Ancient Egyptian Art

Ancient
Egyptian Art
Ancient Egyptian Art
Predynastic – Pre-3150 BC
Early Dynastic – 3150-2700 BC
Old Kingdom – 2700-2190 BC
First Intermediate – 2190-2040 BC
Middle Kingdom – 2040-1674 BC
Second Intermediate – 1674-1552 BC
New Kingdom – 1552-1069 BC
500 BC
1,000 BC
1,500 BC
2,000 BC
2,500 BC
3,000 BC
3,500 BC
4,000 BC
Timeline
The Continent of Africa
A Closer
Look at
Egypt
Think Time
• Question - What is one thing that people must
have to survive in any climate?
• Answer – Water
• The four ancient civilizations took root on the
banks of rivers.
• Mesopotamia emerged from the Tigris and
Euphrates, India from the Indus River Basin,
China from the Yellow River Valley, and Egypt
along the banks of the Nile.
Early Egyptian Geology and People
• Egypt’s earliest inhabitants (8000 BC) lived off of
fish, game, and vegetation.
• In the years before the city of Aswan constructed
a dam (in the 20th century), the Nile would
overflow and create a layer of rich silt; therefore,
Egyptian soil was extremely fertile.
• In 5500 BC, the people of the region formed
various villages across the land and began
working with agriculture.
• Around 3,500 BC, the people fought each other
for power and acquired land through warfare.
Environmental Elements
are Repeated in the Art
• The papyrus grows along
the Nile and the Egyptians
used it for many things in
life, but they also showed
the plants significance in
their art. The Papyrus was
used to decorate the
ancient art.
• The papyrus was featured
in all areas of art.
• The lotus is featured on
columns as well.
Just a Few of the Pharaohs
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1st dynasty 3I00 2890 BC
Narmer
Aha
Djer
Djet
Den
Anedjib
Semerkhet
Qaa
2nd dynasty 2890-2686 BC
Hetepsekhemwy
Raneb
Nynetjer
Peribsen
Khasekhem
(Khasekhemwy)
3rd dynasty 2686 2613 BC
Sanakht
Djoser
Sekhemkhet
Huni
4th dynasty 2613 2494 BC
• Sneferu
• Cheops
• Radjedef
• Chephren
• Menkaura
• Shepseskaf
5th dynasty 2494 2345 BC
• Userkaf
• Sahura
• Neferirkara Kakai
• Shepseskara Isi
• Raneferef
• Nyuserra
• Menkauhor Akauhor
• Djedkara Isesi
• Unas
6th dynasty 2345 2181 BC
• Teti
• Userkara
• Pepy I
• Merenra
• Pepy II
7th and 8th dynasty - First
Intermediate Period
This was a time of political
and social unrest.
Famine was and a
change in the Nile
contributed to the
social hardships.
…And a Few More
11th dynasty 2125-1991 BC
Intef I
Intef II
Intef III
Mentuhotep I
Mentuhotep II
Mentuhotep III
12th dynasty 1991-1782 BC
Amenemhet I
Sesostris I
Amenemhet II
Sesostris II
Sesostris III
Amenemhet III
Amenemhet IV
Queen Sobeknefru
13th dynasty 1782-1650 BC
Wegaf
Intef IV
Hor
Sobekhotep II
Khendjer
Sobekhotep III
Neferhotep I
Sobekhotep IV
Ay
Neferhotep II
14th dynasty Unclear
Lasted for around
57 years
15th dynasty 1650-1550 BC
Sheshi
Yakubher
Khyan
Apepi I
Apepi II
16th dynasty 1650-1550 BC
Anather
Yakobaam
17th dynasty 1650-1550 BC
Sobekemsaf
Intef VII
Tao I
Tao II
Kamose
…And a Few More!
18th dynasty 1550-1295 BC
Ahmose
Amenhotep I
Thutmose I
Thutmose II
Hatshepsut
Thutmose III
Amenhotep II
Thutmose IV
Amenhotep III
Amenhotep IV
(Akhenaten)
Neferneferuaten
Tutankhamen
Ay
Horemheb
19th dynasty 1295 -1186 BC
Rameses I
Seti I
Rameses II
Merenptah
Amenmessu
Sety II
Sety II
Saptah
Tausret
20th dynasty 1186 - 1069 BC
Setnakht
Rameses III
Rameses IV
Rameses V
Rameses VI
Rameses VII
Rameses VIII
Rameses IX
Rameses X
Rameses XI
Earliest Egyptian Art
Architecture
Pylons are the Gateway to the City
The Pyramids of Giza
• The Pyramids of Giza are the most popular of the pyramids.
• A Pyramid actually serves as a tomb for the pharaoh, his
wives, and his servants. The tombs dated 2600-2500 BC
belong to 4th dynasty pharaohs named Khufu, Khafre, and
Menkaure.
• Recent studies have linked the construction of the Pyramids
to the constellation Orion and ancient star worship.
Reconstructive Drawing
of the Pyramids of Giza
Murals
Sculpture
• Not all sculpture was massive
like the Great Sphinx.
• Pictured are some of the
things from King Tut’s tomb.
Jewelry
• Jewelry usually made some reference to religion and
religious figures.
• Materials such as lapis, wood, lazuli, cloth, clay, wax, gold,
bronze, glass, and various semiprecious stones.
Close-up - Pectoral of Senwosret II
Found in the Tomb of Senwosret II’s daughter
The cartouche contains the pharaoh's name.
The man is holding a double arch of notched
palm ribs means “millions of years.
Art & Religion
Ra is the eagle god of the sun.
Anubis god of the dead
Bastet is the Cat goddess.
Sehkmet goddess of fire, war and plague
Nut is the goddess of sky and stars, mother of gods.
Geb is the green god of Earth.
Horus is the god with falcon's head, god of pharaohs.
Osiris is the god of the afterlife.
Isis is the goddess of magic and healing, wife of Osiris.
Seth is the god of deserts and evil.
Thoth is the scribe god.
Ma'at is the goddess of truth.
Amun is the god of Thebes, king of gods in New Kingdom.
Wadjet is the goddess of pregnancy and motherhood, goddess in snake
form.
Anuket is the goddess of river Nile.
Hathor is the goddess of the moon and children.
Ptah is the creator god
Bes is the dwarf god of safe journey
Symbolism
The Unification of Egypt
Wedjat is on the left blessing the Pharaoh
with the red crown of lower Egypt, and
she is also on the right blessing him with
the white crown of upper Egypt.
• The goddess is on the
left blessing the
Pharaoh with the red
crown of Upper Egypt
• The goddess is on the
right blessing the
Pharaoh with the white
crown of Lower Egypt
So…
Symbol of
Upper Egypt
Symbol of
Lower Egypt
Pharaoh’s Crown
of Unified Egypt
Does This Look Familiar?
Why the Weird Beard?
• Pharaohs didn’t actually
have a beard growing
on their chin as art
depicts.
• Long braided beard
with a knot at the end
indicates a dead king.
• Short squared off beard
indicative of a living
king.
Female Pharaoh?
• There were only four female rulers in all of
ancient Egypt: Sobekneferu, Twosret,
Cleopatra, and -the successful- Hatshepsut.
• Hatshepsut ruled for about 20 years.
• She was referred to as “His Majesty.”
• In the royal art, she is pictured in masculine
clothing including the false beard.
• She had her own image carved in a 5’4” red
granite sphinx.
• Her tomb was in her especially designed
funerary temple. Her tomb was to be in the
valley of the kings, but what could she do
about it after she was dead.
The Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut
The Sphinx of Hatshepsut
Animals are Symbols
Name
Atum/Ra/Amun
Horus
Animal
Scarab/Cobra
Falcon
Hathor
Ammitt
Thoth
Cow
Croc/Lion/Hippo
Ibis
Maat
Anubis
Ostrich (feather)
Jackal
God/goddess of…
Creator god
King of the
earth/good force
Protection
Eater of the dead
Inventor of
hieroglyphics
Truth
Overseer of
funerals &
ceremonies
Strict Rules for Royalty
• Artist style is undetectable in
ancient Egyptian art because
the artist had strict rules to
follow for royalty.
• All important figures such as
gods and pharaohs are shown
larger than figures such as
soldiers, servants, and animals.
• The ancient Egyptians used a
canon of proportions for
drawing bodies.
• Most of the body is shown in
profile while the shoulders are
shown in a frontal view.
Physical Problems?