Center 1: Gift of the Nile

Transcription

1 Center 1: Gift of the Nile The ancient Egyptians enjoyed many natural barriers. There were deserts to the east and west of the Nile River, which discouraged invaders and provided sandstone for building structures. To the south, the Nile had rapids and cataracts, which discouraged invaders from coming up river. As well, Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea, which gives the Egyptians access to resources of the sea and trade routes. Egypt also has mountains to the south. This isolated the ancient Egyptians and allowed them to develop a truly distinctive culture. The Nile is the world's longest river. It is over 4000 miles long! It is shaped like the lotus flower so often seen in ancient Egyptian art. Each spring, water would run off the mountains and the Nile would flood. As the flood waters receded, black rich fertile soil was left behind. The ancient Egyptian called this rich soil The Gift of the Nile. Fertile soil for crops was not the Nile's only gift. The Nile gave the ancient Egyptians many gifts. Thanks to the Nile, these ancient people had fresh water for drinking and bathing. The Nile supported transportation and trade. It provided materials for building, for making cloth for clothes, and even for making paper - made from the wild papyrus weed, that grew along the shores of the Nile. Because of the annual flooding of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians enjoyed a high standard of living compared to other ancient civilizations. Without the Nile, Egypt would be a desert.

2 Center 1: Gift of the Nile Question Sheet 1. Why was the Nile River important to the Early Egyptians? 2. Describe the geography of ancient Egypt. 3. Why was this geography important? 4. Why was the Nile a gift to the Egyptians? 5. How is the soil similar to the Mesopotamians? How did they both obtain fertile soil? 6. What other gifts did the Nile give the Egyptians? /6

3 Center 1: Gift of the Nile Question Sheet 1. Why was the Nile River important to the Early Egyptians? 2. Describe the geography of ancient Egypt. 3. Why was this geography important? 4. Why was the Nile a gift to the Egyptians? 5. How is the soil similar to the Mesopotamians? How did they both obtain fertile soil? 6. What other gifts did the Nile give the Egyptians? /6

4 A large part of life in Lower Egypt was based on the papyrus plant: It was used to make mats, sandals, rafts, and writing material; it fuelled fires, was eaten and its flowers collected and offered to the gods. Small wonder that it served as a symbol for Lower Egypt where large tracts of land were covered by it, and that its king wore a crown seemingly fashioned from it. Food The lower part of the plant, immersed in water, was soft and less suited for manufacturing writing material than the tough upper part. It was not wasted though as it could be cooked and eaten:... they pull up from the fens the papyrus which grows every year, and the upper parts of it they cut off and turn to other uses, but that which is left below for about a cubit in length they eat or sell: and those who desire to have the papyrus at its very best bake it in an oven heated red-hot, and then eat it. Woven Artifacts Center 2: Papyrus Herodotus, Histories, Vol. 2 According to the Harris papyrus, Ramses III gave to the Amen priestss Papyrus sandals. The priests wore garments of linen only and sandals of papyrus. Ropes, bags, baskets, and mattings were made from papyrus as well as from other materials. Rafts and boats The first river craft made in Egypt were seemingly papyrus rafts. Reeds were tied together into bundles, from which boatlike rafts were built. Wooden boats were expensive: the raw material was of low quality and in short supply, and carpentry a specialized trade. For the ordinary

5 Delta dweller who needed to get around in a region where roads were few and unbridged canals and river arms many, the advantages a boat had over a raft were offset by the easy availability of the papyrus and the small construction costs. Flowers Flowers of many kinds and in many different forms of arrangement were used for decorations. The Harris papyrus records the large quantities of flowers, among them papyrus, offered: The lotus, in fact a water lily, which rose first from the primeval waters of Nun, may have been more impressive, but the amounts of papyrus flowers, symbols of triumph and joy, which were offered to the gods and the dead, were significant as well. Bundles of papyrus umbels were shaken in honour of Hathor and their rustling noise may have inspired the use of the sistrum during the goddess's worship. Incense The tough outer layer covering the soft pith used for paper production was not discarded. Most incense used in temples was imported from Punt, the aromatic gum of the Boswellia sacra and wood from fragrant trees. But seemingly the lowly reed was also burned as sweat of the gods falling to the ground. Writing material As a writing material, papyrus was used since the late fourth millennium BCE. It was produced in sheets by laying lengths of wet papyrus pith side by side, adding a second layer at a right angle on top, and fusing the pith by applying pressure. The product was then smoothed by rubbing it with a stone, shell or the like. The sheets were stuck together with starch-based glues to form scrolls.

6 Paper of whatever grade is fabricated on a board moistened with water from the Nile: the muddy liquid serves as the bonding force. First there is spread flat on the board a layer consisting of strips of papyrus running vertically, as long as possible, with their ends squared off. After that a cross layer completes the construction. Then it is pressed in presses, and the sheets thus formed are dried in the sun and joined one to another, (working) in declining order of excellence down to the poorest. There are never more than twenty sheets in a roll. Good writing papyrus was not cheap and rarely served every-day purposes. Sometimes old writing was washed off or otherwise obliterated and the papyrus re-used. Both sides of the papyrus were generally written on. How to make Papyrus Step 1: Grow a papyrus plant. Step 2: Cut off at the widest part of the stalk. The closer to the root that better the paper, therefore, cut as far down as possible.

7 Step 3: Remove one of the papyrus stalks. Step 4: Check the stalk quality. This is a particularly large stalk, with very good dense fiber inside. Step 5: Peel off the rind, the outer Step 6: After removing the outer layer, green layer of the papyrus. slice the stalk into thin strips.

8 Step 7: Lay out the strips lengthwise and crosswise on a wooden board, putting them closely together and overlapping slightly, so there would not be any gaps in the paper. Step 8: Put newspaper over the sheet of papyrus to absorb moisture Step 9: Press out the moisture using a clamp or hand press Step 10: Leave the paper in the press/clamp until it is completely dry.

9 Step 11: Admire your first piece of paper and then paint a picture.

10 Center 2: Papyrus Question Sheet 1. Describe the plant from which papyrus is made. Where is it found? How did this plant influence Egyptian art and architecture? (3marks) 2. Describe the process of making papyrus? What was papyrus used for besides writing material? (2 marks) 3. What modern English word comes from papyrus? /6

11 Center 3: Hieroglyphics As the wealth of Egypt grew and the economy became more complex, people needed a way to keep track of their wealth. They developed a system of writing called hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics are little pictures. The pictures stand for an object or a sound or sometimes both. Writing opened doors for the Egyptians. Besides recording business dealings, people began to write poetry, magic spells, and stories. They also recorded their knowledge, which later civilizations read about and learned about. Over 5000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians wrote things down using a picture writing called hieroglyphics. The people who did the actual writing were called scribes. Hundreds of years later, archaeologists discovered beautiful hieroglyphic writing on the walls of ancient Egyptian pyramids and tombs. The archaeologists had a problem. They knew hieroglyphics had meanings, but there was no one left in the world who remembered what the ancient hieroglyphics meant. No one could read the hieroglyphic messages. It was not until quite recently, a mere 200 years ago, that a stone was found in Egypt. This stone had the same short story written on it in Greek, in another language called Demotic script, and in hieroglyphics. Scientists could read Greek. Scientists could read Demotic. And now, scientists could begin to read hieroglyphics. They named this stone the Rosetta Stone.

12 How to read Hieroglyphics When we read English, we read from left to right, in a straight line. Hieroglyphics are written in rows or columns and can be read from left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. The key to reading hieroglyphics is to look at the animals or humans. These always face the direction the line should be read from. For instance, if all the animals are facing right, it should be read from right to left. If all the animals are facing left, it should be read from left to right. The picture below would be read from left to right, since all the animals are facing left. Sometimes there are two or more pictures on top of one another. If this happens, the top picture is always read before the bottom. In Egyptian culture, rows were used in legal documents and on burial linens. Columns were used on doorways, tomb walls, and monuments. We would not know what any of the hieroglyphs meant if it weren't for the Rosetta Stone. The Rosetta Stone is a tablet written in three different languages: Hieroglyphics, Arabic (Demotic), and Greek. This tablet allowed us to translate hieroglyphs.

13 Cartouches Sometimes in hieroglyphics, there is a picture that looks like an oval one end: with a line at This is a cartouche. A real cartouche is a tablet with an inscription in it. In hieroglyphics, a cartouche is a symbol that represents authority and power. Inside of the cartouche are written names. Only the names of pharaohs and gods were written in cartouches. Nowadays you can purchase your own cartouche with your name engraved on it.

14 Center 3: Hieroglyphics Question Sheet 1. Why did the ancient Egyptians need to develop a system of writing? 2. What was the name of the system of writing the Egyptians developed? 3. How did the development of writing change the lives of the ancient Egyptians? 4. What is a cartouche? What was it used for? (2 marks) 5. For many years modern people were unable to read hieroglyphics. What discovery finally allowed us to decipher this form of writing? Explain how this discovery allowed us to understand hieroglyphics. (2 marks) 6. Egyptian tombs contained a great many hieroglyphics. What did these hieroglyphics tell about? /8

15 Center 4: Pyramids & Sphinx The ancient Egyptians built their tombs on the west side of the Nile River and their temples on the east. This practice corresponded to the rise and setting of the sun which represented the cycle of life itself. The east signified rebirth and the west signified death. With the tombs on the west or left bank, the spirits of the dead would be ready to journey into the cycle of life. The Egyptians believed strongly in the afterlife and made complete preparation for this journey. The pyramids are actually tombs of pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. In its most common form, a pyramid is a massive stone or brick structure with a square base and four sloping triangular sides that meet in a point at the top. Pyramids have been built by different peoples at various times in history. Probably the bestknown pyramids are those of ancient Egypt, which were built to protect the tombs of rulers or other important persons. In the 26th century BC, as Egyptian civilization was reaching its height, three kings Khufu, his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkure ordered the construction of three huge pyramids that would serve as their tombs. The first of these, the Great Pyramid, is the largest ever built. It stands with the other two pyramids and the Great Sphinx in a cluster near the town of Giza. The ancient Greeks named the pyramids one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and today they are the only one of those wonders that still exists. King Khufu's pyramid rests on a base that covers 13 acres (5.3 hectares), and each side of the base is about 756 feet (230 meters) long. The Great Pyramid once rose to a height of 481 feet (147 meters), but the top has been stripped. Originally 471 feet (143 meters) high, Khafre's pyramid was only 10 feet (3 meters) lower than his father's tomb. Menkure's pyramid, much smaller, rose to 218 feet (66 meters). Three small pyramids built for Khufu's queens stand near his pyramid. Also nearby are several temples and rectangular tombs built for other relatives and courtiers.

16 The Egyptian rulers ordered the pyramids to be built because they feared their remains would be disturbed by grave robbers. They chose a site on the west side of the Nile River because they believed that the home of the dead was toward the setting sun. The burial chambers were placed under the exact centers of the pyramids. Passageways, which were built angling down from the sides and leading to the chambers, were later sealed with heavy stones. The pyramids did not achieve their purpose of protecting the ancient tombs, however. Over the centuries looters broke into most of them and stole the jewels and other treasures that had been buried in them. The Greek historian Herodotus, writing 2,400 years ago, estimated that 100,000 men labored for 20 years to complete the Great Pyramid. It is also estimated that 2.3 million stone blocks were used to build the pyramid. It was once thought that the blocks weighing an average of 2 1/2 tons each were floated on rafts down the Nile from quarries hundreds of miles away. A more recent theory holds that the blocks were cut from limestone quarries that have been found near the pyramids. Another theory suggests that the blocks were formed in wooden molds at the site. Many authorities believe that the blocks of stone were moved up a circular ramp constructed around the pyramid as it was built up. Other scholars have studied the relationship between the position of the pyramids and the apparent motion of the sun and other stars. They suggest that the pyramids' design may have been influenced by a religion based on sun worship. The pyramids of Giza were not the first built in Egypt. Structures of this type appeared during the century preceding Khufu's reign. After burying their dead in sandpits, the early Egyptians placed a mastaba, a solid rectangular structure of brick or stone, over the grave to keep the sand from blowing away. This structure is considered the prototype of the true pyramid. Later King Djoser's architect, Imhotep, designed the step pyramid, which was simply a stack of six mastabas, each smaller than the one below. King Snefru, the father of Khufu, built a smoothsided pyramid. It is called the bent pyramid because its lower half is steeper than its upper half. At least 80 royal pyramids have been found in Egypt, but none rival the three at Giza. Many of the lesser pyramids have been reduced to rubble. The

17 great pyramids of Egypt still stand. They were built between 2650 and 2500 BC. Except for parts of the Mausoleum and of the temple of Artemis, they are the only one of the seven ancient wonders still standing. One of its most spectacular features is the enormous sloping Grand Gallery. At the Gallery's top is a low corridor which leads into the King's Chamber, the walls of which are made of polished granite. A large granite sarcophagus is open and no burial goods have ever been found. To the east of the pyramid, some of the smooth basalt paving of the mortuary temple remains and the causeway which led to the river temple is now buried with the valley temple being under modern buildings. Small pyramids for queens are adjacent to the Great Pyramid, as are boat pits. In 1954, a large cedar boat was uncovered in one of the pits and then reassembled. It is now on display next to the pyramid. A second boat remains in pieces in another covered pit. The boats may have been provided for the deceased king to travel through the underworld. The Giza Plateau also is home to two other large pyramids for the subsequent kings, Chephren and Menkaura. As with the Great Pyramid, both of these pyramids have valley temples and mortuary temples connected by causeways. However, next to Chephren's valley temple is the famous 73-metre long Sphinx and its associated temple. There are about 108 pyramids currently known in Egypt, many in a state of great disrepair and almost unrecognizable. Some were built as burial places for kings and others for queens. A pyramid also may have represented a stairway for the king to ascend to the heavens. Another possibility is that it was symbolic of the primeval mound on which the sun god/creator was born. How the Egyptians managed the complex organization of labor and the physical movement of large stone blocks is still a matter for debate. Pyramid construction

18 may have involved ramps being erected around the pyramid. Blocks of stone would have been pulled up on sledges and the ramps dismantled later. It is believed that most of the labor for the construction of the pyramids would have come from farmers who were available during the inundation season when the Nile River flooded and farmland was underwater. It would also have been an ideal time for the transportation by boat of large stone blocks from their quarries to the pyramid sites.

19 Center 4: Pyramids & Sphinx Question Sheet When the pyramids of ancient Egypt were being built, they were the biggest manmade structures on earth. It took many workers and many years of work to complete them. Why they were built was a mystery? You can discover the answer to this mystery by completing the activity below. 1. What is a pyramid? 2. Who were the pyramids built for? 3. Why did the Egyptian pharaoh s order the pyramids to be built? 4. Why did the ancient Egyptian built their pyramids on the west side of the Nile River?

20 5. What materials were used in the construction of the pyramids? 6. Write a few facts about each of the pyramids. Khufu s Pyramid (Great Pyramid) (3 marks) Step Pyramid of King Djoser (3 marks) Khafre s Pyramid (3 marks) Menkure s Pyramid (3 marks) /17

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22 King Tutankhamen Center 5: Pharaohs & Queens King Tut was only nine years old when he became Pharaoh. He was only 18 years old when he died. The people did not have a lot of time to build Tut's tomb. Tut's tomb was very small compared to the tombs of other pharaohs. Because his tomb was so small, it was overlooked for thousands of years. King Tut, was a pharaoh who accomplished little in his life. He did not expand Egypt s borders nor enjoy triumphant victories like the many pharaohs before him; however, he is the most recognized and probably the most famous pharaoh today. But why is he so famous? This answer can be attributed to the discovery of his tomb and his elaborate treasure. Up until the discovery of King Tut s tomb, it was believed that all royal tombs had been robbed and drained of their treasure. In 1922, a British archaeologist named Howard Carter entered King Tut's tomb. It was almost like entering a time machine. Robbers might have been there because a bag of gold rings was found on the floor, as if dropped in haste. But they did not take everything because Carter and his team found many treasures inside the tomb including a solid gold mask of King Tut's face. The artifacts in Tut's tomb told archaeologists and scientists a great deal about ancient Egyptian daily life. Many people all over the world became interested in learning more about ancient Egypt because of the exciting discovery of an ancient tomb full of treasure. For the first time, a tomb, which was almost intact, had been discovered and remained hidden from robbers for thousands of years. The tomb revealed an elaborate lifestyle that many people could only dream about as well as providing clues and insight into King Tut s life and how he lived.

23 More on Tutankhamen (ruled BC) The most famous Egyptian pharaoh today is, without doubt, Tutankhamen. The boy king died in his late teens and remained at rest in Egypt's Valley of the Kings for over 3,300 years. He was only about 18 years old when he died, and as a pharaoh of Egypt he had no great claim to fame. Tutankhamen owes his place in history mostly to the discovery of his tomb completely intact and not violated by grave robbers in The remarkable artifacts from the tomb, including the beautiful golden mask, are on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Tutankhamen was possibly the son of Amenhotep III, an earlier 18th-dynasty king, and his wife Tiy. Tutankhamen became king after the death of Akhenaton the religious reformer who died in 1362 BC. He married Akhenaton's third daughter to solidify his claim to the throne. During most of his rule he resided at ancient Memphis, near present-day Cairo. The religious reforms of Akhenaton were reversed, though there was no persecution of followers of Aton, Akhenaton's god. During a war with the Hittite people, Tutankhamen suddenly died, leaving no heirs. He was buried in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings in southern Egypt north of Luxor. All tombs were meant to be secret, but of the 60 known tombs in the valley only that of Tutankhamen was not discovered and its treasures stolen. It was not discovered earlier in part because his name, along with that of other pharaohs of his dynasty, was removed from the royal lists during the 19th dynasty. In the 20th dynasty, when the tomb of Ramses VI was carved immediately above his, rubble covered his burial place. The burial chamber was not entered until found in 1922 by British Egyptologist Howard Carter after several years of searching. Carter had been searching for the tomb for a number of years and Carnarvon had decided that enough time and money had been expended with little return. However, Carter managed to persuadee his patron to fund one more season and within days of resuming the tomb was found.

24 Today, the tomb still contains the pharaoh's remains, hidden from view inside the outermost of three coffins. He is the only pharaoh still residing in the Valley of the Kings - as far as we know! The tomb itself is very small and appears to have been destined for someone of lesser importance. Tutankhamen's unexpected early demise saw the tomb's rushed modification to accommodate the pharaoh. The only part of the complex that contains wall paintings is the Burial Chamber. One of the scenes, shown below, depicts the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony where the senses are restored to the deceased Tutankhamen. In this case the person performing this duty is Ay, who became the next pharaoh.

25 It contained four gilded shrines nested one inside the other. The innermost of these covered a stone sarcophagus. Inside that were three coffins - the innermost being made of 110 kilograms of solid gold. Inside that lay the pharaoh himself wearing the famous gold mask. Cleopatra (69-30 BC) One of the most fascinating women of all time was Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. She had great intelligence and beauty, and she used both to further Egypt's political aims. Cleopatra was of Greek heritage and culture, one of the Ptolemy line set on the throne of Egypt after the conquest of Alexander the Great. Her father, Ptolemy XII, named her and his elder son, Ptolemy, joint

26 rulers. Cleopatra came to the throne in 51 BC. Three years later young Ptolemy supporters had Cleopatra driven into exile. In 48 BC Caesar appeared in Egypt in pursuit of his rival, Pompey. When Cleopatra heard that Caesar was in the palace in Alexandria, she had one of her attendants carry her to him, rolled up in a rug offered as a gift. Captivated by her charm, the 52-year-old Roman helped her regain her throne. Ptolemy XIII was drowned, and Caesar made Cleopatra's younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, joint ruler with her. Cleopatra bore Caesar a son, called Caesarion, meaning "little Caesar." When Caesar returned to Rome, she followed him with their baby and lived in Caesar's villa outside of Rome, where he visited her constantly. After Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. Soon after, Ptolemy XIV died, and the queen named her son Caesarion co-ruler with her as Ptolemy Caesar. Civil war followed Caesar's assassination, and the Roman Empire was divided. Marc Antony, as ruler of the eastern empire, summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus, in Asia Minor, to answer charges that she had aided his enemies. The queen arrived, dressed as Venus, on a magnificent river barge. She welcomed Antony with feasting and entertainment. Fascinated by her, he followed her to Alexandria. After a festive winter with Cleopatra, Antony returned to Rome. He married Octavia, sister of Octavian (later called Augustus), though he still loved Cleopatra, who had borne him twins. When he went east again, in an expedition against the Parthians, he sent for her and they were married. Octavian was furious and declared war on Cleopatra. Antony and Cleopatra assembled 500 ships. Octavian blockaded them off the west coast of Greece, and the famous 31 BC battle of Actium followed. Cleopatra slipped through the blockade and Antony followed her, but his fleet surrendered. The next year Octavian reached Alexandria and again defeated Antony. Cleopatra took refuge in the mausoleum she had had built for herself. Antony, informed that Cleopatra was dead he, in true Roman fashion, fell upon his sword. Soon another messenger arrived, saying Cleopatra still lived. Antony insisted on being carried to her and died in her arms. Later Cleopatra committed suicide tradition says by the bite of a poisonous asp.

27 Akhenaton In the 14th century BC the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep IV undertook a religious reform by displacing all the traditional deities with the sun-god Aton. In the god's honor, the pharaoh changed his name to Akhenaton, which means "It is well with Aton." Akhenaton (also Ikhnaton) ruled from 1379 to 1362 BC. His queen, Nefertiti (also Nofretete), was one of the most famous women in Egyptian history. On his death, he was succeeded by the boy-king Tutankhamen, the discovery of whose tomb in 1922 was an archaeological sensation. Akhenaton's reform was one of the earliest attempts to enforce monotheism, the belief in one god. Images and inscriptions of other gods were all removed. To further enforce his views, Akhenaton moved the country's capital from Thebes to a site 200 miles (300 kilometers) north, which he called Akhetaton (now called Tell el Amarna). Akhenaton's reforms, and the artistic and literary revival that accompanied them, did not survive for long. So much of his time was devoted to religion that the powerful Egyptian Empire began to disintegrate. This, combined with the opposition of the priests of the displaced gods, worked to undermine the new religion. After Akhenaton's death the capital was moved back to Thebes and the former gods restored. Nefertiti Nefertiti was the queen-consort of the controversial Egyptian king AKHENATEN (r BC) of the 18th dynasty. She appears to have lost favor with her husband after the 14th year of his reign.

28 Obelisks An obelisk is a slender four-sided monument with a pointed or pyramidal top, usually carved out of a huge piece of stone. These monuments were placed in pairs before the great temples, one on either side of the door. Running down the front of the obelisk was a line of carved hieroglyphs and representations that included the names and titles of the pharaoh who built the temple. At the pointed top of the monument lay a cap, which was sheathed in copper or some other metal. Huge obelisks were raised in the XII dynasty of the pharaohs and a few can be seen in Egypt today. One dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut is 29.7 meters height. Many of the greatest obelisks were taken from Egypt and placed in museums. One from the reign of Ramses II at Luxor is in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, while obelisks dedicated to Cleopatra can be found in London and New York. The obelisk, called TEJEN in the sacred language of the ancient Egyptians, was a term that meant protection or defense. The stone that the obelisks were made out of would be made into a pointed top, whose function was to pierce the clouds and get rid of any negative forces. These bad forces always threatened to accumulate in the form of visible or invisible storms; it was the job of the obelisk to provide protection from these forces. If you have ever seen an obelisk, you will know what an imposing and mighty object it can be. Take a look at the handout in the Pharaoh and Queen center box to see what a real life Obelisk might look like.

29 Center 5: Pharaohs & Queens Question Sheet Write a few facts about each of the pharaohs. King Tutankhamen (3 marks) Queen Cleopatra (3 marks) Amenhotep IV (3 marks) Nefertiti (3 marks) Describe an obelisk and its purpose. (3 marks) /15

30 Center 6: Art Ancient Egyptian Art always uses a style called frontalism. This means that the head of the person is always drawn in profile with one eye drawn in full from a front view. The shoulders and chest are both seen from the front. The legs are turned to the side, in the same direction as the head, with one foot placed in front of the other. The head is facing straight ahead. The face is calm. The person stands or sits with a stiff posture. How To Draw A Picture Of An Ancient Egyptian The Head Draw the head and the neck from the side view. Add one eye from a front view. Outline it in black. Add an eyebrow that is curved and black. Draw the lips from the side view. Draw a black wig showing the ear. Shoulders & Chest Draw the shoulders and chest as if you're looking at them from the front. The arms are drawn according to what the figure is holding. Hips, Legs & Feet The hips, legs and feet are drawn from the side view. Skin Tone Color the skin tan. Clothes Men wore short skirts. Women wore straight dresses that were held in place by two straps. Clothes were mostly white. Men and women often wore brightly colored jeweled collars.

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32 Center 6: Egyptian Art Question Sheet Describe the form of art that is frontalism. (3 marks) Describe how each part of the body would be illustrated in Ancient Egyptian Art The Head Shoulders & Chest Hips, Legs & Feet Clothes (2 marks) (2 marks) (2 marks) (2 marks) /11

33 Center 7: Mummification Mummification is the preservation of the body of a dead person or animal. The Egyptians were absolute masters at this craft. It not known exactly when this practice first began, but there is evidence dating back to the Pre-Dynastic Period showing bodies in fetal positions placed in shallow graves or tombs and mummified by the sand, intense sun and heat. During the New Kingdom is when the art is truly perfected as shown by the picture of Rameses II. The process of mummification is complex. There are actually 70 steps which need to be carried out over 70 days. The main stages are as follows: 1) Removal of the brain through the nostrils 2) Removal of the intestines through an incision in the side 3) Sterilization of the body and intestines 4) Treating, cleaning, dehydrating the intestines 5) Packing the body with natron (a natural dehydrating agent) and leaving for 40 days 6) Removal of the natron agent 7) Packing the limbs with clay or sand 8) Packing the body with linen (soaked in resin), myrrh and cinnamon 9) Treating the body with ointments and finally wrapping with a fine linen gauze, not less than 1000 square yards

34 Finally the body or mummy was placed in a coffin, usually in the shape of the corpse. Sometimes several coffins were placed one inside the other, and then these were in turn placed inside a stone sarcophagus. The internal organs, such as the stomach, intestines, and liver were mummified as well and then placed in canopic jars made of alabaster. The jars were then placed near the sarcophagus in the tomb or in some cases between the legs of the mummy itself. The process of mummification was usually for the wealthy such as royalty, nobles, or scribes. The poorer people merely wrapped their deceased in linen and placed in shallow graves in the sand. In the great museum of Egyptian antiquities in Cairo, throngs of curious sightseers daily look into the very faces of the pharaohs and nobles who ruled Egypt many centuries ago. The ancient Egyptians were preserved as mummies, or embalmed bodies, thousands of which have been taken from the sands and tombs of Egypt. The Egyptians practiced the art of mummifying their dead for 3,000 years or more in the belief that the soul would someday return to the body and occupy it again. The bodies were preserved by the use of resin and spices or sometimes by immersion in a solution of salt or natron. After a period of preparation that took about 70 days, they were wrapped in linen. Then the shrouded mummy was usually placed in two cases of cedar or of cloth stiffened with glue. The outer case was often covered with paintings and hieroglyphics telling of the life and various deeds of the deceased. A molded mask of the dead or a portrait on linen or wood sometimes decorated the head end of the case. This double case was placed in an oblong coffin and deposited in a sarcophagus. The bodies of poorer people were merely dried with salt and wrapped with coarse cloths. Sacred animals, particularly cats, were also mummified.

35 Center 7: Mummification Question Sheet Define mummification: List the 9 main stages of mummification How long does this process take? (1 mark) (9 marks) (1 mark) /11

36 Center 8: Daily Life Daily Life in Ancient Egypt The ancient Egyptians were fascinating people, and thanks to the movies, are often misunderstood. The ancient Egyptians were not in love with death, but with life! They enjoyed their life to the fullest. They worked very hard, but saved time to enjoy family, friends, music, parties, swimming, fishing, hunting, sailing, and especially their children, all of which were very important to the ancient Egyptians. In ancient Egypt, children were the heart of the family. If a couple could not have a child, they adopted a child. Children were taught to be kind and honest, to respect their parents, to help with the family business, and to care for the elder members of their family. It was important that children learn to be caring. The ancient Egyptians believed in "ma'at" - order and justice. They spent a lifetime trying to be fair and just at all times. The ancient Egyptians believed that you could only reach your afterlife if your heart was light. The only way your heart would be light is if you had spent a lifetime being kind and honest. Anyone and everyone, from the pharaoh on down, who made a mistake or lost their temper made up for it by doing good deeds to balance the scale. Ancient Egyptian Fun The ancient Egyptians worked very hard, but they always kept a portion of their day available to relax and play. One of their favorite leisure activities was to create their grave goods - things they would put in their tomb someday. Gravegoods were everything from jewelry to clothing to little statues of workers. Everyone had a job to do in ancient Egypt. They fully expected to be assigned jobs to do in their afterlife, just as they were assigned jobs to do in their daily life. To the ancient Egyptians, it made perfect sense to create little statues that would do the work for them. These little statues were carefully packed away, along with other goods, in preparation for the day they would enter their afterlife. They had a great deal of fun planning and making their gravegoods.

37 Creating grave goods was a big part of ancient Egyptian leisure time. They created grave goods their whole lives. But that is not the only thing they did with their leisure time. They also liked to take family outings to see how the construction of their tomb was progressing. Now, this might sound as if the Ancient Egyptians were in love with death. But that is not so. They were in love with life. They loved life so much, they wanted it to go on forever. They believed in an afterlife. The afterlife was a real place. Other leisure activities included writing poetry, sailing, hunting, fishing, and playing a game called Senet. Farming The fertile Nile River Valley and the warm climate provided the perfect conditions for the ancient Egyptians to become expert farmers. The land around the Nile was irrigated and forced into canals where the farmers would use shadufs to scoop up the water. Fields were plowed once or twice with oxen pulling the plows. Using hoes men would then break up the remaining clumps of soil. When the seed was thrown over the field, animals were again used to tramp the seeds into the soil. Various crops grown might include emmer, barley, flax, lentils, onion, beans, and millet. Middle Class Middle class homes were made up sun-dried brick varying from one to three stories. Upon entering a home, a guest, depending upon gender, was received in the male or female parlor. Furnishings would, of course, depend upon the family's wealth. Both men and women wore wigs for ornament as well as for protection from the sun. They also wore jewelry ranging from bracelets, anklets, to amulets and used cosmetics including "kohl" outlining the eyes to help reflect the sun. Linen was the common fabric for clothing and both men and women wore sandals or went barefoot. A bedroom might include beds made of fine woods from Lebanon or other rare woods such as ebony and enhanced with silver, gold, or ivory. The beds were usually higher at the head and lower at the feet. Mattresses might be made of bound cord

38 and covered with linen or animal skins. Generally a cushion was used as a pillow. Or they may be made of papyrus reeds also bound together and covered with animal skins. Other rooms, typically, would include the bathroom or shower area. A slave would stand behind the screen and pour water over their master. If a family had slaves, they would cook the meals in the kitchen area. This room would have fires of wood or charcoal and use kettles and other cooking utensils. Food storage might be kept in various triangular-shaped huts for later consumption. An average home usually had a small courtyard and murals might be painted on the walls and floors depicting gardens and pools. Mud Bricks & Pottery The banks of the Nile contained a rich clay-like mud which was formed into bricks for building or used to make pottery for daily use. The mud, mixed with plant material, was put into rectangular forms and left to bake in the sun. Pottery, on the other hand, was generally formed into various shapes by hand (pinch pots, coil pots, and slab pots). Class Distinction Ancient Egyptian society was basically divided into four classes. The upper class included the government officials, nobles, and priests. The middle class included the scribes, skilled craftsmen, trades people, teachers, artists, and soldiers. The peasants, mostly farmers, laborers, and servants made up the lower class, which was the largest class. And lastly, the slaves made up the bottom class. Egypt really had few slaves. They were mostly foreign captives from Nubia to the south (Sudan) or Asia to the northeast.

39 Center 8: Daily Life in Egypt Question Sheet Describe the importance of children in Egypt What are gravegoods? (Give at least 2 examples) Describe some Ancient Egyptian farming tools. List some uses for the clay from the Nile River. Describe the classes in Ancient Egypt. (2 marks) (3 marks) (3 marks) (3 marks) (4 marks) /16

40 Center 9: Clothing & Fashion Question Sheet Read Pages in textbook. 1. Define the following terms: a. Kohl b. Ochre c. Henna d. Shift e. Loincloths f. Amulets 2. Why did Ancient Egyptians wear make-up? 3. Who wore the make-up? 4. Describe the hairstyles of the Ancient Egyptians. 5. What was special about amulets? 6. What was the difference between ordinary people s and wealthy people s jewellery?

41 7. Describe the clothing found in Ancient Egypt. 8. Using the supplied Venn diagram, compare the ways that Egyptians adorned themselves with the way you and your friends do. Consider hairstyle, make-up, jewellery, clothing, and footwear. /17

42 Center 10: Gods & Goddesses The ancient Egyptians worshiped over 2000 gods and goddesses. Unlike other ancient cultures, whose gods looked somewhat like people, most ancient Egyptian gods had animal heads. The ancient Egyptians built temples to honor their gods. Each temple was home to one or more temple gods.

43 Center 10: Gods & Goddesses Question Sheet In one well-constructed paragraph, describe the differences between what the Ancient Egyptians believed and what Christians believe. /10