connection to truth: even today, some researchers cannot determine whether Hatshepsut was a man or a woman due to her many depictions

Akheneton

Akheneton

• Started the amarna art movement• Created his own cult to the sun god that

he worshipped• Moved the center of egypt to a different

place during the amarma movement

• Connection to truth: his religion died out soon after he did. Was it really truth if it died out?

Akheneton and his family

Akheneton and his family

• Married to nefertiti• Had three daughters• Sun god re depicted as the sun

• Connection to truth: For akheneton, his family was the ultimate gift

Senmut with Princess Nefrua

Senmut with princess mefrua

• Senmut was princess nefrua’s tutor• Daughter of hatshepsut• Depicted in stone to be immortal• Home for the ka

• Connection to truth: egyptians believed that rigidity was a symbol of immortality

Temple Aegina

Temple of Aegina

• Features a freize showing warriors in battle

• Symmertic

• Connection to truth: Greeks believed in perfect balance and symmetry, so the temple was designed as such

Warrior from East Pediment

Warrior from east pediment

• Shows off archaic smile• Warrior stabbed and dying• Old version, replaced by next slide

Reconstructed Warrior from East Pediment

Reconstruced dying warrior

• Absence of archaic smile• Movement towards classical period• Depicted naturally• Concentrated on his suffering

• Connection to truth: classical period is more towards naturalism rather than idealistic depictions

La Fin!