Chapter 3 Ancient Egypt ANCIENT EGYPT AND EGYPTOLOGY ´ Stability and consistency in art for almost 3000 years! « Due to predictably of the Nile overflowing its banks annually, leaving black silt to fertilize fields « This cycle symbolized the creation and renewal of life, reflected in Egyptian myths. (Kleiner, p. 57) ´ The Rosetta Stone which provided the key to deciphering hieroglyphics, was discovered in 1799 by Napoleon and a troop of scholars. It had the same text in 3 sections: Greek, demotic (Late Egyptian), and Hieroglyphics. 2 ANCIENT EGYPT The Nile is a north-flowing river (due to elevation), originating in Lake Victoria and ending in the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, Upper Egypt is the upstream part of the Nile. 3 ROSETTA STONE John-Francois Champollion Ancient Egyptian writing was first adopted more than 5,000 years ago making it one of the earliest recorded written languages. Champollion published the first translation of the Rosetta Stone hieroglyphs in 1822, showing that the Egyptian writing system was a combination of phonetic and ideographic signs. Its secrets were lost to the modern world until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone - a stone carved in three languages: Egyptian, Demotic and Ancient Greek. The hieroglyphs were translated by comparing them to the Ancient Greek text and the mysteries of Egypt were finally revealed . What is the difference Hieroglyphic writing was in use from about 3200 BC until between Cuneiform and the late 4th century AD and changed very little during this Hieroglyphics? period and is very well preserved. THEME: RELIGION— TOMBS, TEMPLES, TIMELESSNESS... ´ Predynastic: 3000-2500 BCE « Palette of Narmer « Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara ´ Old Kingdom: 2575-2100 BCE « Great Pyramids at Gizeh « Sphinx « Khafre « Scribe, Married Couple, Fowling Scene of Nabumun ´ Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE « Rock Cut Tombs ´ New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE « Mortuary Temples: Rameses and Hatshepsut « Pylon Temples: Karnak and Luxor ´ Amarna Sty le: « Akhenaton and Nefertiti « King Tut EGYPTIAN ART ´ Egyptians left spectacular monuments , many of them to glorify the kings whom they called phhharaohs and beli eved to be divi ne, construct ed and furnished magnificent tombs to serve as their god-kings’ eternal home in the afterlife. ´ Egyptians had gods for everything « Pharaohs – ½ man and ½ god « Priest/Scribe – noble family- communication to the gods, keep gods happy ´ In the Old Kingdom, they built pyramids and the New Kingdom they built temples. FUNCTION OF ART ´ To glorify the gods – including the pharaoh and To facilitate human passage into the after-life ´ Due to general stability of Egyptian life and culture – architecture, sculpture, and painting was characterized by a high conservative adherence to traditional rules or order and form over creativity CONTEXT ´ Geographic Isolation: civilization is defendable, homogeneous cultures=continuous traditions ´ EEiconomic SSitecurity: agriiltlcultural base due to inund dtiation of the Nile=prosperity, continuity ´ Deeply Held Religious Beliefs: Pharaoh son of god, hierarchical society=stability/aversion to change ´ Hierarchical Society: Pharaoh to of “Pyramid”=collective will/avers ion to change ´ Geological Substructure: megalithic architecture, permanence ´ Belief in the Afterlife: elaborate funereal traditions, objects and tomb architecture KA EGYPT ´ Ancient Egyptians believed ´ Old Kingdom – Lower Egypt that death occurs when a – Capital Memphis, c. 2500 person's ka leaves the body. BCE, Pyramids, Symbol: ´ The ancient Papyrus Egyptians believed that ´ New Kingdom – Upper Egypt a human soul was made up – Capital Thebes c. 1500 of five parts: the Ren, theBa, BCE, Temples, Symbol: Lotus the Ka, the Sheut, and the Ib. Cue Card 3.2 Palette of King Narmer from Hierakonpolis, Egypt ca. 3,000-2,920 B.C.E. , slate approximately 25 in. high Hierarchy of Scale Composite View (or Twisted Perspective) Formalized version of an eye makeup palette Raised Relief Sculpture: commemorative PALETTE OF KING NARMER instead of funerary in nature, Predynastic period – some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions and information about an Egyptian art ever found, thought by some to depict the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the king Narmer.,. On one side, the king is depicted with the red crown of Lower Egypt (northern) Egypt. Palettes were typically used for grinding cosmetics, but this palette is too large and heavy (and elaborate) to have been created for personal use and was likely a ritual or votive object, specifically made for donation to, or use in, a temple. One theory is that it was used to grind cosmetics to adorn the statues of the gods. Below the king' s feet is a third section, Palettes were used to prepare eye make depicting two naked, bearded men. – like up, which Egyptians used to protect their the prehistoric stick figures from the eyes against the glare of the sun. cave paintings, Narmer, wearing the red The large circle would have held the make crown of Lower Egypt, beheaded bodies up bu t no t in this large one, the in ter tw ine d necks of the animals would be a reference to the unification of upper and lower Egypt. Intertwined necks refer to Egypt’s uucatonification Narmer wears crown of lower Egypt, reviews the beheaded bodies of enemies Aerial view of bodies as in Paleolithic paintings Bottom register: a bull, symbolizing the king’s superhuman strength, knocks down fortress of rebellious city (also aerial view). Top register: 2 Hathors with a human faces, divine mother of Pharaoh. PALETTE OF KING NARMER (FRONT) HIERAKONPOLIS, EGYPT, PREDYNASTIC, CA. 3000–2920 BCE. SLATE, 2’ 1” HIGH. Earliest preserved artwork with name of ruler Crown of Upper Egypt Composite view figure as in Mesopotamian and Persian art Falcon with arms is Horus, protector of pharaohs Does not depict a specific event, but is a characterization of the pharaoh. PALETTE OF KING NARMER (BACK) HIERAKONPOLIS, EGYPT, PREDYNASTIC, CA. 3000–2920 BCE. SLATE, 2’ 1” HIGH. 13 Cue Card 3-4 IMHOTEP, st Pyramid of Djoser Imhotep: 1 recorded name of an artist (step pyramid) and plan Mastaba (Arabic for “bench”) rectangular brick or stone structure with sl opi ng sides over a burial chamber Cardinal Points of the compass Oldest stone structure in the world, stepped pyramid, majority of monument were dedicated to ensuring safety and happiness in the next life, mastabas originally housed single burials, later they became a complex for multiple family burials. It was enlarged at least twice The main feature, other than the burial chamber, there was a chapel which had a false door through which the Ka could join the work, some had serdab, small room housing a statue of the deceased. Imhotep, master builder for King Djoser was the first recorded name of an artist! After his death,,y they deified him as the sun g,god, RE. About 200 feet high, stepped pyramid composed of a series of mastabas of diminishing size, stacked one atop another to form a structure the resembles the Mesopotamian ziggurats. RESTORED VIEW (TOP) AND PLAN (BOTTOM) OF THE MORTUARY PRECINCT OF DJOSER, SAQQARA, EGYPT, THIRD DYNASTY, CA. 2630–2611 BCE. Priests performed daily rituals at the temple in celebration of the divine pharaoh. COLUMNAR ENTRANCE CORRIDOR TO THE MORTUARY PRECINCT OF DJOSER, SAQQARA, EGYPT, THIRD DYNASTY, CA. 2630–2611 BCE. Engaged columns Capitals Shaft s 3-6 Column entrance to Djoser 3-7 Facade of the North Palace large immense (37-acres) rectangular enclosure surrounded by a wall of limestone. - tightly regulated access. OLD KINGDOM: THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZEH ´ 75 years to build ´ Pyramid shape reflects cult of Re from Heliopolis, whose emblem was ben-ben, a pyramidal stone. ´ Symbols of the sun « Were covered in white limestone which reflected light « Temples are on the east side facing rising sun ² Priests made offerings to the god-king and stored clothing, food, and ceremonial vessels. ´ Each face oriented to a cardinal point on a compass. ´ Egyptian kings were reborn in the afterlife, as the sun is reborn each day at dawn. ´ Mummification so that the Ka, or life force can inhabit the corpse and live on. ´ Sphinx: lion with human (pharaoh’s) head, associated with sun god. Composite form combines human intelligence with strength and authority of king of beasts. 19 3-7 Great pyramids of Gizeh, Egypt Cue Card (Menkaura, Khafre, Khufu), Great Pyramids Gizeh, Egypt Pyramids of Menkaure, ca. 3, 000- 2,920 B.C.E.; Khafre, ca. 2520-2494 B.C.E.; Khufu ca. 2551-2528 B.C.E. largest (Khufu) approximately 450 ft. high limestone Cardinal points of the compass Great Pyramids, Gizeh, Egypt, Fourth Dynasty The pharaohs of the Old Kingdom amassed great wealth and spent it on grandiose architectural projects. The GGtPidfreat Pyramids of Gizeh , the old est of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The prerequisite to this elite ggproup was colossal size and enormous cost. Took 75 years for 3 Pharaohs, More refinement of the stepped pyramid, new tomb shape reflects the influence of benben -the seat of the powerful cult of Re, whose emblem was a pyramidal stone, the ben-ben, an emblem of the Egyptian god Re The Great Pyramids are symbols of the sun, The pyramids were where Egyptian kings were reborn in the afterlife, just as the sun is reborn each day at the dawn. 21 Great Pyramids, Giza Khufu Khafre Menkaure (Cheops) (Chefren) (Mycerinus) THE GREAT SPHINX (LION W/ HUMAN HEAD) ´ Sphinx was associated with the sun god—appropriate image for a pharaoh ´ Composite creature - ´ suggests the combination ´ of human intelligence with