EgyptUnderthePharaohs

AncientEgypt

RosettaStone

hieroglyphic

Demotic

Greek

SteleinscribedwithadecreeissuedatMemphis
in196BCbyPtolemyV;divinecultofanew
ruler

EgyptianArt

Predynastic:5500B.C.3100B.C.(Neolithic)
OldKingdom:2575B.C. 2134B.C.
MiddleKingdom:2040B.C. 1640B.C.
NewKingdom:1550B.C 1070B.C.
Ptolemaic:332B.C. 395A.D.(ClassicalGreece)

HerodotuscharacterizedtheEgyptiansasreligiousto
excess,theirconcernwithimmortalityamountedto
nearobsessionandtheoverallpreoccupationinthis
lifewastoinsuresafetyandhappinessinthenextlife.
(AnAccountofEgypt,5th cB.C.)

Egyptiangods
AquickreferencetoafewofthemajorancientEgyptiangods
Amun ancientcreationdeity;oneof8godsofchaos;combined
withthesupremesolardeity,Ra;AmunRAwasthehiddenpower
thatcreatedthegods.
Anubis Embalming,funerarygod
Horus Falcon.Skygodwhoselefteyewasthemoonandwhose
righteyewasthesun(depictedasaneye);kingofEgypt.
Osiris Earthandvegetation.
Ptah Patronofcraftsmen
Re/Ra Sun
Seth LordofLowerEgypt&evilenemyofHorus
Thoth Wisdom&learning.

Egyptiangoddesses
Bastet asungoddess(whocametobeassociatedwiththemoon
aftercontactwiththeGreekgoddessArtemis.)
Hathor thesky,thesun,thequeen,music,danceandthearts;
canbeseenasthemothergoddessofthewholeworld,similarto
Isis
Isis birth,growth,developmentandvigor;lovingwifeandmother,
andthatwashowAncientEgyptiansworshipedher andlovedher
themost;alsoamagician.TwinsisterofNephthys
Nephthys death,decay,diminutionandimmobility;twinsisterof
Isis.
Nut skygoddessandmotherofthegods(connectedwiththe
underworld,resurrectionandthetomb.Shewasseenasafriendto
thedead,asamotherlike)

Predynastic Egypt
Egyptiansdevelopedwrittenlanguageandinstitutionalized
religion(possiblybeforetheSumerians,butthisdebatable!)
Developedasettled,agriculturalcivilizationalongtheNile.
Potterywasbeingmadeandtombswereconstructedofmud
andbrick.
LowerEgypt(north)wasmoreopulent,populousandurban;
UpperEgypt(south)wasdry,rocky,culturallyrustic.

Describewhatyousee.

Watercolorcopyofawallpaintingfromtomb100atHierakonpolis,Egypt,Predynastic,ca.
35003200BCE.

35003200B.C.

Gardner/Kleiner suggestsapossibleMesopotamian
influenceintheheraldicimageasseenabove.
Doyouthinkthistheoryisvalidoran
oversimplification?

ca.30002600B.C.

OldKingdom
ItwasduringtheOldKingdom,thatthe
traditionsandstandardsofEgyptianartwere
established.Rulesofconstructionand
compositionwereestablishedbetween
DynastyIIIandIV.
Egyptiansculptureischaracterizedby(1)
compactness(2)symmetryofformand(3)its
blocklikeshape

PaletteofNarmer

PaletteofKingNarmer (left,back;right,front),
fromHierakonpolis,Egypt,Predynastic,ca.
30002920BCE

Inthreeregisters:
Top:2cowheadssymbolicofHathor;Narmers
namewritteninhieroglyphs
Middle:theking,wearingthewhitecrown(of
UpperEgypt),accompaniedbyanofficial
(carryinghissandals)slaysanenemy.Beside
himweseethehumanarmedfalcon,Horus,
thekingsprotector,overahumanheaded
papyrushieroglyphforLowerEgypt.
Below :twomoreslainenemies.Beloware
fallenenemiesandabovearefurthersymbols
forthekingspalaceandthecowfaced
goddess,Hathor.

Infourregisters:
Top:2cowheadssymbolicofHathor;Narmers
namewritteninhieroglyphs
TopMiddle:Narmer,inthered,cobracrownof
LowerEgyptreviewsbeheadedenemies.
LowerMiddle:asymmetricalpairof[lions]
withtheirnecksintertwined,symbolizingthe
unification.
Bottom:bulltopplesarebelliouscity.

Whyisthepaletteimportant?
Thesimpleanswer:
ThePaletteofNarmer isamajorhistoricaldocumentand
pieceofEgyptiansculptureoftheEarlyDynasticperiod,ca.
3150BC.
Itshows,inrepresentationalandsymbolicform,theconquest
ofLowerEgyptbyanUpperEgyptianrulercalledNarmer (aka
Menes).
Narmer,byunifyingthetwoEgypts,becamethefirst
pharaoh.Heisthedivineruler,suprememanandsolely
responsiblefortriumphovertheenemy.
Onthepalette,Narmer isshownwiththeUpperEgyptian
god,Horus(imagedasafalcon),defeatingalower
EgyptianwarriorandlordingitovertheLowerEgyptian
symbol,thepapyrusplant.

Mastaba

Thestandardtombwasthemastaba
(Arabicforbench),builtovera
subterraneantombchamber,connected
withtheoutsidebyashaft.
Originallybuiltforanindividual,it
eventuallywasusedformultiplefamily
burials=funerarychapel

Section(top),plan(center),andrestoredview
(bottom)oftypicalEgyptianmastaba tombs.

Step(ped)Pyramid
ca.2650B.C.the
StepPyramidof
Djoser wasbuilt.
Dualpurpose:
protect
mummifiedking
andhis
possessions&
symbolizehis
absoluteand
godlikepower.
Createdby
Imhotep,first
knownartistof
recordedhistory

Thepyramidwasnotanisolatedmountain,but
partofanelaboratecomplex.Thisonewas
surroundedbya34stone(fortresslike)wall,
enclosing37acresoflivingmortuary

Plan(top)andrestoredview(bottom)ofthemortuaryprecinctofDjoser,Saqqara,Egypt,
ThirdDynasty,ca.26302611BCE.

OldKingdomPyramids
Egyptiantombsprovidetheprincipal,ifnot
theexclusive,evidenceforhistorical
reconstructionofEgyptiancivilization.
OnthewestbankoftheNilearethethree
pyramidsofKhafre,KhufuandMenkaure
(4th Dynasty).
Pyramidsdidnotevolveoutofnecessity.The
3rd dynastykingswerelargelyinfluencedbythe
cityofHeliopolis,closetotheancientEgyptian
capitalofMemphis
HeliopoliswastheseatofthecultgodRe,the
sungod,whosefetishwasapyramidalstone,
thebenben.
Bythe4th dynasty,thekingsconsidered
themselvesthesonofReandhisincarnationon
earth.
PharaohsbelievedthespiritandpowerofRe
residedinthebenben,soitisntafarstretchto
believethattheirbodiesandspiritswouldbe
similarlypreservedwithinpyramidaltombs.

GreatPyramids

GreatPyramids,Gizeh,Egypt,FourthDynasty.
Frombottom:PyramidsofMenkaure,ca.
24902472BCE;Khafre,ca.25202494BCE;
andKhufu,ca.25512528BCE.

Egyptiansburiedtheirdeadonthewest
(sunset)sideoftheNile

Khafre (Chephren)
Khufu(Cheops)
Menkaure (Mycerinus)

SectionofthePyramidofKhufu,Gizeh,Egypt,FourthDynasty,ca.25512528BCE.

GreatSphinx(withPyramidofKhafre inthebackgroundatleft),Gizeh,Egypt,Fourth
Dynasty,ca.25202494BCE.Sandstone,65X240.

Mummification
Mummificationisanembalmingtechnique
Preservationofthebodywasrequiredsothe
deceasedpersoncouldliveforeternity.
Equallyimportantwereallearthlypossessions
sothateverythingthatwasenjoyedinthislife
couldcontinuetobeenjoyedinthenextlife.
Food,drink,utensils
Ushabtis (figurines)

Mummies

GraveGoods

Makingsculptures

Sculptorsatwork,detailofthesouthwall
ofthemainhallofthefunerarychapelof
Rekhmire,Thebes,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.
1425BCE.

Imagessuchasthiswallpainting
providesinformationonhow
sculptures,andbyextension
architecture,wasmadeinEgypt.

Menkaure &Khamerernebty,
Gizeh,ca.25252475B.C.

Seatedscribe,
fromamastabain
Saqqara,
ca.25002400B.C.
Intombs,sculpturesprovidedtheimportantfunctionofcreatinganimageofthe
deceasedthatwouldhousetheka (soul),shouldthemummybedestroyed.
Royalandnobleclassimagesweremadeofstone(moredurablethanclayandwood)
Forthisreason,aninterestinportraituredevelopedearlyinEgypt.

SeatedstatueofHemiunu,fromhis
mastaba atGizeh,Egypt,Fourth
Dynasty,ca.25502530BCE.Painted
limestone,511/2"high.Rmer
undPelizaeusMuseum,Hildesheim.

Compare&Contrast

25252475B.C

25502530BCE.

EgyptianTombReliefsandMurals
Goats treading
seedandcattle
fordingacanal,
reliefsinthe
mastaba ofTi,
Saqqara,Egypt,
FifthDynasty,ca.
2450 2350BCE.
Painted
limestone.

Geese,detailfromafrescointhemastaba
tombofAtetatMedum,ca.26002550B.C.

InEgyptiantombs,thedeceasedwerealso
representedinreliefsandmuralpaintings.
Tiwatchingahippopotamus
hunt,reliefinthetombofTi,
Saqqara,ca.25002400B.C.

Sometimesalone,sometimesina
narrativecontext.
Mostoftenscenesareofagriculture&hunting.

MiddleKingdom
Rockcuttombsreplacethemastaba.
Pyramidswerebuiltbutonamuchsmaller
scale.
Sarcophagibecamelargerandheavier,made
ofgranite.
Theywereintendedtostoprobbersb/coftheir
sizeandweight.

Portraitsbecomerealistic.
Theyarepersonal&tendtoshowanxiety,
reflectiveofatroubletimeinEgypt.

Fragmentaryheadof
Senuret III,12th Dynasty,
ca.1860BCE.Red
quartzite,6high.
MetropolitanMuseumof
Art,NewYork.

SeatedstatueofLadySennuwy,fromKerma,
Sudan,12thDynasty,ca.19601916BCE.
Diorite,573/4"high.MuseumofFineArts,
Boston.

ARCHITECTURE
Rockcut
tombsBH35,
Beni Hasan,
Egypt,12th
Dynasty,ca.
1950 1900
BCE

InteriorhalloftherockcuttombofAmenemhet (tombBH2),Beni Hasan,Egypt,

12thDynasty,ca.19501900BCE.

TheNewKingdom
ConsideredthemostbrilliantperiodinEgyptshistory
Themostprosperoustimeandmarkeditspeakofpower.

Thebesisestablishedasthenewcapital
Luxuriousmetropoliswithpalaces,tombs,temples

BordersrangedfrommoderndaySyriatoNorthern
Sudan(Nubia,KushKingdom)
ContainedsomeofEgyptsmostfamouspharaohs

Hatshepsut
Akhenaten
Tutankhamen
RamessesII(theGreat)

MortuarytempleofHatshepsut(withtheMiddleKingdommortuarytempleof
Mentuhotep IIatleft),Deir elBahri,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.14731458BCE.

Hatshepsut
Reliefsfromthetempledepictherasthe
daughterofAmunRa.Sheisthefirstwomanto
receivesuchlavishroyaleulogiesand
representation.
Therewereasmanyas200freestandingimages
depictingHatshepsutinvariousactivities.Mostof
thesewereremovedorshatteredbyherstepson,
ThutmoseIII(r1458 1425BCE),whenhecame
tothethroneinthefollowingreign.
Heclaimedsheusurped20yearsofhisreign.

Hatshepsutwithofferingjars,fromtheupper
courtofhermortuarytemple,Deir elBahri,
Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.14731458BCE.Red
granite,86high.
MetropolitanMuseumofArt,NewYork.

TempleofRamessesII,AbuSimbel,Egypt,19thDynasty,ca.12901224
BCE.Sandstone,colossi65high.

TempleofRamessesII
Thetempleisdedicatedtothemostimportantgodsofthe
NewKingdom,Ptah (thecreatorgodofMemphis),Amun
Ra(thegreatgodofThebes)andRaHarakhte (sungodof
Heliopolis),aswellastothePharaohRamsesIIhimself.
AstatueofRaHarakhte withthefalconheadisinaniche
overtheentrance.
ThegodisflankedbylowreliefdepictionsofRamessesIIwho
presentshimwithatinystatuetteofMaatgoddessofTruth
andJustice.

Smallersculpturesbetweenthelegsandatthebaseofthe
colossirepresentmembersoftheroyalfamily:mainlyhis4
children,QueenTu'e,theKing'smotherandQueen
Nefertari,hiswife

Interiorofthe
templeof
RamessesII,Abu
Simbel,Egypt,19th
Dynasty,ca.1290
1224BCE.
Sandstone,pillar
statues32high.

RestoredviewofthetempleofAmenRa,Karnak,Egypt,begun15th centuryBCE
(JeanClaudeGolvin).
ancientreligioussite..

Hypostylehall,templeof
AmenRa,Karnak,Egypt,
19thDynasty,ca.1290
1224BCE.
4precincts:AmenRa,
Mut,Montu,andthe
dismantledTempleof
Amenhotep IV

50,000sqft,with
134massive
columnsarranged
in16rows

SculptureandPaintingoftheNew
Kingdom

Senmut withPrincessNefrua,fromThebes,
Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.14701460BCE.
Granite,31/2high.gyptisches Museum,
Berlin.

Theimageryinthe
tombissymbolicand
thematicallyrelated
toajoyfulafterlife.

Fowlingscene,fromthetombofNebamun,Thebes,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.
14001350BCE.Frescoondryplaster,.28high.BritishMuseum,London.

Musiciansanddancers,fromthetombof
Nebamun,Thebes,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.
14001350BCE.Frescoondryplaster,1X2
3.BritishMuseum,London.

AkhenatonandtheAmarna Period
Akhenaton,fromthetempleofAton,Karnak,
Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.13531335BCE.
Sandstone,13high.EgyptianMuseum,Cairo.

THUTMOSE,Nefertiti,fromAmarna,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca. Tiye,fromGhurab,Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.13531335BCE.
Wood,withgold,silver,alabaster,andlapislazuli,33/4
13531335BCE.Paintedlimestone,approx.18high.
high.gyptisches Museum,Berlin
gyptisches Museum,Berlin.

Akhenaton,Nefertiti,andthreedaughters,fromAmarna,
Egypt,18thDynasty,ca.13531335BCE.Limestone,11/4high.
gyptisches Museum,Berlin.

KingTutankhamen
(PostAmarna Period)
Innermostcoffinof
Tutankhamen,fromTuts
tombatThebes,Egypt,
18thDynasty,ca.1323
BCE.Goldwithinlayof
enamelandsemiprecious
stones,61long.

Deathmaskof
Tutankhamen,fromthe
innermostcoffininhis
tombatThebes,Egypt,
18thDynasty,ca.1323
BCE.Goldwithinlayof
semipreciousstones

EgyptianPaintinginBooksoftheDead
apapyrusscrollinscribedwithacollectionoftextsfromtheBookoftheDead,known
totheEgyptiansasthe"BookofComingForthbyDay."

Toth waitstorecordtheverdict

HavingsurvivedthetestHuNefer is
ledbyHorusuptoOsirishimself,to
receivehisrewardofeternallife.

HuNefer,aroyalAnubisadjustingAmmit waitsforoutcome
scribeandsteward,thescales;theheart(lion,hippo,croc femaledemon)
ledbyAnubis,godweighedagainstMaat
ofembalming.
LastjudgmentofHuNefer,fromhistombatThebes,Egypt,19thDynasty,ca.12901280BCE.
Paintedpapyrusscroll,16high.BritishMuseum,London.

KingdomofKush
TheNewKingdom
pharaohscolonizedNubia
(Kushite Kingdom)and
controlledthemajortrade
routebetweenEgyptand
subSaharaEgypt.
727BCEtheKushite king
Piye invadednorthward,
seizingcontrolofThebes
andeventuallytheDelta.
Hisdynasty,the25th
dynastyofEgypt,
continueduntilabout653
BCE.

PyramidsofMeroeinSudan.Inthefrontfrom
lefttorightarethepyramidsN25,N26and
N27.

PtolemaicEgypt
Foundedin305BCbyPtolemyISoter whodeclaredhimself
PharaohofEgypt.
AlexandriabecamethecapitalcityandacenterofGreekculture
andtrade.
TogainrecognitionandacceptancebythenativeEgyptian
population,theynamedthemselvesthesuccessorstothe
Pharaohs.
EgyptiantraditionsandreligionwerecontinuedunderGreekrule.
PtolemaicPharoahs oftenportrayedthemselvesinthetraditional
pharaonic iconography,especiallyinpublicmonuments.

HellenisticculturecontinuedtothriveinEgypt,evenafterthe
Romanconquestin30BC

Cleopatra

Cleopatra&Caesarion,TempleofDendera

Dendera TempleComplex

TempleofHorus,Edfu,Egypt,ca.240BCE

ContinuityinAncientEgyptianArt

Despitesomealterationsandshortdeviations(Amarna)fromtheirartistic
tradition,Egyptiansmaintaincontinuityintheirart(statueof
Mentuemhet,ca.650BCE)andarchitecture(TempleofHorus,Edfu,ca.
237 47BCE)

ThelastrulersofEgypt
332BCEAlexandertheGreatconquersEgypt
(Ptolemaic)
30BCERomans conquerEgypt
616 629ADPersians conquerEgypt
629ADRomans reconquer
639 641ADMuslim conquest(viaPalestine)