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TEMPLE OF ABU SIMBEL

• In 1257 BCE, Pharaoh Ramses II (1279-13 BCE)


had two temples carved out of solid rock at a
site on the west bank of the Nile south of
Aswan in the land of Nubia and known today
as Abu Simbel. Long before Ramses II, the site
had been sacred to Hathor of Absek. The
temple built by Ramses, however, was
dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-
Horakhte.
• A masterpiece of Egyptian architecture, Abu Simbel is a
set of two temples hewn out of rock cliffs and
constructed for Ramses 2 and his wife Nefertari.

• The Great Temple Architectural layout


- Dedicated to Ramses 2 and a three other gods, Amun,
Ra and Ptah

- A Solstices occurs twice a year on or about February


20-22nd and October 20-22nd when the rays from the
sun enter the front of the temple and bathe the statues
of the gods 200 feet inside the temple with light
• The sacred area, marked out as a forecourt and bounded on the
north and south sides by brick walls, occupied a place between the
sandstone cliffs and the river.

• Ramses' temple was cut into the face of the cliff, before which is a
rock-cut terrace.

• The temple is approached across this terrace up a flight of steps with


an inclined plane in the middle, and enclosed on either side by a
balustrade behind which stood a row of hawks and statues of
Ramses in various forms.
• The rock-cut façade of Ramses' temple represents the front of a pylon in
front of which are four colossal seated figures of Ramses. This facade is one
119 feet wide, and 100 feet high, while the colossal statues are 67 feet in
height.

• At the top of the pylon, above the cornice, is a row of baboons, who, as
Watchers of the Dawn, are shown with their hands raised in adoration of
the (rising) sun.

• The Egyptians believed baboons played a role in helping the sun god Ra
defeat the darkness of night and so were believed sacred to the worship of
the rising sun.
The actual interior of the
temple is inside the cliff in the
form of a man-made cave cut
out of the living rock (cf. The
Sacred Cave).

It consists of a series of halls


and rooms extending back a
total of 185 feet from the
entrance.

The long first hall is 54 feet


wide and 58 feet deep and has
The Main Hall, Abu Simbel two rows of Osirid statues of
Ramses each 30 feet high.
• The forecourt or terrace which
fronted the temple contained two
tanks for the ablutions of the
priests.

• The temple's facade is dominated by


four enormous seated statues of the
Pharaoh (each over 20 meters or 67
feet high), although one has been
damaged since ancient times.

• Beneath the legs of Ramses 2, his


family members dwarfed by him,
are presented in dramatically
smaller statues of his mother
Muttuy, Queen Nefertari and Prince
Amonherkhepshef.
The facade is topped by a row
of 22 baboons, their arms
raised in the air, supposedly
worshipping the rising sun. On
the southern side of this
terrace, stood a chapel of
Thoth On the north stood a
small sun-chapel .
• The most remarkable feature of the site is
that the temple is precisely oriented so
that twice every year, on 22 February and
22 October, the first rays of the morning
sun shine down the entire length of the
temple-cave to illuminate the back wall of
the innermost shrine and the statues of
the four gods seated there. Precisely this
same effect was apparently also
fundamental to the design of the artificial
cave of Newgrange in Ireland.
Queen's Temple
Abu Simbel, Egypt
The second temple at Abu Simbel is dedicated to Hathor and
Queen Nefertari. The facade consists of six colossal statues:
Ramesses-Nefertari-Ramesses, arranged in two groups of
three on either side of the central entrance. Ramesses's
beloved queen was given great importance by being
portrayed at the same size as her husband.
The Small Temple Architectural layout

• The facade of the temple is a receding Pylon, with six 10-meter-high


(33 feet) rock-cut statues - two of Ramses 2 and one of Nefertari on
either side of the doorway.

• The statues of Nefertari are the same height as those of Ramses 2,


which is unusual. There are cobras protecting the temple door.

• The entrance - above it a figure of the falcon headed god Ra is shown


worshipped by flanking images of Ramses 2.

• A Grand Hall which is 57 feet high and 52 feet wide and was cut from
the rock. It is supported with eight pillars with statues of Ramses 2
with the shape of Osiris.

• The statues on the north side of the hall wear the Double Crown,
while those on the south the White Crown of upper Egypt.
The walls are decorated in relief
• Hypostyle hall - It is cut from the rock, and supported
by six pillars bearing the head of the goddess Hathor.

• The eastern wall bears images of Ramses 2 in battle.


Other wall scenes show Ramses 2 and Nefertari
offering sacrifices to the gods.

• Three doors lead from the hall into a vestibule, with


images of Hathor cow framed in reeds

• The sanctuary has the divine cow Hathor emerging


from the rear rock wall protecting Ramses 2.
Egyptian Architecture
Historical Background
Social Characteristics & Beliefs
Architectural Ideas Let’s Recap…
• Ancient Egyptians viewed
earthly dwellings as
temporary
• They paid little attention to
house construction
• The tomb was seen as a
permanent dwelling for the
afterlife
• Tremendous effort was
exerted in tomb construction
• The mummified dead body
was buried in a stone box
called sarcophagus in the
tomb
Historical Background
Social Characteristics & Beliefs

Architectural Ideas
• Believed a dead
person needs all
her/his worldly goods
• Tomb usually packed
w/ all the treasures of
dead person
• If anything cannot be
provided, it is painted
on the walls of the
tomb
Historical Background
Social Characteristics & Beliefs

Architectural Ideas
• Tombs also have
charms to protect
dead person & her/his
property
• Dead buried in cities
of the dead, called
Necropolis located in
desert
Architecture of the Civilization
Introduction

• During the old Kingdom, the pharaoh and his


court lived in Memphis
• When they died they were buried at the
Necropolis at Saqqara
• The earthly dwelling of the ancient Egyptians
was seen as temporary and the tomb as a
permanent dwelling
• Houses were built of temporary materials to last
for a lifetime
Architecture of the Civilization
Introduction

• Tombs were most outstanding architectural


element of the period
• Tombs also serve as the focus for the worship
of the dead
• The Tomb evolved during the old kingdom from
the Mastaba, through the steppe pyramid to the
renown ancient Egyptian pyramid
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba

• The earliest method of burial in ancient Egypt was in


shallow pits in the desert
• The desert dried the bodies and preserved them
• When animals preyed on bodies, the people dug
deeper
• In the end they built a bench-like structure over
graves to create first burial structure called Mastaba
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba
• The name mastaba is derived from podiums
found in the front of traditional houses
• In the Old Kingdom, rich and noble person
built mastaba for their burial in the city of the
dead
• Above ground the Mastaba is a large bench
of sun-baked bricks rising 9 meters high
• It had a flat top and slanting walls
• The earliest royal tombs were decorated with
painted patterns in brilliant colors
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba
• Internally, a mastaba
consist of three parts- a
burial chamber, a
serdab and a chapel
• The burial chamber
was located 30’ below
ground
– Connected to burial
chamber above ground
through a shaft
– place for the burial of the
dead person
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba
• In the chamber is found
the sarcophagus where
the dead body was
placed
• The burial chamber is
packed with all the
necessary things
needed in the afterlife
• After burial, the shaft to
the burial chamber was
sealed
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba
• The Serdab and
Chapel are located
above ground
• The serdab is a room
where the statue of
the dead person is
kept
– Statue acts as a
substitute for body in
case it is destroyed
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba

• Egyptians believed that the Ka must


return to the body or a copy of it each
night
• If both body and statue are destroyed,
the ka would die
• The chapel is where the ka is
supposed to live forever
– Colorful room meant to deceive the gods
into letting the ka enter the next world
– false door leading to the land of the dead
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba

• Some mastabas had fence walls, and


chambers for burial of servants
• Mastaba served as an embryo for the
evolution of the pyramid
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid

• King Zoser (Djoser) was the powerful


pharaoh of the third dynasty of the old
kingdom
• The steppe pyramid was built for king
Zoser by Imhotep
• It was built as a funeral complex in the
necropolis at Saqqara
• Imhotep initially conceived of the tomb
as a large Mastaba of stone
More on Egyptian Architecture
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid
• Dissatisfaction -
result led to
stacking of mastaba
• Result was stepped
pyramid w/ five
sloping setbacks
• The steppe pyramid
is the intermediate
step between
mastaba and
geometric pyramid
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid
• Steppe pyramid was 200’ high
w/ 6 giant steps
• Burial chamber is entered
from north side & is 92’ down
• On either side of chamber are
store rooms for king’s
treasures
• All treasures buried w/ Zoser
have been stolen
• A stone statue of Zoser also
recently found staring out
through peep holes in his
Serdab
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid
• Serdab located on
north side, along
w/ funerary temple
• Steppe pyramid
stands at middle of
large complex
• Funeral complex
consisted of
palaces, temples &
steppe pyramid
• All surrounded by The entrance to the Netjerikhet Complex is
fence wall 33’ high located in the East face of the Southeast
bastion.
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid

• Fence wall of funeral complex has breaking pattern of


~200 projections/recessions
• Fourteen were larger than the others & 13 out of the
fourteen had false doors
• False doors for use of Pharaoh’s Ka
Pyramids did not stand alone; they were part of a FUNERARY COMPLEX. The
complex includes a PROCESSIONAL CAUSEWAY that links a FUNERARY
TEMPLE to the pyramid, SOLAR BARQUES buried on the four sides of the
pyramid, and MASTABAS and smaller pyramids where the family of the king
and nobles were buried
Early Kingdom Tombs
Funeral complex

• Entrance door leads


to long hall w/ two
rows of columns
• One of the 1st uses of
columns in history
• Columns designed to
look like bundles of
reeds… & had flutes
The Ramp Theory
One theory suggests that RAMPS were used to haul the stone blocks
on wooden sleds up the side of the pyramids. The ramps were
lubricated with water to reduce friction when hauling the blocks.
As few as 10 men were needed to drag a stone block up a ramp. may
have been several ramps on each side of the pyramid at different
levels, and a ramp may have been coiled around the pyramid as it
grew in height.
Once a stone block reached its desired level, wooden rockers may
have been used to maneuver it into position.
Ramp on pyramid
Stone block on sled
Pouring water to lubricate the ramp
Rocking a block into position
Other Pyramid-Construction Theories
THE WOODEN CRANE THEORY suggests that a wooden crane with a
counterweight on one end may have been used to lift the blocks from one
level to the next.
This theory has been DISPUTED, since the Egyptians did not have access
to trees that were strong enough for this type of work.
The average weight of the STONE BLOCKS used to build the Great
Pyramid at Giza has been estimated at 2.5 TONS. Such an enormous
weight would undoubtedly break a wooden crane before the block could be
lifted.
THE PULLEY AND FULCRUM THEORY: Another possibility involves the
use of pulleys to hoist the blocks up the ramps and fulcrums to manipulate
the blocks into place. Pulleys were used on ships at the time.
The pyramids were probably NOT BUILT BY SLAVES because slave labor was
not widely used in Egypt at the time. PEASANT FARMERS, however, were
required to spend a number of weeks working on construction projects. This
provided the paid labor needed to build these gigantic structures. Since the fields
were under water during the summer, wages earned in building the gigantic
pyramids SUPPLEMENTED THE FAMILY'S INCOME.
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid
• In North Palace also
stone columns w/
capitals
• Designed to look like
papyrus plant
• Zoser’s funeral
complex designed as
model of his palace,
city & kingdom
• Shape of pyramid
suggests stairway to
the sky to join the sun
God Amon Ra
Early Kingdom Tomb
Attempts at Pyramid Building

• After the stepped pyramids, there


were several attempt at building a
pure geometric pyramid
• Among the prominent attempts:
– pyramid at Medun
– two pyramids built by Snefru at
Dashur
Early Kingdom Tomb
Attempts at Pyramid Building

• King Huni made the


first attempt at building
pure pyramid at Medun
• Constructed seven-
stepped pyramid with
square plan and height
of 90m and
• Angle of incline: 51°
• Pyramid did not have
mortuary temple
Early Kingdom Tomb
Attempts at Pyramid Building

• Pharoah Snefru made


two attempts at pyramid
construction
• 1st pyramid, the Bent
pyramid at Dashur had
a square plan with a
height of 102m
• The pyramid had a
change of angle
midway, leading to its
being called the bent
pyramid
Early Kingdom Tomb
Attempts at Pyramid Building

• Snefru’s 2nd
pyramid--north
pyramid--is place he
was buried
• Low pitch of 43°
instead of 52°
making it look
stunted
• A true pyramid has
an incline angle of
52°
Early Kingdom Tomb
The Pyramids at Giza

• Construction of a true
geometrical pyramid
achieved during reign
of Cheops, son of
Snefru
• Located at Giza
• Called Great Pyramid
because of size
• The pyramid is 482’
high on a plan 760’
square
Early Kingdom Tomb
The Pyramids at Giza

• Two additional
pyramids built at Giza
• 2nd largest in the center
built by Chefren, the
son of Cheops
• 3rd and smallest built
by Mykerinus, son of
Chefren
• The three together are
referred to as the
Pyramids at Giza
Early Kingdom Tomb
The Pyramids at Giza

• Three are aligned


diagonally along the
projection of the
diagonal of the great
pyramid

• The small pyramids


close by were built
for queens
Early Kingdom Tomb
The Great Pyramid Cheops

• Great pyramid
unique internal
arrangement
• First: a chamber
built below base of
pyramid
• Another chamber
built above it known
as queen’s chamber
• Larger burial
chamber known as
the king’s chamber
built center of
pyramid
Early Kingdom Tomb
The Great Pyramid Cheops

• Chamber where the king


was buried in his
Sarcophagus
• King’s chamber 35’ x17’
and 19’ high
• Both king & queen
chamber connected to
the entrance on the
north side
• Two air shafts connect
king’s chamber to
outside for ventilation
• Once a king is buried,
burial chamber sealed
Early Kingdom Tomb
Pyramid
• The pyramids designed as
part of a funeral complex
for burial of pharaoh
• Chefren’s complex is best
preserved example
• Complex consist of three
interconnected units:
– A valley temple by the
river Nile where the
pharaoh’s body was
embalmed
– A pyramid mortuary
temple for rituals
– A long narrow
causeway connecting
the two
Early Kingdom Tomb
Pyramid Construction

• How were the pyramids constructed?


• No accurate knowledge about the method
of construction of the pyramids
• Estimates vary:~ 100,000 men worked 3-4
months each year for 30 years to build the
pyramids.
• Limestone quarried from nearby --
transported by lever action
• Paid in food, clothing and drinks
Early Kingdom Tomb
Why did Egyptians Build Pyramids
• The pyramids were in
general a response to
the vast desert
landscapes
• For structures to be
visible in the desert they
have to be of huge size
• The pyramids were also
a product of the will to
achieve immortality by
the pharaohs
• Pyramids are the
everlasting home of the
pharaoh’s ka
Early Kingdom Tomb
End of Pyramid Construction

• After the Mykerinus period, the era of pyramid


construction ended
• More pyramids were built later but they were
smaller and less complex
• Later pharaohs could not afford the cost of huge
pyramid construction
• Grave robbers learned how to break into and
steal the goods buried with pharaohs
• End of the Old Kingdom therefore marked the end
of the great era of Egyptian pyramid construction.
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Mortuary Temples Introduction
• The Middle Kingdom began
when pharaoh Mentuhotep
united Egypt again after the
first intermediate period
• During the middle kingdom,
the practice of pyramid
construction disappeared
• Focus in architectural
development was however still
on tombs and burial
chambers
• Two categories of structures
came into use- mortuary
temples and underground
tombs
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Mortuary Temples Introduction
• Mortuary temples served as place for burial and
worship of pharaohs
• Temples dedicated to Gods were also located in
them
• Mortuary temples owe origin to pyramid funeral
complex, particular the valley and pyramid
temples
• Underground tombs became popular because of
the belief that they could not be robbed
• Many powerful and wealthy pharaohs and nobles
carved tombs directly into rock cliffs and
underground during the Middle and New
kingdoms
• Most of the tomb and burial chamber construction
was carried out at Del Al Bahari
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Underground Tomb- Rock Cut Tomb
• Two types of Underground
tombs were built by pharaohs
and nobles during the Middle
and New Kingdom periods-
Rock cut tombs and Shaft
tombs
• Rock cut tombs are tombs
that are carved out of rocks
• Many of theses are found
along the cliff of the Nile
• A very good example is the
Rock cut tomb at Beni
Hassan
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Underground Tomb- Rock Cut Tomb

Beni Hassan consists of


three elements:
– Colonnade entrance
portico for public worship
– Behind portico, a
chamber or hall with
columns supporting the
roof serving as a chapel
– A small recess towards
the back of the chapel
where the person is
buried
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Underground Tomb- Rock Cut Tomb

• The columns on the


exterior were
shaped like a prism
with 8 or 16 sides

• The columns in the


interior were
designed as a
bundle of reed tied
together by rope
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Underground Tomb- Shaft Tombs
• Shaft tombs were a
complex series of
underground
corridors and rooms
cut out of the
mountains in the
valley of the King at
Del-Al-Bahari
• Large # of rooms &
complicated
arrangement
deliberate--to create
a maze or puzzle
Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham
Underground Tomb- Shaft Tombs

• This is designed to
make it difficult for
robbers to determine
where a dead person
is buried
• A dead pharaoh or
nobleman is buried in
one of the many
underground rooms
• Once the burial is
finished, the entrance
is sealed permanently
and hidden from
everybody
Materials, Const. & Systems
Materials

• Three common materials of construction in Egypt


– Plant materials, clay and stone
• Plants consist of readily available material like
reeds, papyrus and palm ribs and shaft
• Timber was available in limited quantity; used for
roofing
• Clay was used for construction either as for frame
construction or as sun dried brick
• Stone was not much used during the early period
of ancient Egyptian civilization
• It became popular after the 3rd dynasty of the
Early Kingdom and was used for tombs and
temples
Materials, Const. & Systems
Construction System
• Construction system in ancient Egypt
reflected the availability of materials
• Two construction systems were
predominant: Adobe construction and post
and beam construction
• Adobe construction took the form of clay on
vegetable material or sun dried brick
construction
• This construction was reserved for houses
and other buildings of daily life
• These buildings are supposed to last for
only a generation
Materials, Const. & Systems
Construction System
• Egyptian monumental construction is mainly of a
post and beam style
• This is expressed mainly in pyramids, tombs and
temples
• Columns are designed to look like plant material
• Their shaft resemble bundles of plant stems tied
together
• Their capitals are derived from the lotus bud or
the papyrus flower or the palm leave
• Great importance was attached to relief carving
and it was an integral part of the architecture
Materials, Const. & Systems
Construction System

• The true arch was not extensively used in


ancient Egypt
• The principle was however known
• Construction in Egypt took place during the
period of floods
• It took 30 years to build a pyramid with a
team of 100,000 men working three to four
months during the floods
Principles of Arch. Organization
Emphasis on Building Masses
• Ancient Egyptian architecture shows more
concern with massing and limited attention to
space or function
• The Mastaba, Pyramids, Mortuary and Cult
temples all display a focus on massing and form
• Limited consideration on functional space
• Consideration of function in design limited to
provision of spaces for ritual activities
--such as chapels dedicated to Gods in
Pyramid funeral complexes and Mortuary
and Cult temples
Principles of Arch. Organization
Application of Linear & Geometrical Org

• The Most important compositional principle


in ancient Egypt is linearity and axial
organization
• Linearity means organization along a line,
while axial organization means that there is
a defined axis running through the whole
composition
• Almost all the predominant monuments
have a linear & axial organization
• These include the pyramid funerary
complexes, the mortuary & cult temples
Principles of Arch. Organization
Application of Linear & Geometrical Org
• Egyptian architecture also displays an
understanding and application of geometry in
design
• This is noticeable in the pyramids at Giza
• All the three main pyramids are Geometrical
pyramids
• A geometric pyramid has a square base and 52°
inclination of its sides
• All the pyramids are also aligned in a straight line
along their axes
• This could only have been achieved with the
understanding of geometry
Principles of Arch. Organization
Application of Harmony & Contrast

• Architecture in ancient Egypt also displays


understanding of the principle of Harmony
and contrast
• Example of this reflected in pyramids at
Giza
• The color and material of the pyramid
create a harmony between the pyramids and
the desert
• The form and shape of the pyramids
however contrast sharply with the smooth
undulating desert
Principles of Arch. Organization
Application of Harmony & Constrast

• This understanding is also displayed in the


temples of Mentuhotep and Hatshepsut
• A double row of columns used to front the lower
and upper terraces create a harmony with the
rugged background of the mountain cliffs
• The terraces of the temples are however in
sharp contrast with the mountainous nature of
the environment
• The temples appear like an island of peace in a
rugged and violent environment
Forces Shaping Arch. Organization
Influence of the Desert

• Ancient Egyptian architecture can only be


understood by also looking at the environment in
which it is located
• Egypt is essentially located in a desert and the
desert is empty space
• For anything to be visible and considered
monumental, it must match the scale of the desert
• This understanding may have influenced the
architects of ancient Egypt to focus on building
and creating the massive buildings that we have
studied
Forces Shaping Arch. Organization
Influence of the Nile

• The Nile had an important influence in the


linearity and axiality of ancient Egyptian
Architecture
• The Nile was a very straight river
• The straightness of the line provided the
ancient Egyptians with both a symbolic
sense of direction and a principle for
application in the creation of monumental
buildings
The Sphinx
• Located in Giza is the great Sphinx with
the body of a lion and head of Chefren
• Reason for its construction is not clear
• A theory holds that it was produced from
leftover material
• It may also have been carved to stand
guard over the temple and tomb of
Chefren
The Sphinx

Dimensions of the Sphinx


Paws: 50’ long (15m)
Head: 30’ long (10m) 14’ wide (4m)
Entire Body: 150’ (45m)
The Sphinx
Originally commissioned by
Kaphre<Chefren> (a son of Cheops)
Constructed from a single piece of
stone <bedrock> weighing hundreds of
tons
bedrock found within the Valley of
Giza.
Age of the Sphinx: ~5,000 years old
The Sphinx
Archeologists and historians found many pictures of the Sphinx drawn
with wings, the body of a lion and ox, and the face of man
Theories:
•Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr
•British
•Turks
1867
•Napoleon Bonaparte
•Mamluks

1925
restoration
The Sphinx

?
Review of Architectural Principles
Culture
- Nile - source for all life
-East bank: land of the living
-West bank: land of the dead
- Mystery of sun, moon, stars, futility & grave
- Complex hierarchy of gods
- Service to religion: made their art & architecture
Religion
- Survival after death depended on preservation of body
-At day of resurrection, "Ka" entered dead
- “Good Burial" became obsession - mummification an art
Burial
- Impregnable tomb - the basis for Egyptian architecture
- Man mummified and buried w/wives & possessions
- Tombs to be durable and "look" durable - monolith
MAJOR WORKS
Major Works
Old Kingdom 3200 - 2258 BC
1. Mastabas
2. Stepped Pyramid of Zozer @ Saqqara by Imhotep 2650 BC
3. Great Pyramids @ Giza Cheops (Khufu) 2575 BC
Chephren (Kafra) 2530 BC
Mykerinus (Menkaura) 2500 BC

Middle Kingdom 2134 - 1570 BC


4. Rock Cut Tombs @ Beni Hasan 1975 - 1800 BC

New Kingdom 1570 - 1085 BC


5. Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut 1500 BC @ Deir el-Bahari by Senmut
6. Temple of Amen-Mut-Khonsu @ Luxor 1390 - 1260 BC
7. Temple of Amun @ Karnak 1314 - 1200 BC
8. Temple of Rameses II @ Abu Simbel 1257 BC
9. Mortuary Complex of Rameses III @ Medinet Habu 1198 - 1166 BC
10.Temple of Horus @ Edfu 322 BC
Team Prompts 1
1. Analyze the evidence supporting the claim that Ancient
Egyptians used a concrete-like mixture in constructing some
segments of the pyramids.
2. Discuss the evidence/arguments refuting the above claims.
3. Make the best case for either side.
•FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITING EVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.

Team Prompts 2
1. Discuss the significance of the Nile river in the development of the
Egyptian civilization.
2. What was the significance of -- and discoveries at -- Kom el-
Ahmar (Greek name: Hierakonpolis) 'the Red Mound'.
•FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITING EVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.

EACH PROMPT RESPONSE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF FOUR


COMPLETE AND DETAILED SENTENCES, FILLED WITH SPECIFICITY
FROM THE SOURCES AND REFLECTING INSIGHT AND ANALYTICAL
THOUGHT…NOT MERELY SUPERFICIAL GENERALITIES…THANK YOU!
Team Prompts
1. Analyze the evidence supporting the claim that Ancient
Egyptians used a concrete-like mixture in constructing some
segments of the pyramids.
2. Discuss the evidence/arguments refuting the above claims.
3. Make the best case for either side.
FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITING
EVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.

Important
Notes Below…
EACH PROMPT RESPONSE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF FOUR
COMPLETE AND DETAILED SENTENCES, FILLED WITH SPECIFICITY
FROM THE SOURCES AND REFLECTING INSIGHT AND ANALYTICAL
THOUGHT…NOT MERELY SUPERFICIAL GENERALITIES…THANK YOU!
Farming in the Nile floodplain

The Nile floodplain


Felucca
boats
A mural of Narmer or Menes
conquering Lower Egypt (c.a.
3100 B.C.)
The new pharaoh established
their capital at the strategic
site of Memphis, just south of
the delta, and over the next
several centuries
consolidated their rule.
Probably no other dynasty in
history has been so
successful in creating an
effective yet apparently
timeless form of government.
For thousands of years
Egyptian pharaohs were able
to convey to their subjects a
sense of permanence and
eternity while constantly
adjusting the system to meet
new needs. (Nagle, 23)
Ma’at (or Maat) was the god of
order, justice and truth. A woman
wearing a crown surmounted by a
huge ostrich feather. Her totem
symbol is a stone platform or
foundation, representing the stable
base on which order is built. Maat
was the personification of the
fundamental order of the universe,
without which all of creation would
perish. The primary duty of the
pharaoh was to uphold this order
by maintaining the law and
administering justice. To reflect
this, many pharaohs took the title
"Beloved of Maat," emphasizing
their focus on justice and truth.
“The course of the stars, the
sequence of day and night, and the
passage of all things from life to
death were part of this universal,
unchanging ma’at.” (Nagle, 25)
Osiris, in Egyptian mythology, ruler of the
realm of the dead. As king of Egypt, Osiris
taught his people law, agriculture, religion,
and other blessings of civilization. He was
murdered by his brother Seth. His his sister
and wife, Isis, buried his scattered remains.
Each burial place was thereafter regarded as
holy. Osiris lived on in the underworld as the
ruler of the dead, but he was also regarded as
the source of renewed life.
The Encarta® Desk Encyclopedia Copyright © & ℗ 1998 Microsoft Corporation.
Seth (or Set) was the Seth was the God of the
desert, storm and violence, which are all
enemies of the fertile, properous, narrow
valley of the Nile. He was the brother of
Osiris. Seth had killed Osiris by tricking him
into a coffin, which he threw into the Nile. Isis
When Osiris' wife Isis heard about this, she
started searching desperately for her
husband's body, to bury it properly. She asked
everyone she met and finally some children
told her where it was. Isis mourned for her
dead husband. Then she hid the body, while
she went back to look after her son Horus, still
a baby. Seth was terrified that Isis might be
able to bring Osiris back from the dead, since
she was a great magician. So Seth found Seth (or Set)
where she had hidden the body and cut it into
pieces, which he scattered up and down the
Nile. Now Isis had to find all the scattered
pieces of Osiris. Whenever she found a piece,
she buried it there and built a shrine. This
means that there are lots of places in Egypt
where Osiris was buried! Osiris himself
became the King of the Dead, and all
Egyptians hoped they would join him after
death.
Horus, the son of Osiris, was the god of balance and harmony,
assigned to maintain the ma’at of Egypt. His function was to ensure
the continuing existence and activity of the gods on earth by means of
religious acts and to maintain the natural order such as the flow of the
Nile an the fertility of the soil. He did not rule by the consent of the
governed but by the decision of the gods. (Nagle, 25)
The first pyramid built was the
graded one of Zoser, which
exists even today, in Sakkarah,
the necropolis of Menphis. Built
in the year 2650 BC by the
architect Imhotep, initially it
was supposed to be a mastaba
but later floors were added until
they reached six. It is the oldest
monumental work in stone
known to man that exists. Its
exterior walls, of white
limestone, measures 545
metres from North to South and
227 metres from East to West.
The wall has 14 doors, 13 of
them false. Its height is 66
metres. In its interior, lies the
sepulchral chamber of the
Pharaoh Sneferu with cladding
of pink granite and sealed with
a block of stone of three tons
weight.
The Pyramid of Meydum The Bent
Pyramid

The Great Pyramids of Giza


The burial of the king, as well as his passage from this world to
the next, was not simply a private affair of importance only to
the royal family and its retinue but an event of national
significance. The ritual cycle by which the living pharaoh, the
god Horus, became Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, guaranteed
the survival of Egypt itself. By expressing this act in
architectural form in the building of the pyramids, the kings of
the Old Kingdom stumbled on—or perhaps cunningly devised—a
method of unifying all Egyptians in a single religion of ancestor
worship in which the pyramids served as giant reliquaries.
(Nagle, 27-28)
Historian have divided Egyptian history into three major
periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New
Kingdom. These were long periods of stability characterized by
strong monarchical authority, competent bureaucracy, freedom
from invasion, much construction of pyramids and temples, and
considerable intellectual and cultural development and activity.
These major periods were punctuated by ages of political chaos
known as the Intermediate Periods, which were characterized
by weak political structures and rivalry for leadership,
invasions, a decline in building activity, and a restructuring of
society.

Early Dynastic Period c.a. 3100-2700 B.C.


The Old Kingdom c.a. 2700-2200 B.C.
First Intermediate Period c.a. 2200-2050 B.C.
The Middle Kingdom c.a. 2050-1652 B.C.
Second Intermediate Period c.a. 1652-1567 B.C.
The New Kingdom c.a. 1567-1085 B.C.
Post-empire c.a. 1985-30 B.C.
For administrative purposes, Egypt was
divided up into provinces, or nomes. A
governor, or nomarch, was at the head of
each nome and was responsible to the
pharaoh. These governors tended to
amass large holding of land and power
within their nomes, creating a potential
rivalry with the pharaohs. Of special
importance to the administration of the
state was a vast bureaucracy of scribes
who kept records of everything. Armed
with the knowledge of writing and reading,
they were highly regarded and considered
themselves a superior class of men. Their
high standard of living reflected their
exalted status.

Seated Scribe, from


Saqqara. c.a. 2400 BC.
The End of the Old Kingdom
Relief showing men, women, and
children suffering from the
effects of severe famine

Professor Fekri Hassan examining


ancient hieroglyphs which tell of
appalling suffering. A third of the
population died and the most ordered
of empires was brought to chaos.
PHARAOHS CROWNED WITH
SHEPHERD’S CROOK AND FLAIL

The Middle Kingdom (2050-1653 B.C.) was


characterized by a new concern of the pharaohs for
the people. In the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh had
been viewed as an inaccessible god-king. Now he
was portrayed as the shepherd of his people.
The Hyksos were the source of the new horse-drawn war-chariots
introduced to Egypt in the second half of the Hyksos rule. This invention,
never seen before in Egypt, was instrumental in the continued power of the
Hyksos in this region. The Hyksos utilized superior bronze weapons,
chariots, and composite bows to help them take control of Egypt, and by
about 1720 BC they had grown strong enough, at the expense of the Middle
Kingdom kings, to gain control of Avaris in the north eastern Delta. This
site eventually became the capital of the Hyksos kings, yet within 50 years
they had also managed to take control of the important Egyptian city of
Memphis.
Starting in 1567 B.C., the pharaoh Ahmose I eventually
managed to defeat and expel the Hyksos from Egypt, reuniting
Egypt and establishing the New Kingdom (c. 1567-1085 B.C.).
The New Kingdom was characterized by a new militaristic and
imperialistic path. A more professional army was developed.

Ahmose and his army driving out the Hyksos.


Egyptian sculptors at work on
various statues. Drawing after a
painting in the tomb of Rekhmire,
c.a. 1475 BC.
Amenhotep IV (c. 1362-
1347 B.C.) introduced the
worship of Aton, god of the
sun disk, as the chief god
and pursued his worship
with enthusiasm.
Changing his own name to
Akhenaten (“It is well with
Aton”), the pharaoh closed
the temples of other gods
and especially endeavored
to lessen the power of
Amon-Re and his
priesthood at Thebes.
Invasion of the “Sea Peoples” around 1200 B.C.
The days of Egyptian empire were ended, and the New Kingdom expired with
the end of the twentieth dynasty in 1085 B.C. For the next thousand years,
despite periodic revivals of strength, Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians,
Persians, and Macedonians.

Egyptian
Drawings of Two
Different Tribes of
Sea People
• Form and Function of the Temple
• The New-Kingdom was a period of extensive
building activity and many temples were
dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun,
Khonsu, and Mut .
• Every deity is associated with a fixed ho e
and that the important god and the capital
city are associated - which during the New-
Kingdom was Thebes or the city of Amun .
the great temple of Horus of Behdet at Edfu
Egyptian temple architecture points to a procession in four
steps, moving from light, tall & flat to dark, small & raised :
Peristyle courtyard : is a great open space, inundated by sunlight, with
in its middle a square altar : the first stone or the beginning of the
divine transformation - as the temples of Abu Simbel and Dendera
show, this court may be totally absent, underlining its "outward" and
"open" character - in Edfu, its walls relate the story of the donation of
the land to the temple and the defeat of Seth by Horus.

The four elements of creation (the cardinal points, four sons of Horus,
the four fundamental parts of man) are encountered "in the open". The
preparatory work done here implies a superficial purification or visible
"entrance" into the mystery of transformation.

In Edfu, the physical & moral foundations of the Great Work are
represented here (the "Malkuth" of qabalah).
•Pronaos & hypostyle hall : the mysterious space of shadows,
representing the original marshes of creation and vanished forests, is
approached in two ways, first with curtain walls (pronaos) and then with
full walls (hypostyle hall) - in Edfu, scenes of offering and temple
foundation rituals cover the walls of the pronaos.

•The dimming of the light alerted people an important transition was


about to take place.

•In this Great Hall, consciousness plunged into the primordial marshes of
"green plants", representing the balancing activity of an untained,
original, "pure" living forest, the petrified image of life and eternity.
•Offering hall & ambulatory : the house or hall of offering is the first
room of the temple house (or sanctuary) - here were placed the
offerings of those who had to stay out of the temple house - it
represented a holy space between the holy of holies and the
hypostyle hall - the Ka-energies of the offerings were intended to
wake up the deity in the morning - the ambulatory was an extention
of this, covering a number of chapels surrounding the naos.
• Pylons are consistently built as two massive
trapezoid/tapering towers linked by a cornice
topped gateway and were used for sun rituals.
They represented the horizon or the sun-rise
between two mountains also speculated that
it represented a vagina with connotations of
re-birth.
• The Courtyard is usually a Peristyle court, with
a colonnade, that transitioned between the
sacred and the more public areas.

• The Temple-of-Ramesses-III has eight Oriside


statues of Ramesses on each flank wearing
either the Red-Crown or White-Crown
representing Upper-Egypt (Southern-Egypt) or
Lower-Egypt
• The Sanctuary is the most sacred part of all temples and its function was to
house the image within which the god rested. The image was usually
contained within a smaller box-like feature, Naos, which could be portable.

• It is the most elevated part of the temple and has the lowest roof, the
highest floor, and the least illumination.

• This is a representation of the mound-of-creation where the God rested


during the first o e t of the u i erse s creation and was the sacred-
centre of the temple and the point of transition between this existence and
the next .

• It was submerged in deep-gloom or near-total darkness with only an


occasional ray-of-light falling through an opening in the roof above the cult-
statue
Egyptian Architecture ::
Column with Open Lotus Flower Capital
Egyptian Temple

Palm Capital
Column with Lotus Bud Capital
Drawings of the types of the architectural
capitals specific for the Ancient Egyptian
civilization.
Karnak
Karnak

• The temple complex of Karnak is located on the banks of the


River Nile some 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mi) north of Luxor. It
consists of four main parts, the Precinct of Amon-Re, the
Precinct of Montu, the Precinct of Mut and the Temple of
Amenhotep IV (dismantled), as well as a few smaller temples
and sanctuaries located outside the enclosing walls of the
four main parts, and several avenues of ram-headed sphinxes
connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amon-Re and
Luxor Temple.
• The history of the Karnak Temple complex is largely the history
of Thebes.

• By the time the Eleventh Dynasty Theban kings had become


rulers of all Egypt, the area of Karnak was already considered
holy ground, some form of structure for the worship of Amun
probably existed before the reunification, and it seems to have
been located somewhere within the Karnak area.

• The unification of Egypt brought Amun (the tribal god of the


region) increased power and wealth, and he was gradually
merged with the sun god Rê, to become Amun-Re.
• The key difference between Karnak and most of
the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length
of time over which it was developed and used.
Construction work began in the 16th century BC.

• Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the


buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity
and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the
individual features of Karnak are unique, but the
size and number of features is overwhelming.
• The Karnak complex includes several of the finest examples of
ancient Egyptian design and architecture.

• Among them are the Hypostyle Hall, considered one of the


orld s great architectural achievements. It is filled with 134
enormous pillars, the highest 70 feet tall, and each about 45
feet around. The hall covers an area of 64,586 sq ft.

• The most spectacular of the temples at Karnak is the Temple


of Amun (A u s Precinct), the only section open to the
public. This is entered via the Avenue of the Sphinxes, or
Sacred Way, that once stretched the two miles from Karnak to
Luxor Temple.

• The Obelisk of Thutmose I, a 22m (71ft) monument, is the


only one of four original obelisks that is still standing.
• The Karnak temple complex is huge, covering
a site almost a mile by two miles in area.
There are over 25 temples and chapels in the
complex, including separate shrines for the
three boats that took the statues of the gods
on their annual trip on the flooding Nile.
Sanctuaries, obelisks, and groups of columns
all feature accounts of the heroic deeds of the
sponsoring pharoah
The Temple of Karnak is the largest Temple in the World! The complex
contains a group of Temples such as the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The
Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of
Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. A 20m high, mud brick enclosure
wall, surrounded all of these buildings.
Parts of Karnak Temple
• The Temple of Amon is a long series of structures divided
by six large walls and pylons (massive gates). Between
these walls are large halls and courtyards, some with
obelisks. The "Propylaea of the South" is an extension that
includes the seventh, eight, ninth and tenth pylons.
• The entrance consists of a walkway sided by a parallel row
of sphinx statues with ram heads. The rams represent
Amon. Beneath the rams heads are small statues of Ramses
II. The Avenue of the Cryophinxes, leads to the first and
largest pylon. Largely unadorned and built during the
Roman-Greco Ptolemy era, the avenue is 113 meters wide
and 15 meters thick.
• The Ethiopian Courtyard (the first
courtyard after the entrance to Karnak)
dates back to the IX Dynasty.

• On the north side is an enclosed wall


fronted by columns with closed papyrus
capitals. In front of these are sphinxes
commissioned by Ramses II.

• A giant column with an open papyrus


capital is all that remains of the a
massive pavilion of Ethiopian king
Taharka.

• The pavilion was 21 meters high, had a


wooden ceiling and was built to house
sacred boats.
• The Second Pylon (far side
of the Ethiopian Courtyard)
was originally decorated
with two massive winged
pyramids.
• There is a small statue of a
priest between his legs.
Sometimes this statue is
described as being Ramses
II and his favorite wife
Nefertari.
The entrance of the hypostyle hall of the temple of
Ramesses III (XX Dynasty).
Seen from the courtyard of Ramesses III.
The courtyard of the temple of Ramesses III
(XX Dynasty),
northeast view.
• Architectural Layout of West - East axis:
• A short avenue of sphinxes leads to the temple's first
pylon.
• First Pylons - these were never finished, built the 30th
Dynasty Nubian Pharaoh Nectanebo 1.
• First Court - in the center of this court are the ruins of the
kiosk of Taharqa (690-664 BC), On the right-hand side of
the court, in front of the second pylon, stands a small
temple built by Ramses 3.
• Second Pylons - built by Seti 1, with two standing statues
of Ramses 2.
• The most celebrated Great hypostyle hall constructed in
the New Kingdom by Ramses 2 A number of columns
supported a flat stone roof. Forming the chief and largest
inner space of the temple,
• Third Pylons - constructed by Amenhotep 3, his Stelae describes the
principal monuments that he had built in honor of Amun
• The Obelisk Court - This small court has Four obelisks, erected by
Thutmose 1 and Thutmose 3. This court is also an intersection point
with the north - south axis of the temple.
• 4th & 5th Pylons - constructed by Thutmose 1, between the pylons
a hypostyle hall, with columns made of cedar wood was
constructed by Thutmose 1. The cedar columns were replaced with
stone columns by Thutmose 3, Hatshepsut erected two obelisks
inside this hall
• Central court - an open area
• Festival Temple - constructed by Thutmose 3, including the unusual
feature of tent shaped columns
• The inner Sanctuary of Amun
• New Kingdom
• The New Kingdom saw the relatively modest
temple expanded into a huge state religious
centre, as the wealth of Egypt increased.
•Temple of Amon-Ra, the deepest part of
sanctuary.
Opened papyrus column.
The temple of Amon-Ra, the south part of the
eighth pylon.
•The temple of Amon-Ra, the eighth pylon from south.

Constructed by Hatshepsut (1505-1484 B.C.).


• After the Fifth and Sixth Pylon is the Sanctuary of the Sacred Boats, the Festival
Hall (also known as the "Temple of Millions of Years"), the large ceremonial
Hall of Tuthmosis III and the Temple of Tuthmosis III.

• All of these buildings were covered by a large roof. Further on are the Temple
of Ramses II and the Portal of the East. To the north of Portal of the East are
the Osiris Chapels.

• The Fifth Pylon was raised by Tuthmosis II and the Seventh Pylon was raised by
Tuthmosis III. The Festival Hall is a hypostyle hall painted red to imitate wood.
It included a row of 32 pillars.

• Sacred Lake (outside the main hall) was used for purification and was regarded
as the dominion of Amon. Measuring 120 meters by 77 meters, it is
surrounded by buildings, storehouses, and priest's homes. In ancient times
there was an aviary for aquatic birds.

• Sacred ducks and geese lived in the lake whcih also provided fresh water for
purification rituals. Priests purified themselves in the morning in the waters
before going about their duties.
Luxor Temple
• The Luxor Temple is a huge ancient Egyptian temple complex
located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today
known as Luxor (ancient Thebes).

• Construction work on the temple began during the reign of


Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC.

• Horemheb and Tutankhamun added columns, statues, and


friezes – and Akhenaten had earlier obliterated his father's
cartouches and installed a shrine to the Aten – but the only
major expansion effort took place under Ramesses II some
100 years after the first stones were put in place.

• Luxor is thus unique among the main Egyptian temple


complexes in having only two pharaohs leave their mark on
its architectural structure.
• The temple proper begins with the
24 metre (79 ft) high First Pylon,
built by Ramesses II.

• The pylon was decorated with


scenes of Ramesses's military
triumphs (particularly the Battle of
Qadesh); later pharaohs,
particularly those of the Nubian
and Ethiopian dynasties, also
recorded their victories there.

• This main entrance to the temple


complex was originally flanked by
six colossal statues of Ramesses –
four seated, and two standing – but
only two (both seated) have
survived.
• The first pylon and the colossi of Ramesses II.

• The first pylon was erected by Ramesses II and


65m height. In ancient times the pylon was
preceded by two obelisks, two seated colossi
and two pair of standing colossi.

The temple is the typical style of New


Kingdom temples.
• Through the pylon gateway leads into a
peristyle courtyard, also built by Ramesses II.

• This area, and the pylon, were built at an


oblique angle to the rest of the temple,
presumably to accommodate the three pre-
existing barque shrines located in the
northwest corner.

• After the peristyle courtyard comes the


processional colonnade built by Amenhotep
III – a 100 metre (328 ft) corridor lined by 14
papyrus-capital columns.
Temple of Karnak
• The temple of Luxor is located at 3km south from Karnak where
the temple of Amon-Ra.

The temple of Luxor was joined to that of Karnak by a long


stone-paved dromos, a drome and a processional avenue,
flanked by sphinxes with rams heads that the XXX Cynasty
replaced with sphinxes with human heads.

The construction was basically commissioned by Amenhotep III


who started it in the XIV century B.C. and Ramesses(Ramses) II
who completed it adding the porticoed courtyard with its axis
moved eastwards. The architect was probably Amenophis son of
Hotep.
• On the east bank of the Nile lay the city with its palace, administrative
buildings, and residential quarters. On the west bank the dead had been
buried since time immemorial at the foot of impressive cliffs.

• For reasons of security the royal tombs were tunneled into the rock in the
lonely Valley of the Kings, physically separated from the temples for the
worship of the dead. It begun since 18th Dynasty and continued to 19th and
20th Dynasty.

The royal mortuary temples were ranged at the foot of the cliffs that run in a
line north and south, facing the fertile land and the sanctuaries on the east
bank.
Egypt II

Old Kingdom
Age of the pyramids
Old Kingdom
• Ca. 2’686 - 2’134 BC (3rd-6th dynasty)
• Egypt is truly emerging from prehistory
• Egypt extends to the first cataract
• Capital: Memphis (founded 3’100 BC)
• King considered to be a god, son of Ra
(god of the sun)
Funerary architecture
• Mastaba
• Djoser’s stepped pyramid (Saqqara, 3rd
dynasty)
• «Bent pyramid» and «Red pyramid»
(Dashur, 4th dynasty)
• «True» pyramids (Giza, 4th dynasty)
Mastaba
Djoser’s stepped pyramid
(Saqqara)
Entrance
Djoser’s pyramid complex: plan
Djoser’s
ka-statue
Dashur: Bent pyramid
Dashur: Red pyramid
Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
• Khufu (= Cheops), 2’589-2’566 BC
• Khafre (= Chephren), 2’558-2’532 BC
• Menkaure (= Mykerinos), 2’532-2’503 BC

• Pyramid - funerary temple - causeway -


valley temple - canal to the Nile
Giza
Construction of the pyramids
Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren)
Khafre: valley temple
Khafre, Valley temple
Khafre: sphinx
Khafre: top of pyramid with veneer
Khufu (Cheops)
Khufu: solar boat
Khufu: mastabas to the west of the
pyramid
Khufu: inside of pyramid
Menkaure (Mykerinos)
The Step Pyramid of Djoser
Built entirely of stone to symbolize permanence of the new order.
Built on the highest part of the site.
• The Pyramid of Djoser was created in
2630-2611 B.C.E.
• The pyramid was constructed in Saqqara
necropolis, Egypt.
• This pyramid was created by Imhotep.
• This pyramid was built for the burial of
Pharoah Djoser.

• The pyramid was created in stages. First,


it was started as mastaba (similar to mud
brick). It was extended twice before it was
covered with a four-stepped pyramid.
Step Pyramid of Djoser
(2700-2600 B.C.)
• Architect Imhotep was
worshipped as a god after his
death.
• Site originally contained a
mastaba.
• Largest structure in the world
at the time.
Mortuary temple in ruins. Place where offerings were placed for the
king. Holes were placed in a stone door so the king could see and
smell the offerings before him.
Entrance to the enclosure.
• Aerial layout
Token palace-place where the ka rested during ceremonies.
Horseshoe markers at the north end of the Great court.
Used for ritual known as encompassing the field. Pharaoh danced around
markers to lay claim to his kingdom. Replaced ritual of killing pharaoh after 30
years of reign.
• Shaft of southern tomb held
canopic jars.
Heb-sed-horseshoe jubilee ritual.
• Relief sculpture showing
Djoser encompassing the field.
Heb-Sed court and Step pyramid.
Niches represented temporary shrines for king’s heb-sed ceremony.
The House of the South.
Engaged papyrus columns in the courtyard of the Palace of the North.
• Aerial view of Sekhemkhet’s
(Djoser’s son) pyramid and other
enclosures.
Pyramids of Giza
(2600-2500 B.C.)

Khufu’s Pyramid
Khafra’s Pyramid
Menkaura’s Pyramid
Khufu’s Pyramid (2600-2500 B.C.)
Pyramid
• Pyramid: A
monument having a
rectangular base and
four triangular faces
all meeting in a single
apex, built over or
around a crypt or
tomb.
• Apex: the highest
point or vertex - the
pointed end or top
Khafra’s Pyramid (2600-2500 B.C.)
Inside Khafra’s Pyramid
Menkaura’s Pyramid (2600-2500 B.C.)
Menkaura’s Pyramid
Sphinx
• Sphinx: a • Monolith: Literally
mythological figure means “one-stone”
which is depicted mono- “one” and
as a ‘resting’ lion lith- “stone”
with a human • Being carved out of
head. one large stone
• Thought to be (Seated Buddha
temple guardians was an example
from the past
lesson)
The Great Sphinx (2600-2500 B.C.)

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