AncientEgyptian Art

Dawn Deming, Art I

Reference: Mrs. Kraft, poweropint 2001

AncientEgyptian Art

ObjectivesObjectives

By the time we finish this unit you should be able to:

•Describe life in ancient Egypt

•Tell what kinds of art were created in ancient Egypt

•Create a scratch art image and a canopic jar of a coffin or mummy case in the style of the ancient Egyptians

Remember:

•Items that you will be tested on will be written in red.

•Make sure you write these items down.

Tutankhamun coffin

1352 BC

Words that you will learn:

•Hieroglyphic

•Stele

•Pharaoh

•Papyrus

•Scribe

An artist that you will meet:

•Imhotep

Tutankhamun coffin

1352 BC

Geography

•Located in the Nile river valley

•Civilization developed by about 3,000 BC

Geography

Protected from invaders by:

•mountains to the south•vast deserts on both sides•Mediterranean Sea to the north

Geography

This location kept Egypt separate from the rest of the world, so the Egyptians had a unique and enduring style of life and art for about 3,000 years.

People

Communities were made up of:

•Hunters and fishermen•Soldiers•Slaves•Priests•Scribes•Artists and craftsmen•Farmers and herdsmen Fishing Scene

Tomb of Kenamun

About 1430 BC

People

Artists, craftsmen and scribes were honored and admired.

A scribe is a scholar who could read and write.

Scribes wrote on papyrus.

Papyrus is a reed pounded to make a heavy type of paper.

Seated ScribePainted Limestone

About 2500 BC

People

The leader was called a pharaoh.

The pharaoh was believed to be half man, half god.

The afterlife of the pharaoh is an important theme in ancient Egyptian art.

Tutankhamun Sarcophagus

About 1340 BC

ContributionsThe ancient Egyptians:

•Made bricks

•Used sails on the water

•Used wheels on land

•Harnessed animals for work

•Trained donkeys to carry people

•Combined copper and tin to make bronze

•Forged tools from copper.

Egyptian Boat

Contributions

They also used hieroglyphics.

•Hieroglyphics are an early form of picture writing.

Architecture

The greatest architectural achievements of the Ancient Egyptians were the pyramids.

•Pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs.

•They contained the items that the Egyptians believed that the Pharaoh would need in the afterlife.

•Much of the art that remains was preserved in the pyramids.

Architecture

•The first pyramid was built for King Zoser. It was a “step pyramid”. It was designed and built by an artist and architect named Imhotep.

•Imhotep is the first artist whose name is recorded in history.

•This pyramid was built about 2600 BC.

Architecture

•The three “great pyramids” are located at Giza.

Architecture

They are guarded by the Great Sphinx.

•The sphinx is carved from a rocky ledge.

•It was damaged by Muslim vandalism and sand and wind.

Architecture

The ancient Egyptians also built beautiful temples.

•This is the Temple of Re

•The post and lintel system was used to build this temple.

Mummies

The pyramids and tombs contained the mummified remains of the pharaohs.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul (called the Ka) would need to use the body in the afterlife, so the bodies were carefully preserved. Many items in the tombs were left there to be used by the Ka in the afterlife.

Mummies

Mummies

These are the mummified remains of a pharaoh named Ramses II.

Mummies

After embalming, mummies were carefully wrapped in yards of linen bandages.

Mummies

The ancient Egyptians even mummified animals.

Sculpture

Painted relief sculpture lined the walls of pyramids.

This is called a stele.

•A stele is a carved upright stone slab used as a monument.

Sculpture

This stele shows Ramses II slaying his enemies.

Sculpture

Notice that the sculptures are stiff, formal, and stylized.

Sculpture

Faces face forward, and the left foot is slightly ahead of the right. There are no open spaces in the stone that the figures are carved from.

Sculpture

Artists used materials found in the Nile river valley. They were:

•Gold

•Turquoise

•Lapis Lazuli

•Red coral

•Glass

Sculpture

Sculpture

This gold mask rested on the head of the mummy of King Tutankhaman.

King Tutankhamun was a married boy King of 19 years when he died

Tutankhamun was in his teens when he married his half sister

Keeping property, wealth and power closely within the family was thought to safeguard the continuance of the dynasty.

Many of the ancient Egyptian names end in 'amun” or “aman”

King Tut had a magnificent tomb filled with golden treasure to keep him well contented in the afterlife. 

The Pharaoh's body was inside 3 coffins, with a stone sarcophagus surround and 4 gilded shrines. The weight of the coffin was so heavy it took 8 men to lift it. 

It was only when the layers were removed that the second coffin revealed itself to be solid gold. 

The mummified corpse also had a separate gold mask.  But the king's embalmed organs were stored apart in a nearby shrine. 

The treasure included vast quantities of gold or gold inlaid items - a gold dagger, gold sandals, a wooden gold decorated inlaid throne, gold statues, carved cosmetic jars, ivory game board set, chests, and various boxes.

Sculpture

Notice how Ramses II faces forward. He appears to be very rigid. This is typical of ancient Egyptian sculpture.

Sculpture

This sculpture of Queen Nefertiti is much more relaxed and graceful than most ancient Egyptian sculpture.

It seems Queen Nefertiti only bore daughters, making her a

Crafts

Craftsmen made furniture, jewelry, pottery, and other useful items.

Crafts

Crafts

Crafts

Crafts

Crafts

Crafts

Crafts

Painting

Ancient Egyptians followed a very strict set of rules in their art. One of these rules was to show the human body from the most familiar or visible angle.

Painting

Again, the figures appear to be rigid and stylized. Notice the left foot and body posture.

Painting

Paintings tell us about the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians.

Painting

This painting is somewhat unusual. Can you spot the reason why?

PaintingThe gods are often depicted in the tomb paintings.

Some of the most famous gods include Osiris, chief judge and god of resurrection and vegetation, Isis wife of Osiris and divine mother of Horus.

Horus the soaring hawk, was the divine god and protector of the King with his all seeing eye.

Re or sometimes Ra the sun god was reborn every day and was the overall head of some nine gods. 

After life came death, then rebirth. 

Anubis was the guide for the dead seeking their way to the underworld whilst being the patron of embalmers and always depicted a black jackal headed man.

ObjectivesNow that you have watched this presentation, can you

•Describe life in Ancient Egypt?

•Tell what kinds of art were created in ancient Egypt?

Can you define these terms?

•Hieroglyphic

•Stele

•Pharaoh

•Papyrus

•Scribe

What did the artist Imhotep do?

The Egyptians used hieroglyphics and various patterns to decorate the pharaohs’ coffins.

You will use pattern and symbols that represent things that are important in your life to make a canopic jar and a scratch art image that that resembles those of the ancient Egyptians.

What symbols will you use?

Assignment