Prehistory to EgyptPrehistory to Egypt

up to circa 1,000 up to circa 1,000 BCBC

IntroductionIntroduction

Period before writing

Paleolithic, up to 13,000 BC

Mesolithic, 13,000 - 8,000 BC

Neolithic, after 8,000 BC

Paleo=old, meso=middle, neo=new

lithic=stone

The first “Art”The first “Art”

• Development of early visual artDevelopment of early visual art

– Dark outlineDark outline

– Outline with one color fillOutline with one color fill

– Outline with two contrasting colorsOutline with two contrasting colors

– Multi-colored, realistic paintingsMulti-colored, realistic paintings

• First “Sculpture” 30,000 - 15,000 BCFirst “Sculpture” 30,000 - 15,000 BC

• ““Venus” figuresVenus” figures

Venus of Venus of WillendorfWillendorf• c. 30,000BCc. 30,000BC

Cave paintingCave painting• Lascaux France - 13,000 BCLascaux France - 13,000 BC

–Hall of the Running BullsHall of the Running Bulls

Cave paintingCave painting

Cave paintingCave painting

MesopotamiaMesopotamia• Meso - “middle” & potamia - “water”Meso - “middle” & potamia - “water”

• between Tigris & Euphrates riversbetween Tigris & Euphrates rivers

• circa 8,000 BCcirca 8,000 BC

• Beginnings of AgricultureBeginnings of Agriculture

– Made a stable society possibleMade a stable society possible

• What is “Culture”?What is “Culture”?

– Originally - transmitting knowledge of Originally - transmitting knowledge of growing foodgrowing food

– Now - all knowledge of a societyNow - all knowledge of a society

Map of MesopotamiaMap of Mesopotamia

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

• InventionsInventions

– 1. Pottery1. Pottery

– 2. Weaving2. Weaving

– 3. Permanent houses3. Permanent houses

– 4. Organized cities4. Organized cities

– 5. Buying and selling of crops5. Buying and selling of crops

– 6. Calendars6. Calendars

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

• Inventions cont.Inventions cont.

– 7. Mathematics7. Mathematics

•the idea of “Zero”the idea of “Zero”

– 8. Writing8. Writing

– 9. Sail9. Sail

– 10. Wheel10. Wheel

Sumer - Sumer - 6,000 BC6,000 BC• 4 inventions4 inventions

– 1. Writing1. Writing

•Cuneiform (“Wedge” shaped)Cuneiform (“Wedge” shaped)

– 2. System of Math based on 602. System of Math based on 60

•60 seconds, 60 minutes, 360 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 360 degreesdegrees

– 3. Wheel c. 3000BC3. Wheel c. 3000BC

•easier transportationeasier transportation

– 4. Beer c.3500BC4. Beer c.3500BC

•safe drinksafe drink

Sumer cont.Sumer cont.

• Divine monarchy supported by armed Divine monarchy supported by armed forcesforces

– now the basis of all governmentnow the basis of all government

• ZigguratZiggurat

– stepped “pyramid”stepped “pyramid”

– reverential climbingreverential climbing

– ritual, priests did praying, not ritual, priests did praying, not peoplepeople

– used offerings, sacrificesused offerings, sacrifices

ZigguratZiggurat

Tell Asmar StatuesTell Asmar Statues, c. , c. 2,750 BC2,750 BC

He-GoatHe-Goat,, c. 2,600 c. 2,600 BCBC

Standard of UrStandard of Ur, c. 2,400 BC, c. 2,400 BC

Sumer cont.Sumer cont.• GilgameshGilgamesh, c. 2,000 BC, c. 2,000 BC

– ruler of Uruk (Erech in the bible)ruler of Uruk (Erech in the bible)

– first “Epic”/“buddy” storyfirst “Epic”/“buddy” story–Robinhood & Little John, etc.Robinhood & Little John, etc.

•Gilgamesh is oppressive kingGilgamesh is oppressive king

•the Gods send Enkidu to the Gods send Enkidu to wrestle Gilgameshwrestle Gilgamesh

•the match ends in a drawthe match ends in a draw

•they become friendsthey become friends

Gilgamesh cont.Gilgamesh cont.

•They share many adventures They share many adventures togethertogether

•They return to UrukThey return to Uruk

•Ishtar professes her love for Ishtar professes her love for GilgameshGilgamesh

•Gilgamesh rejects herGilgamesh rejects her

•Ishtar sends the bull of heaven Ishtar sends the bull of heaven to kill Gilgameshto kill Gilgamesh

•Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the bullbull

Gilgamesh cont.Gilgamesh cont.

•for this the Gods condemn for this the Gods condemn Enkidu to dieEnkidu to die

•This greatly troubles GilgameshThis greatly troubles Gilgamesh

•He goes to Utnapishtim seeking He goes to Utnapishtim seeking immoralityimmorality

•Utnap. Shares the story of the Utnap. Shares the story of the great floodgreat flood

•He also tells Gil. Of the location He also tells Gil. Of the location of the plant of eternal lifeof the plant of eternal life

Gilgamesh cont.Gilgamesh cont.

•It is located at the bottom of the It is located at the bottom of the seasea

•Gil. Swims and gets itGil. Swims and gets it

•He returns to the surface and He returns to the surface and meets a snakemeets a snake

•The snake tricks him out of the The snake tricks him out of the plantplant

•Gil. Returns home and dies a Gil. Returns home and dies a lonely deathlonely death

European Ice-Age culturesEuropean Ice-Age cultures

• c. 4,000 - 1,000 BCc. 4,000 - 1,000 BC

– StonehengeStonehenge c. 1,400 BC c. 1,400 BC

– various stone circles around various stone circles around northern Europenorthern Europe

– man-made moundsman-made mounds

StonehengeStonehenge

Stonehenge drawingStonehenge drawing

BabylonBabylon• c. 1,900 - 539 BCc. 1,900 - 539 BC

• Hammurabi’s Code of LawsHammurabi’s Code of Laws

– An eye for and eye…An eye for and eye…

• Nebuchadnezzer Nebuchadnezzer

– Jewish capitivity (586-538 BC)Jewish capitivity (586-538 BC)

– Temple of Entemenaki (Ziggurat)Temple of Entemenaki (Ziggurat)

•Foundation of Heaven and EarthFoundation of Heaven and Earth

•may have been the “Tower of may have been the “Tower of Babel”Babel”

Tower of BabelTower of Babel

Babylon cont.Babylon cont.

– Hanging Gardens Hanging Gardens

•One of 7 ancient wonders of the One of 7 ancient wonders of the worldworld

• Belshazzar (563-539 BC)Belshazzar (563-539 BC)

– Daniel and the Lion’s DenDaniel and the Lion’s Den

– Samson and DelilahSamson and Delilah

AssyriaAssyria

• c. 1,000 BCc. 1,000 BC

• MesopotamiaMesopotamia

• First militaristic stateFirst militaristic state

• Huge cites with master planHuge cites with master plan

– laid out to show “class” systemlaid out to show “class” system

• Sargon II - built, occupied, and Sargon II - built, occupied, and abandoned in 1 generation (20 years)abandoned in 1 generation (20 years)

PersiaPersia• 539-331 BC539-331 BC

• took over Babylontook over Babylon

• network of roadsnetwork of roads

Persia cont.Persia cont.

• ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

– 1st ethical, monotheistic religion1st ethical, monotheistic religion

– Twin evil spirit (devil) to the one Twin evil spirit (devil) to the one GodGod

– Personal religion, no rituals, Personal religion, no rituals, priests, or templespriests, or temples

– waiting for coming savior, waiting for coming savior, judgement, resurrectionjudgement, resurrection

JudeaJudea• Hebrews, 12 tribesHebrews, 12 tribes

• earliest written Bible from time of King earliest written Bible from time of King David, 1,000-961 BCDavid, 1,000-961 BC

• Third King - Solomon 961-922 BCThird King - Solomon 961-922 BC

• Temple of SolomonTemple of Solomon

– House of the LordHouse of the Lord

– not a place for common worshippersnot a place for common worshippers

– plans detailed in I Kings, 5-9plans detailed in I Kings, 5-9

Temple of SolomonTemple of Solomon

AfricaAfrica

• General Concepts

– Non-Western cultureAfricaIndiaFar East

– Western culture – influenced by the Greeks

Circular view of time, re-occurring cycles

• (also by Meso-american peoples)

Western view of time as linear

•Past Present Future

Africa cont.Africa cont.

• All art is useful, no “art” for arts sake

• Not written, oral transmission

• Art as symbol of traditions

• Reinforce practices that keep tribe alive

Literature / Drama

• Mythology / Myth

• popular def. - Impossible or untrue story

• Real def. – profound human truth portrayed by a fictional story (proverb, parable, fable, etc.)

• Strong ethnic/tribal identity

2 basic questions of story-telling;

• Where did we come from?

• Where do we go?

• Trickster tale

– 1 character tricks or betrays another

– good and bad tricksters

– has a “moral” at the end

Music• Northern Africa

– Muslim/Islamic

– Arabic

– Small groups

– Vocal and instruments

Music

• Western Africa

– Complex rhythms/Polyrhythms

– Repeated patterns with soloist

– Percussion, sometimes with vocal

– Unaccompanied vocal

– Large Ensembles

– Essential for all ceremonies

Visual Arts• Art classified by purpose

• Household objects

– Head rests

– Stools

– Pot lids

Visual arts cont.

• Fetish figures

– Object with supernatural powers

– Power in relation to size

– Good or bad

– Composite works

Ritual

• Initiation rites

• Transition from child to adult

– Bar Mivtoza

– Drivers License

• Dance costumes

Kente Cloth

• Geometric

• Simple Colors

• Strip weaving

• Strips sewn together to make larger pieces of “fabric”

• Each tribe has it’s own pattern (like tartans to the Scots)

Kente cloth

Kente cloth

Kente cloth

MasksMasks

• SpiritSpirit

• AncestorAncestor

• uses idea or trait of animaluses idea or trait of animal

gazelle = fastgazelle = fast

lion = great hunterlion = great hunter

• never thrown away, but destroyednever thrown away, but destroyed

African Mask examplesAfrican Mask examples

Fertility figures

• Continuance of tribe

– Dolls (“Venus” type figures common)

– Used by mother until childbirth

– then given to female child to ensure her fertility

Religious figures

• Creation myth

– Primordial couple (Adam & Eve), or

– Two pairs of twins

– One destroys the other in a struggle of good vs. evil(Cain & Able, Egyptian & Greek myths)

Reliquary figures

• Holds bones of ancestor (cremation urn)

– Ancestor spirit in control

– Older people almost worshipped in many tribes

– “Elders” many times rule tribe

Dance• Very important

• To be Ashante King, you had to be a good dancer

– Mimics animals

– Displays power, virtue, honors ancestors

– Free expression

Dance

• “religion without dance would be impossible”

• Dance acc. By drums

• Drum censorship

Egypt• 4,000BC - 332AD

• Longest, uninterrupted history of any culture

Egypt cont.

• Pre-dynastic

– 4,000 - 3,000BC

• Old Kingdom

– 3,000 - 2,400BC

• Middle Kingdom

– 2,400 - 1,575BC

Egypt cont.

• New Kingdom

– 1,575 - 1,100BC

• Late period

– 1,100BC - 332AD

•c. 600BC - conquest by Persia

•332AD - conquest by Rome

• Ptolemaic period (Ruled by Rome)

– after 332AD

General Concepts

• Protected by deserts, isolated

• Depended on yearly flooding of Nile

• Art in service of the Pharaoh

• Order and Balance

• 90% of population within 10 miles of Nile

Maps of Egypt

Egyptian MythologyEgyptian Mythology

INTRODUCTION The religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians were the dominating influence in the development of their culture.

A true religion, in the sense of a unified theological system, never existed among them.

The Egyptian faith was based on an unorganized collection of ancient myths, nature worship, and innumerable deities.

In the most influential and famous of these myths a divine hierarchy is developed and the creation of the earth is explained.

CREATION  

According to the Egyptian account of creation, only the ocean existed at first.

Then Ra, the sun, came out of an egg that appeared on the surface of the water.

Ra brought forth four children, the gods Shu and Geb and the goddesses Tefnut and Nut.

Shu and Tefnut became the atmosphere. They stood on Geb, who became the earth, and raised up Nut, who became the sky.

Ra ruled over all.

Geb and Nut later had two sons, Set and Osiris, and two daughters, Isis and Nephthys.

Osiris succeeded Ra as king of the earth, helped by Isis, his sister-wife.

Set, however, hated his brother and killed him. (Osiris & Isis legend, see below)

Isis then embalmed her husband’s body with the help of the god Anubis, who thus became the god of embalming.

The powerful charms of Isis resurrected Osiris, who became king of the netherworld, the land of the dead.

Horus, who was the son of Osiris and Isis, later defeated Set in a great battle and became king of the earth.

Nut and Geb

The Legend of Osiris and IsisThe Legend of Osiris and Isis

There were the four children of Geb and Nut;Boys - Osiris & SetGirls – Isis & Nephthys

Osiris married Isis

Set married Nephthys

Osiris became the living king of Egypt

Set was VERY jealous of this

Set tricked Osiris into getting into a gold box, which he then closed and threw into the Nile

Set took the throne of Egypt

This upset Set’s wife, Nephthys, and she left him to help her sister Isis

Together, Isis and Nephthys found the body of Osiris on the island of Byblos and brought it back to Egypt

Set found the body and ripped it into 14 pieces, throwing them again into the Nile, where they were scattered.

Isis and Nephthys went all over Egypt and found the 13 of the parts (all except the penis), building a temple to Osiris at each place

Isis then bound up the 13 pieces in cloth (mummification), and constructed a penis

Isis turned into a Kite (a hawk) and flapped her wings on the body of Osiris, breathing the wind of life back into his body

Osiris and Isis then had a child, Hours

Isis raises Horus in secret so Set cannot find himOsiris becomes the lord of the dead, as he was the fist person to die

When Horus grows up, he avenges his father’s death by defeating Set

Horus castrates Set and sends him into the desert to live forever in isolation

Horus becomes the “prototype” pharaoh, after which all pharaohs are viewed as divine, being “Horus”

LOCAL GODS  Ennead, a group of nine divinities, and the triad, consisting of a divine father, mother, and son.

Every local temple in Egypt possessed its own ennead and triad.

The greatest ennead, however, was that of Ra and his children and grandchildren. This group was worshiped at Heliopolis, the center of sun worship.

Their importance increased with the political ascendancy of the localities where they were worshiped.

As the religion became more involved, true deities were sometimes confused with human beings who had been glorified after death. Thus, Imhotep, who was originally the chief minister of the 3rd Dynasty ruler Zoser, was later regarded as a demigod.

ICONOGRAPHY  

The Egyptian gods were represented with human torsos and human or animal heads.

Sometimes the animal or bird expressed the characteristics of the god. Ra, for example, had the head of a hawk, and the hawk was sacred to him because of its swift flight across the sky

Anubis was given the head of a jackal because these animals ravaged the desert graves in ancient times.

Because of the gods to which they were attached, the sacred animals were venerated, but they were never worshiped until the decadent 26th Dynasty.

The gods were also represented by symbols, such as the sun disk and hawk wings that were worn on the headdress of the pharaoh.

SUN WORSHIP  

The only important god who was worshiped with consistency was Ra, chief of cosmic deities, from whom early Egyptian kings claimed descent.

Beginning with the Middle Kingdom (2134-1668 BC)Ra worship acquired the status of a state religion.

During the 18th Dynasty the pharaoh Amenhotep III renamed the sun god Aton, an ancient term for the physical solar force.

Amenhotep IV, instituted a revolution in Egyptian religion by proclaiming Aton the true and only god.

He changed his own name to Akhenaton, meaning "Aton is satisfied."

This first great monotheist was so iconoclastic that he had the plural word gods deleted from monuments, and he relentlessly persecuted the priests of Amon.

Akhenaton’s sun religion failed to survive, although it exerted a great influence on the art and thinking of his time, and Egypt returned to the ancient religion of polytheism after Akhenaton’s death.

BURIAL RITUAL - The Book of the Dead  

Burying the dead was of religious concern in Egypt, and Egyptian funerary rituals and equipment eventually became the most elaborate the world has ever known.

The Egyptians believed that the vital life-force was the ka.

The ka, a duplicate of the body, accompanied the body throughout life and, after death, departed from the body to take its place in the kingdom of the dead.

The ka, however, could not exist without the body; every effort had to be made, therefore, to preserve the corpse.

Bodies were embalmed and mummified according to a traditional method supposedly begun by Isis, who mummified her husband Osiris.

After arriving in the kingdom of the dead, the ka was judged by Osiris, the king of the dead, and 42 demon assistants.

The Book of the Dead also contains instructions for proper conduct before these judges.

If the judges decided the deceased had been a sinner, the ka was condemned to hunger and thirst or to be torn to pieces by horrible executioners.

If the decision was favorable, the ka went to the heavenly realm of the fields of Yaru.

Anubis as the God of Embalming

Gods and GoddessesGods and Goddesses

AnubisAnubis

Anubis was the son of Nephthys.Anubis was the son of Nephthys.

Anubis was depicted as a jackal, or as a jackal-Anubis was depicted as a jackal, or as a jackal-headed man.headed man.

Probably because of the jackal's tendency to Probably because of the jackal's tendency to prowl around tombs, he became associated prowl around tombs, he became associated with the dead, and by the Old Kingdom.with the dead, and by the Old Kingdom.

Anubis was worshipped as the inventor of Anubis was worshipped as the inventor of embalming, who had embalmed the dead embalming, who had embalmed the dead Osiris, thus helping preserve him in order to Osiris, thus helping preserve him in order to live again.live again.

AnubisAnubis

ApisApis

An early deity, probably the best known An early deity, probably the best known Egyptian deity represented only as an Egyptian deity represented only as an animal.animal.

He was represented as a bull crowned with He was represented as a bull crowned with the solar disk and serpent.the solar disk and serpent.

He was primarily a deity of fertility. He was primarily a deity of fertility.

AtenAten

The sun-disk itself.The sun-disk itself.

Aten was depicted as a disk with rays, each Aten was depicted as a disk with rays, each ray terminating in a human hand and ray terminating in a human hand and bestowing symbols of "life" upon those bestowing symbols of "life" upon those below. below.

BastBast

A cat-goddess.A cat-goddess.

A protector of cats and those who cared for A protector of cats and those who cared for cats. cats.

As a result, an important deity in the home As a result, an important deity in the home (since cats were prized pets).(since cats were prized pets).

BastBast

GebGeb

The god of the earth.The god of the earth.

He is generally represented as a man with He is generally represented as a man with green or black skin - the color of living green or black skin - the color of living things, and the color of the fertile Nile mud.things, and the color of the fertile Nile mud.

Note that Geb is masculine, contrasting with Note that Geb is masculine, contrasting with many other traditions of Earth being female.many other traditions of Earth being female.

HathorHathor

A very old goddess of Egypt, worshiped as a A very old goddess of Egypt, worshiped as a cow-deity from earliest times.cow-deity from earliest times.

She was usually shown with a solar disk She was usually shown with a solar disk flanked by cow horns on her head.flanked by cow horns on her head.

She was also the patron of love, dance, She was also the patron of love, dance, alcohol, and foreign lands.alcohol, and foreign lands.

HathorHathor

HorusHorus

One of the most important deities of Egypt. As One of the most important deities of Egypt. As the Child, Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis, the Child, Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis, who, upon reaching adulthood, avenges his who, upon reaching adulthood, avenges his father's death, by defeating and castrating his father's death, by defeating and castrating his evil uncle Set. evil uncle Set.

He then became the divine prototype of the He then became the divine prototype of the Pharaoh.Pharaoh.Shown with the head of a hawk.Shown with the head of a hawk.

HorusHorus

ImhotepImhotep

Imhotep was a historical figure. He was the Imhotep was a historical figure. He was the architect, physician, scribe, and vizier architect, physician, scribe, and vizier (adviser) of the 3rd Dynasty pharaoh Zoser.(adviser) of the 3rd Dynasty pharaoh Zoser.

It was Imhotep who conceived and built the It was Imhotep who conceived and built the Step Pyramid at Sakkara.Step Pyramid at Sakkara.

In the Late Period, Imhotep was worshipped In the Late Period, Imhotep was worshipped as the son of Ptah and a god of medicine, as as the son of Ptah and a god of medicine, as well as the patron of scribes. well as the patron of scribes.

He was one of the few mortals born of He was one of the few mortals born of common blood to be elevated to the rank of common blood to be elevated to the rank of deity.deity.

IsisIsis

Perhaps the most important goddess (or god, Perhaps the most important goddess (or god, for that matter) of all Egyptian mythology.for that matter) of all Egyptian mythology.

Her most important functions, however, were Her most important functions, however, were those of motherhood, marital devotion, those of motherhood, marital devotion, healing the sick, and the working of magical healing the sick, and the working of magical spells and charms. spells and charms.

She was believed to be the most powerful She was believed to be the most powerful magician in the universe, owing to the fact magician in the universe, owing to the fact that she had learned the Secret Name of Ra that she had learned the Secret Name of Ra from the god himself.from the god himself.

She was the sister and wife of Osiris, sister of She was the sister and wife of Osiris, sister of Set, and twin sister of Nephthys, and was the Set, and twin sister of Nephthys, and was the mother of Horus. mother of Horus.

Isis was responsible for protecting Horus from Isis was responsible for protecting Horus from Set during his infancy; for helping Osiris to Set during his infancy; for helping Osiris to return to life; and for assisting her husband to return to life; and for assisting her husband to rule in the land of the Dead.rule in the land of the Dead.

IsisIsis

NephthysNephthys

"Lady of the House", the youngest child of Geb "Lady of the House", the youngest child of Geb and Nut.and Nut.

The sister and wife of Set, and sister of Isis and The sister and wife of Set, and sister of Isis and Osiris; also the mother of Anubis.Osiris; also the mother of Anubis.

She abandoned Set when he killed Osiris, and She abandoned Set when he killed Osiris, and assisted Isis in the care of Horus and the assisted Isis in the care of Horus and the resurrection of Osiris. resurrection of Osiris.

She was, along with her sister, considered the She was, along with her sister, considered the special protectress of the dead, and she was special protectress of the dead, and she was the guardian of Hapi, the protector of the lungs the guardian of Hapi, the protector of the lungs of the deceased.of the deceased.

NephthysNephthys

NutNut

The goddess of the sky.The goddess of the sky.

Nut was generally depicted as a woman with Nut was generally depicted as a woman with blue skin, and her body covered with stars, blue skin, and her body covered with stars, standing on all fours, leaning over her standing on all fours, leaning over her husband Geb, representing the sky arched husband Geb, representing the sky arched over the earth.over the earth.

OsirisOsiris

The god of the dead, and the god of the The god of the dead, and the god of the resurrection into eternal life; ruler, protector, resurrection into eternal life; ruler, protector, and judge of the deceased.and judge of the deceased.

Osiris was the first child of Nut and Geb, thus Osiris was the first child of Nut and Geb, thus the brother of Set, Nephthys, and Isis, who the brother of Set, Nephthys, and Isis, who was also his wife. was also his wife.

By Isis he fathered Horus, and according to By Isis he fathered Horus, and according to some stories, Nephthys assumed the form of some stories, Nephthys assumed the form of Isis, seduced him thus, and from their union Isis, seduced him thus, and from their union was born Anubis.was born Anubis.

Being the first person to die, he subsequently Being the first person to die, he subsequently became lord of the dead.became lord of the dead.

OsirisOsiris

Pharaohs as deitiesPharaohs as deities

From earliest times in Egypt the pharaohs From earliest times in Egypt the pharaohs were worshipped as gods: the son of Ra, the were worshipped as gods: the son of Ra, the son of Horus, etc. son of Horus, etc.

The pharaoh was looked upon as being chosen The pharaoh was looked upon as being chosen by and favored by the gods, his fathers.by and favored by the gods, his fathers.

RaRa

Ra was the god of the sun; the name is Ra was the god of the sun; the name is thought to have meant "creative power", and thought to have meant "creative power", and as a proper name "Creator", similar to English as a proper name "Creator", similar to English Christian usage of the term "Creator" to signify Christian usage of the term "Creator" to signify the "almighty God."the "almighty God."

Very early in Egyptian history, Ra was Very early in Egyptian history, Ra was identified with Horus, who as a hawk or falon-identified with Horus, who as a hawk or falon-god represented the loftiness of the skies. god represented the loftiness of the skies.

Ra is represented either as a hawk-headed Ra is represented either as a hawk-headed man or as a hawk.man or as a hawk.

In order to travel through the waters of In order to travel through the waters of Heaven and the Underworld, Ra was also Heaven and the Underworld, Ra was also depicted as traveling in a boat.depicted as traveling in a boat.

RaRa

SekhmetSekhmet

A lioness goddessA lioness goddess

Created by Ra from the fire of his eyes as a Created by Ra from the fire of his eyes as a creature of vengeance to punish mankind for creature of vengeance to punish mankind for his sins.his sins.

SelketSelket

A scorpion-goddess, shown as a beautiful A scorpion-goddess, shown as a beautiful woman with a scorpion poised on her head; her woman with a scorpion poised on her head; her creature struck death to the wicked.creature struck death to the wicked.

She was also petitioned to save the lives of She was also petitioned to save the lives of innocent people stung by scorpions and was innocent people stung by scorpions and was also viewed as a helper of women in childbirth.also viewed as a helper of women in childbirth.

She is depicted as binding up demons that She is depicted as binding up demons that would otherwise threaten Ra, and she sent would otherwise threaten Ra, and she sent seven of her scorpions to protect Isis from Set.seven of her scorpions to protect Isis from Set.

She protected Qebehsenuef, the son of Horus She protected Qebehsenuef, the son of Horus who guarded the intestines of the deceased.who guarded the intestines of the deceased.

She was made famous by her statue from She was made famous by her statue from Tutankhamen's tomb, which was part of the Tutankhamen's tomb, which was part of the collection which toured America in the 1970's.collection which toured America in the 1970's.

SelketSelket

SetSet

He was the patron deity of Lower (Northern) He was the patron deity of Lower (Northern) Egypt, and represented the fierce storms of Egypt, and represented the fierce storms of the desert that the Lower Egyptians sought to the desert that the Lower Egyptians sought to appease.appease.

When Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt When Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and ushered in the 1st Dynasty, Set became and ushered in the 1st Dynasty, Set became known as the evil enemy of Horus (Upper known as the evil enemy of Horus (Upper Egypt's dynastic god).Egypt's dynastic god).

Set is best known for murdering his brother Set is best known for murdering his brother and attempting to kill his nephew Horus.and attempting to kill his nephew Horus.

Horus, however, managed to survive and grew Horus, however, managed to survive and grew up to avenge his father's death by up to avenge his father's death by establishing his rule over all Egypt, castrating establishing his rule over all Egypt, castrating Set, and casting him out into the lonely desert Set, and casting him out into the lonely desert for all time.for all time.

SetSet

SobekSobek

The crocodile god.The crocodile god.

Sobek was worshipped to appease him and his Sobek was worshipped to appease him and his animalsanimals

SobekSobek

ThothThoth

The god of wisdom, Thoth was said to be self-The god of wisdom, Thoth was said to be self-created at the beginning of time, along with created at the beginning of time, along with his consort Ma'at (truth).his consort Ma'at (truth).

Thoth was depicted as a man with the head of Thoth was depicted as a man with the head of an ibis bird, and carried a pen and scrolls an ibis bird, and carried a pen and scrolls upon which he recorded all things. upon which he recorded all things.

He was shown as attendant in almost all He was shown as attendant in almost all major scenes involving the gods, but major scenes involving the gods, but especially at the judgement of the deceased. especially at the judgement of the deceased.

He served as the messenger of the gods, and He served as the messenger of the gods, and was thus equated by the Greeks with Hermes.was thus equated by the Greeks with Hermes.

He is a god of the moon, and is also the god of He is a god of the moon, and is also the god of time, magic, and writing. He was considered time, magic, and writing. He was considered the inventor of the hieroglyphs.the inventor of the hieroglyphs.

ThothThoth

Literature / Drama• Old Kingdom – beginnings of

Hieroglyphics - ("sacred carving")

• INTRODUCTION

• Characters in any of several systems of writing in which the characters are pictorial, that is, represent recognizable objects.

• The term hieroglyph is, however, most generally associated with the script in which the ancient Egyptian language was written; the Greeks applied the term to the decorative characters carved on Egyptian standing monuments.

Hieroglyphics

• The word hieroglyphic was later used to describe the pictorial writing systems of the Hittites, Cretans, and Mayans, but their systems are in no way related to one another or to the Egyptian, having in common only that they are pictorial.

IDEOGRAMS AND PHONOGRAMS

• Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions are composed of two basic types of signs: ideograms and phonograms.

• Ideograms signify either the specific object drawn or something closely related to it; for example, a picture of the sun may mean "sun" or "day".

• Phonograms, or sound signs, were used purely for their phonetic value and have no relationship to the word they are used to spell.

IDEOGRAMS AND PHONOGRAMS

• The development of the principle, by which the picture of an object could stand not only for that object but also for a word with the same sound but a different meaning, made possible the writing of proper nouns and abstract ideas.

• A sign might serve as an ideogram in one word and as a phonogram in another.

• Most words were written with a combination of phonetic and pictorial signs.

IDEOGRAMS AND PHONOGRAMS

• A picture of the floor plan of a house meant "house," but the same sign followed by a phonetic complement and a picture of a pair of walking legs was used to write the verb meaning "to go out."

ARRANGEMENT OF HIEROGLYPHIC INSCRIPTIONS  

Hieroglyphic inscriptions could be written either vertically or horizontally, usually from right to left, or top to bottom.

The direction for any given inscription is indicated by the individual signs, which normally face the beginning of the inscription.

The king's two most common names were inscribed in cartouches or "royal rings," stylized representations of loops formed by a double thickness of rope with the ends tied at the bottom.

DECIPHERMENT OF HIEROGLYPHS  

The Romans believed that Egyptian hieroglyphs were symbolic and allegorical, not phonetic; this theory prevailed into the time of the Renaissance.

The breakthrough came in 1799, when a soldier serving in Napoleon's campaign in Egypt discovered the Rosetta Stone, a bilingual stela inscribed (196 BC) with a decree in honor of Ptolemy V in Greek, hieroglyphic, and demotic (“popular” writing form) Egyptian.

It was not until the work (begun 1821) of the French Egyptologist, Jean François Champollion, however, that the two Egyptian scripts were recognized as phonetic.

In earlier stages of the work Champollion had predicted the hieroglyphic spelling of various royal names based on the demotic; these spellings were confirmed by actual cartouches on the Rosetta Stone and other Ptolemaic monuments.

After identifying the names and titles of the Greco-Roman rulers, he combined the phonetic values he had so derived with his knowledge of Coptic, the late stage of the Egyptian language.

This achievement enabled him to decipher earlier Pharaonic cartouches. In 1822 the decipherment of the script was completed.

Hieroglyphic name translator web page:

• http://www.eyelid.co.uk/e-name.htm

Sculpture / "Solid" arts

• 1st and most important art form of the Egyptians

• Small to life-sized

• Realistic, with some idealization

• Cubic, upright rectangle, frontal

• To be viewed from the front

• To glorify the king, and to give the spirit the things it needed for the after-life

Show parts of the body from their most identifiable side;

Head – sideLower body – sideEye – frontUpper body – front

Face rarely shown from front

Idea was to preserve the essence of what was being shown, not always realistic.

Old Kingdom

• Oldest surviving metal statue

– Pepi I (ruled 2395-2360BC)

•Copper, circa 2300BC

• Pottery

– Well made

– Variety of shapes

– Usually un-decorated

Old Kingdom

• Jewelry

– Gold and precious stones– Animal and plant designs

Middle Kingdom

• More realism (less idealization)

– Jewelry

•Precious metal inlaid with colored stones

– Few large sculptures

New Kingdom

• Combination of realism and idealization

• Decorative arts

– Well designed and made

– Alabaster, ebony, gold, ivory, precious stones

– Love of decoration

Painting / "Visual" Arts• Relief carving

– Painting on carvings and sculptures

– Tomb wall painting

– Palette of King Narmer

•3100BC

•Shows uniting of upper and lower Egypt

•Make-up palette

•Shows king in “smiting” pose–Arm raised in striking gesture

Palette of King Narmer

Treasures of King Tut

Tomb plan

Antechamber as found

Opening the three coffins

Gold mask as found

Gold mask restored

Anubis

Alabaster case

Canoptic shrine

Two part case

Portrait head

Relief of Selket

Tut’s throne

Vulture pendant

Wooden chest

Architecture

2nd most important art form

Old Kingdom

Imhotep, architect for ZoserStepped pyramid at Saqqarahc. 2,720BC

Grew from mastaba (Ar. “bench”)

Pyramids - c. 2700BC

• 80+ still in existence

• Giza Pyrmid complex most famous

• Oldest existent complete buildings in the world

• Only remaining structure of the 7 ancient wonders of the world.

• Necropolis – city of the dead

Reconstruction of the pyramid complex

Cheops/Khufu (The “Great” pyramid)

• 755’ 8” on a side (13 acres, area of 10 football fields)

• 481’ tall (40 story building, 1 and 2/3 football fields)

• 2.3 million blocks

• Base covers 13 acres

• Base is level 1/4 inch from corner to corner

• Oriented perfectly N and S

• Used as a Geodetic marker for the entire ancient world

• Is at the center of a circle drawn around the Nile Delta

the other pyrimads at Gizathe other pyrimads at Giza

• Chephren/Khafre, son of Cheops

– 707’ on a side

– 471’ tall

– appears taller because it’s built on higher ground

• Mycerinus, son of Chephren

– 356’ on a side

– Less well made

““Man fears time,Man fears time,

time fears the time fears the pyramids.”pyramids.”

Sphnix – head of man, body of lion, guardian of pyramids

Architecture

• Middle Kingdom

– Little building, almost none still existing

• New Kingdom

– New focus on religious building(see following)

Temple at Luxor • Temple of Amun, Mut, and Chons

– Anchorage for the royal boats during the floods

– Main religious center at various times in Egyptian history

Temple at Luxor

Temple at Al Karnak

• Valley of the Kings

• Tombs cut into rock, underground

• Covered to hide (Tutankhamun)

Temple at Al Karnak

Tomb of Hatshepsut• Only true female pharaoh

• Vast above ground, terraced structure

• Many shrines to gods and carvings of her accomplishments

Temple at Abu Simbal• 4 large statues of Ramses II (pharaoh

at the time of Moses)

• Deep rock-cut temples behind in mountain

• Moved in 1968 to save it from the rising of Lake Nasser

Temple at Abu Simbal