Art of Ancient Egypt 3000 BC-30 BC

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1 Art of Ancient Egypt 3000 BC-30 BC Kemet (kmt) black land Deshret: red land Upper Egypt: south Nile Lower Egypt: north Nile, delta Predynastic: BCE Old Kingdom: BCE Middle Kingdom: BCE New Kingdom: BCE

3 Cave of the Swimmers, 8000 BC?

4 Egyptian religion Animal-headed Anthropomorphized gods Egyptian king is Horus incarnate. After death, becomes Osiris Ra: sun god/father of all Hathor: love and fertility Thoth: writing, science, law Anubis: embalming, cemeteries Amun: (NK, god of Thebes) Maat: truth, order, justice King s job is to uphold Ma at over the forces of chaos (Isfet) King is link between the people and gods: intercession

5 Egyptian rules for representation: Images have life and power! The more important the subject, the stricter the rules Use set formulae: Hierarchical scale Use registers to show space Thick contour lines; simplified shapes Twisted perspective Set proportions

6 Palette of King Narmer. Predynastic Egypt. c.3000 BCE. Greywacke. 2 1 Context: End of predynastic period unification of Egypt under one ruler

Palette of King Narmer. Predynastic Egypt. c.3000 BCE. Greywacke. 2 1 Function: A palette to grind kohl (eye makeup), BUT it is very large and decorated Ceremonial function? Ever actually used?

7 Palette of King Narmer. Predynastic Egypt. c.3000 BCE. Greywacke. 2 1 Function: A palette to grind kohl (eye makeup), BUT it is very large and decorated Ceremonial function? Ever actually used? Found with other objects ritually buried in a temple in Hierakonapolis Important! One of the first monuments of unified Egypt! First time we see Egyptian rules of rep. Hierarchical scale Figures in registers Twisted perspective Set proportions Overall theme: Narmer unifies upper and lower Egypt

8 Side A: Nar-mer in hieroglyphics (catfish-chisel)

10 Side B:

12 Egyptian burial practices: Mastaba: rectangular structure with sloped sides erected over a burial chamber common in early Egypt had chapel for the ka, the spirit ( vital spark, to join the world of the living ka needed food and drink ka statue served as house for deceased

13 Pyramid complex at Saqqara. Stepped Pyramid of Djoser. 3rd dynasty, c BCE.

14 15. Seated Scribe. Saqqara, Egypt. Old Kingdom. Fourth Dynasty. c BCE painted limestone. From Saqqara, site of oldest pyramid complex found near tomb of Kai Is it Kai s ka statue? Intended for afterlife Scribe (elevated social status) still not really a portrait holds papyrus scroll, writing instrument (now gone) Form: Can be more naturalistic, because he is not royal Sagging chest, belly = rich! Painted Inlaid eyes

16 15. Seated Scribe. Saqqara, Egypt. Old Kingdom. Fourth Dynasty. c BCE painted limestone.

17 17. Great Pyramids (Menkaure, Khafre, Khufu) and Great Sphinx. Giza, Egypt. Old Kingdom, Fourth Dynasty. c BCE. Cut limestone. OK context: social and political stability, growing wealth large monuments Implies vast control over labor and finances

18 By the Nile Part of large funerary complex Pyramids: Monuments to deceased pharaohs house bodies and grave goods Mortuary temple for ka: site for rites performed for the deceased; kep ka alive Causeways connecting to. Valley Temples: debated function; preparation of body?

19 Pyramids: Limestone and covered with shiny limestone veneer (now lost) Square base, sloping sides Represent sun s rays? Sides oriented to cardinal directions Contained false passageways to fool robbers Khufu: oldest, largest Khafre: smaller, some veneer Menkaura: smallest, red granite base

Great Sphinx (human-headed lion) of Khafre. c.

65 x 240 Nemes headdress: striped cloth behind

20 Great Sphinx (human-headed lion) of Khafre. c BCE. Carved in situ from rock Depict and glorify ruler Animal strength + human intelligence Protective? 65 x 240 Nemes headdress: striped cloth behind ears and over chest uraeus: cobra/lower Egypt/divine authority nekhbet: vulture/upper Egypt apotropaic

21 Menkaura and Queen. Old Kingdom. Fourth Dynasty. c.2500 BCE. Greywacke. From Valley Temple Function: Ka statue Ideal male and female; ideal rulers M depicted with signs of kingship: nemes headdress, false beard, kilt Queen wears wig, tight linen dress Embracing

22 Menkaura and Queen. Old Kingdom. Fourth Dynasty. c.2500 BCE. Greywacke. Form: Block-like: carved from single block Static, though hint of movement clenched hands, forward foot, staring out See naturalistic body under clothes Slightly under lifesize (4 6 )

23 Quick: how many differences can you find?

Context: In New Kingdom: Rock cut tombs and temples in Valley of the Kings (Deir el-bahari) for royalty Hatshepsut: one of few female Egyptian rulers After death, her

25 Context: In New Kingdom: Rock cut tombs and temples in Valley of the Kings (Deir el-bahari) for royalty Hatshepsut: one of few female Egyptian rulers After death, her son ordered her portraits destroyed 21. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Near Luxor, Egypt. New Kingdom. 18th Dynasty. c.1450 BCE Sandstone, partially carved into rock cliff

Contained colossal statues, and painted reliefs of Hatshepsut, sphinges of H Form: 3 colonnaded terraces connected by ramps terraces probably had

26 Contained colossal statues, and painted reliefs of Hatshepsut, sphinges of H Form: 3 colonnaded terraces connected by ramps terraces probably had gardens Colonnades (rows of columns) create alternating light and dark Echoes patterns on cliffs Symmetry, axiality, order Oriented toward Karnak, across Nile

28 20. Temple of Amun-Re and Hypostyle Hall, Karnak, near Luxor. New Kingdom. 18th and 19th Dynasties. Temple, c.1550 BCE; hall c.1250 BCE. Cut Sandstone and mud brick. Pylon: monumental gateway marked by two flat, sloping walls flanking a smaller entrance Peristyle: colonnade surrounding a building or enclosing a courtyard Hypostyle hall: large hall supported with a forest of columns

29 NK: growth of huge temple complexes Older temples were simple house for god Begun in MK, enlarged by later pharaohs Form: Perimeter wall around ~250 a. Sacred lake from creation myth E-W axis Enter through massive pylon gate Large courtyard surrounded by columns Hypostyle hall smaller and smaller, and darker, rooms Increasing inaccessability Only priests and pharaoh in final room Priests clothe, feed, bath cult statue

31 Hypostyle hall: Clerestory: the fenestrated part of a building that rises above the roof of another part Lets light into hall! Massive columns (66 h) Lotus & papyrus capitals (Nile!) Carved, painted reliefs of the pharaoh in his roles

33 Amarna style: art created during the reign of Akhenaten; more relaxed and androgynous style Akenaten founded new religion worshipping Aten, a sun deity Founded new capital, Akhetaten (modern-day Tell el Amarna)

34 22. Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and three daughters. New Kingdom (Amarna), 18th Dynasty. c BCE. Limestone. sunken relief: outlines are deeply carved away so the figures seem to project forward (easier to see in sunlight/creates fewer shadows)

35 Probably used as altar for worship of Aten, royal family New form: Soft, swelling bodies (esp. stomach, thighs) Thin neck supports egg-shaped head Children shown as miniature adults STILL uses twisted perspective New scene: everyday life Pharoah and family in private scene intimate, informal Religious significance: Aten shines down, offers rays of life (ankhs) Still wear traditional royal markers

37 The images below depict the plans of the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak and Stonehenge. Discuss in writing how the form of the architecture directs the viewer s experience of each building.

38 23. Tutankhamun s tomb, innermost coffin. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty. c.1325 BCE, Gold with inlay of enamel and semi precious stones. Context: Son of Akhenaten returned Egypt to traditional religion, traditional style Tomb discovered in Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter 1922 Never plundered = shows richness of royal burials 3500 items to be used for the afterlife necropolis: city of the dead, large burial area

40 Innermost coffin of three nested coffins Sacrophagus = coffin Preserves mummified body for eternity Richest of the three 240 lbs gold Decorated with glass, jewels Incised designs and hieroglyphics 6 7

41 Criss-crossing Horus wings Signs of royalty: Nemes headdress Symbols of Osiris: Holds crook and flail Blue false beard Young, idealized face Thin nose and full lips = echoes of Amarna?

42 death mask placed over the mummified body Mummified body wrapped with amulets and charms, anointed with precious liquids

43 24. Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer, from his tomb (page from the Book of the Dead). c.1275 BCE. Painted papyrus scroll. Context: In NK, a new variation on the afterlife: judgment after death! Series of trials, then ka is weighed against feather of Ma at If not balanced, ka is eaten by Ammit, eater of the dead Books of the Dead buried with deceased to guide them through trials

44 Here, Hunefer led by Anubis, who weighs his heart He passes the test, is led to Osiris Top register: Hunefer accepted into afterlife, kneels before 9 gods and 5 personifications Continuous narrative: depicts multiple scenes of a narrative within a single scene (characters appear multiple times) Note: same conventions of representation as at the beginning of Empire

The Ka Returning Home The night sun rests in the lap of a bear, dreaming in the northern sky. A half-moon, I shine above the legs. I come forth from the edge of heaven.

46 The Ka Returning Home The night sun rests in the lap of a bear, dreaming in the northern sky. A half-moon, I shine above the legs. I come forth from the edge of heaven. I climb to the deepest pit of the sky and rest awhile above cooling rocks, above houses in the cities and people who sleep warm nights on the roofs under a half-moon, dreaming. Oh, I am weak and feeble at the sight of my children sleeping. Oh, I am weak with wonder to see my dark wife dreaming, her hair unbraided and perfumed, falling across her eyes and in her red, red mouth and around her firm, brown shoulders. I am weak and feeble, gliding in cloudless dark. Forgetful of the teeth and tongues of snakes, I rest above my homeland dreaming. Below are my house and cattle. I grow a little stronger. My beams of light are arrows which wound the night and drive it back. I am the eye of a sleeping lion who dreams of stalking the fields with his mate. I am the eye of a resurrected man come home to kiss his wife. I am a half-moon, high in the darkness, a cup of light spilling dreams from the sky. I must move on to the furthest edge of heaven. The wheat in my fields has sprung up in straight rows. I am a half-moon in the night, keeping watch. I must move on.

47 Created for Malagan: cycle of funerary rituals of people of New Ireland, PNG: Honor and dismissing the dead Frees living of obligation Affirms clan identity

48 Ceremonies can begin months after death, last for months Masks are meant to be used once and then destroyed (or let rot) Displayed in specially created structures this one originally displayed in a carved canoe NOT portraits: represent life force/soul can be intricately carved colors denote violence, war, and magic: have clan symbolism

50 Fully ID (name, culture, date, materials) the work below:

Old Kingdom. Ancient Egypt

Old Kingdom. Ancient Egypt Old Kingdom Ancient Egypt 1 Development of the Pyramid 2 #17 Great Pyramids, Gizeh, Egypt, Dynasty IV. From left: Pyramids of Menkaure, ca. 2490 2472 BCE; Khafre, ca. 2520 2494 BCE; and Khufu, ca. 2551