Transcript Egyptian Architecture - worldcultures2-bbs

Egyptian Architecture
Early Kingdom Tomb
Why did Egyptians Build Pyramids
• The pyramids were a
response to desert
landscapes
• For structures to be
visible in the desert they
have to be huge
• The pyramids also
represent the Egyptian
will to achieve
immortality for the
pharaohs
• Pyramids are the
everlasting home of the
pharaoh’s
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
• Workers paid in food, clothing and drinks
Historical Background
Characteristics & Beliefs
Architectural Ideas
• 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
• Great effort was put 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
• Necropolis translated means city of the dead;
necro=death & polis=city
Architecture of the Civilization
Introduction
• Tombs were most outstanding architectural
acheivement 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, later to the steppe pyramid
and then to the renown ancient Egyptian
geometric pyramids we know today
• Mastaba means “eternal house” or “house for
eternity”
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, people began to dig
deeper
• To prevent this they built a bench-like structure over
graves called Mastaba. The earliest Mastaba were
decorated with painted patterns in brilliant colors
•
Early Kingdom Tombs
Mastaba
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 or
spirit must return to the body or a
copy of it
• If both body and statue were
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
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
• Imhotep initially thought of the tomb as
a large Mastaba of stone
Early Kingdom Tombs
Steppe Pyramid
• Dissatisfaction w/
result led to
stacking of mastaba
• The result was the
stepped pyramid
• The steppe pyramid
shows the stages
between the
mastaba, the step
and the geometric
pyramid
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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 Tomb
Attempts at Pyramid Building
• After the stepped pyramids, there
were several attempt at building a
pure geometric pyramid
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
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
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
?
MAJOR WORKS
Major Works
Old Kingdom
1. Mastabas
2. Stepped Pyramid of Zozer @ Saqqara by Imhotep
3. Great Pyramids @ Giza Cheops (Khufu)
Chephren (Kafra)
Mykerinus (Menkaura)
3200 - 2258 BC
2650 BC
2575 BC
2530 BC
2500 BC
Middle Kingdom
4. Rock Cut Tombs @ Beni Hasan
2134 - 1570 BC
1975 - 1800 BC
New Kingdom
5. Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
6. Temple of Amen-Mut-Khonsu @ Luxor
7. Temple of Amun @ Karnak
8. Temple of Rameses II @ Abu Simbel
9. Mortuary Complex of Rameses III @ Medinet Habu
10.Temple of Horus @ Edfu
1570 - 1085 BC
1500 BC @ Deir el-Bahari by Senmut
1390 - 1260 BC
1314 - 1200 BC
1257 BC
1198 - 1166 BC
322 BC