Transcript Egypt New Kingdom

NEW KINGDOM
Ancient Egypt Part II
1600-1200
Yul Brenner as Ramsess
“Mysteries” associated with Egypt
• Did extraterrestrials assist or completely construct the
pyramids?
• Were Akhenaten and Nefertiti aliens?
• Do the pyramids align with the stellar constellation of
Orion and why?
• Were the sky gods of the Egyptians of extraterrestrial
origin?
• Is there a curse on King Tuts tomb?
Growth of the Kingdom.
Competition in the Mediterranean World
• Egypt was not the sole power.
• The Minoans on Crete were more powerful and received
tribute from Egypt and Aegean states until a natural
disaster destroyed the centers of Minoan culture.
• Egypt in Africa, and the Greek states begin the rise to
prominence in the middle bronze age (1600 BC).
Egypt in the Middle and New Kingdom
• Thutmose, Hatshepsut, Thutmose II, Amenhotep each
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expand Egyptian power and influence through trade
Amenhotep II (Akhenaton), attempts religious
revolution
Tutankamen (famous but did nothing)
Seti
Ramesses II “The Great” becomes Pharaoh in 13th
century BC and extends the reach of Egypt through
military conquest.
Tomb of Hapshetsut
Shown at left as
Pharaoh
Hapshetsut’s recently
“discovered” mummy.
Sketch from tomb
painting.
Queen Tiye
Wife of Amenhotep
A long and controversial dynasty
that will end with Tutankhamen
Akhenaton
• During his rule he tried to institute a new religion based on
a single god; Ra, the Sun--challenges the traditional
power structure of priests.
• At his death all monuments he created are destroyed, his
family line is eventually vanquished and tombs
desecrated.
• According to some websites, Akhenaton exhibits non-
human traits and may be an alien. He and wife Nefertiti
ruled jointly.
• Son: King Tut
Akhenaton and Nefertiti
Homage to the Sun Disk
Nefertiti
See posted article about Nefs eyes.
Unusual body
type. Alien?
Was this an
art style or a
true
representation
?
Tomb of Akhenaton
Akhenaton, who ruled from 1353 to 1336 B.C., is shown in paintings and
statues as having prominent breasts and buttocks—indications of a hormone
disorder. An overproduction of the enzyme aromatase, which is instrumental in
the body's production of the hormone estrogen, is the likely culprit. In males,
the disorder results in the development of feminine traits by puberty. Depictions
that show Akhenaton's prepubescent daughters with breasts support the
genetic hormone-disorder theory.
Another genetic disease, craniosynostosis, which can result in the joints in the
skull fusing too early, could have caused the pharaoh's elongated head and
neck. Egyptologists sometimes refer to the shape, which was common among
18th-dynasty royalty, as "royal head."
Illustrations of Akhenaton's daughters also show the elongated head, as do
mummies of his progeny. One such descendant: child-king Tutankhamen, who
some believe may have been Akhenaton's son. Akhenaton's mummy has yet to
be found; DNA analysis of mummies of the pharaoh's descendants may one
day confirm his theory.
---Irwin Braverman, Yale University School of medicine
Mummy of
Tut
Forensic
reconstruction
of Tut.
Is there a curse?
• Howard Carter discovered and opened tomb of Tut.
• LIVED A LONG AND CELEBRATED LIFE
• His sponsor, Lord Carnarvon
• Died soon after return visit to Egypt to view the tomb.
• Was already ill with an infection on arrival in Egypt.
• Associated archaeologists
• All went on to illustrious careers.
• Disease from within tombs is a very real danger. Microbes from the
past can regenerate under the right conditions.
13th century BC
Ramses II
• Initiates new phase of monument construction
mostly in commemoration of himself.
• Temple at Abu Simbel his greatest monument.
• Begins military exploits break Hittite Empire.
• Helps break Egypt from isolation.
• Conquers Cannan, defeats Hittites, Syrians, Nubia
and Meroe; all are forced to send tribute.
• Traditional enemies
of Egypt included
Hyksos (Semitic
tribesmen from Asia) who
briefly ruled Egypt in
16th century BC
• Other powerful
neighbors: Nubia,
Kingdom of Meroe in
Sudan.
• Ramsess defeats
Hyksos, Nubians, The
Sea People, Cannanites.
Hyksos warriors
Rameses II fights with the Nubians. Classic style.
Thebes
At Luxor
Painting from the French scientific expedition to Egypt ordered by Napoleon.
Abu Simbel during the French occupation in 1805
Abu Simbel shrine to Ramses II (as it appears today). Seated next to
Nefretari
Ramsses II
One of many statues
of the Pharaoh
Ramsses’ mummy
Pathologies revealed
• Heart disease
• Clogged arteries
• Several healed bone injuries
• Intestinal parasites
• 5’8” (tall for his era)
• Arthritic and slightly hunchbacked
• Dental abbesses
• Red hair (researchers at L’Oreal claim he was naturally
blonde but used red dye).
Queen
• Nefertari
Tomb looted in
antiquity, but
important
because of the
paintings and
inscriptions
concerning
mortuary
practices.
To the South: Meroe
• Kingdom of the Upper Nile in Sudan
• Briefly ruled Egypt
• Considerable cultural influence
Sculpture from Meroe
Burial pottery
Nubian tombs in
Meroe
For comparisons of pyramids
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/
“Kingdoms came and went, but Egypt endures”
--Greek poet.