Wcv Egyptian Architecture

7/28/2019 Wcv Egyptian Architecture

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Egyptian Architecture


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Architectural Ideas Ancient Egyptians viewed

earthly dwellings astemporary

They paid little attention tohouse construction

The tomb was seen as apermanent dwelling for theafterlife

Tremendous effort wasexerted in tomb construction

The mummified dead bodywas buried in a stone boxcalled sarcophagus in thetomb

Lets Recap

Historical BackgroundSocial Characteristics & Beliefs


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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 beprovided, it is painted

on the walls of the

tomb


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Architectural Ideas Tombs also have

charms to protect

dead person & her/his

property

Dead buried in ci t ies

of the dead, called

Necropolis located indesert


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During the old Kingdom, the pharaoh and hiscourt lived in Memphis

When they died they were buried at theNecropolis at Saqqara

The earthly dwelling of the ancient Egyptianswas seen as temporary and the tomb as apermanent dwelling

Houses were built of temporary materials to lastfor a lifetime

Architecture of the CivilizationIntroduction


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Architecture of the CivilizationIntroduction

Tombs were most outstanding architecturalelement of the period

Tombs also serve as the focus for the worshipof the dead

The Tomb evolved during the old kingdom fromthe Mastaba, through the steppe pyramid to the

renown ancient Egyptian pyramid


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Early Kingdom TombsMastaba

The earliest method of burial in ancient Egypt was inshallow pits in the desert

The desert dried the bodies and preserved them When animals preyed on bodies, the people dug

deeper

In the end they built a bench-like structure overgraves to create first burial structure called Mastaba


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The name mastaba is derived from podiumsfound in the front of traditional houses

In the Old Kingdom, rich and noble personbuilt mastaba for their burial in the city of the

dead

Above ground the Mastaba is a large benchof sun-baked bricks rising 9 meters high

It had a flat top and slanting walls The earliest royal tombs were decorated with

painted patterns in brilliant colors


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Internally, a mastaba

consist of three parts- a

burial chamber, a

serdab and a chapel

The burial chamberwas located 30 below

ground

Connected to burial

chamber above groundthrough a shaft

place for the burial of the

dead person


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In the chamber is found

the sarcophagus where

the dead body was

placed

The burial chamber ispacked with all the

necessary things

needed in the afterlife

After burial, the shaft tothe burial chamber was

sealed


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The Serdab and

Chapel are located

above ground

The serdab is a room

where the statue ofthe dead person is

kept

Statue acts as a

substitute for body incase it is destroyed


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Egyptians believed that the Ka mustreturn to the body or a copy of it eachnight

If both body and statue are destroyed,the ka would die

The chapel is where the ka issupposed to live forever Colorful room meant to deceive the gods

into letting the ka enter the next world

false door leading to the land of the dead


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Some mastabas had fence walls, and

chambers for burial of servants

Mastaba served as an embryo for theevolution of the pyramid

E l Ki d T b


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Early Kingdom TombsSteppe Pyramid

King Zoser (Djoser) was the powerfulpharaoh of the third dynasty of the oldkingdom

The steppe pyramid was built for kingZoser by Imhotep

It was built as a funeral complex in the

necropolis at Saqqara Imhotep initially conceived of the tomb

as a large Mastaba of stone


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More on Egyptian Architecture

Earl Kingdom Tombs


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Dissatisfaction w/

result led to

stacking of mastaba

Result was stepped

pyramid w/ fivesloping setbacks

The steppe pyramid

is the intermediate

step betweenmastaba and

geometric pyramid


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Steppe pyramid was 200 high

w/ 6 giant steps Burial chamber is entered

from north side & is 92 down

On either side of chamber arestore rooms for kingstreasures

All treasures buried w/ Zoserhave been stolen

A stone statue of Zoser also

recently found staring outthrough peep holes in hisSerdab


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Serdab located on

north side, alongw/ funerary temple

Steppe pyramidstands at middle oflarge complex

Funeral complexconsisted of

palaces, temples &steppe pyramid

All surrounded byfence wall 33 high
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/22551.jpg


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Fence wall of funeral complex has breaking pattern of

~200 projections/recessions

Fourteen were larger than the others & 13 out of the

fourteen had false doors

False doors for use of Pharaohs Ka


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Entrance door leadsto long hall w/ two

rows of columns

One of the 1st uses of

columns in history

Columns designed to

look like bundles of

reeds & had flutes


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In North Palace alsostone columns w/capitals

Designed to look like

papyrus plant Zosers funeral

complex designed asmodel of his palace,

city & kingdom

Shape of pyramidsuggests stairway tothe sky to join the sunGod Amon Ra


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Early Kingdom TombAttempts at Pyramid Building

After the stepped pyramids, therewere several attempt at building a

pure geometric pyramid Among the prominent attempts:

pyramid at Medun

two pyramids built by Snefru atDashur


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King Huni made the

first attempt at building

pure pyramid at Medun

Constructed seven-

stepped pyramid with

square plan and height

of 90m and

Angle of incline: 51 Pyramid did not have

mortuary temple


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Pharoah Snefru made

two attempts at pyramid

construction

1st pyramid, the Bent

pyramid at Dashur hada square plan with a

height of 102m

The pyramid had a

change of anglemidway, leading to its

being called the bent

pyramid


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Snefrus 2nd

pyramid--north

pyramid--is place he

was buried Low pitch of 43

instead of 52

making it look

stunted

A true pyramid has

an incline angle of

52


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Early Kingdom TombThe 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

E l Ki d T b


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Two additionalpyramids 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 arereferred to as the

Pyramids at Giza

E l Ki d T b


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Three are aligned

diagonally along the

projection of the

diagonal of the greatpyramid

The small pyramidsclose by were built

for queens

E l Ki d T b


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Early Kingdom TombThe Great Pyramid Cheops

Great pyramidunique internalarrangement

First: a chamber

built below base ofpyramid

Another chamberbuilt above it knownas queens chamber

Larger burialchamber known asthe kings chamberbuilt center of

pyramid

E l Ki d T b


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Early Kingdom TombThe Great Pyramid Cheops

Chamber where the kingwas buried in hisSarcophagus

Kings chamber 35 x17and 19 high

Both king & queenchamber connected tothe entrance on thenorth side

Two air shafts connectkings chamber tooutside for ventilation

Once a king is buried,

burial chamber sealed

E l Ki d T b


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Early Kingdom TombPyramid

The pyramids designed as

part of a funeral complexfor burial of pharaoh

Chefrens complex is bestpreserved example

Complex consist of three

interconnected units: A valley temple by the

river Nile where thepharaohs body wasembalmed

A pyramid mortuarytemple for rituals

A long narrowcauseway connectingthe two

E l Ki d T b


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Early Kingdom TombPyramid Construction

How were the pyramids constructed? No accurate knowledge about the method

of construction of the pyramids

Estimates vary:~ 100,000 men worked 3-4months each year for 30 years to build the

pyramids.

Limestone quarried from nearby --

transported by lever action

Paid in food, clothing and drinks

Early Kingdom Tomb


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Early Kingdom TombWhy did Egyptians Build Pyramids

The pyramids were in

general a response tothe vast desertlandscapes

For structures to be

visible in the desert theyhave to be of huge size

The pyramids were alsoa product of the will to

achieve immortality bythe pharaohs

Pyramids are theeverlasting home of thepharaohs ka

Early Kingdom Tomb


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Early Kingdom TombEnd of Pyramid Construction

After the Mykerinus period, the era of pyramid

construction ended

More pyramids were built later but they were

smaller and less complex

Later pharaohs could not afford the cost of huge

pyramid construction

Grave robbers learned how to break into and

steal the goods buried with pharaohs End of the Old Kingdom therefore marked the end

of the great era of Egyptian pyramid construction.

Mid & N Ki d B i l Ch


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Mid & New Kingdom Burial-ChamMortuary Temples Introduction

The Middle Kingdom began

when pharaoh Mentuhotepunited Egypt again after thefirst intermediate period

During the middle kingdom,the practice of pyramid

construction disappeared Focus in architectural

development was however stillon tombs and burial

chambers Two categories of structures

came into use- mortuarytemples and undergroundtombs



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Mid & New Kingdom Burial-ChamMortuary Temples Introduction

Mortuary temples served as place for burial and

worship of pharaohs Temples dedicated to Gods were also located in

them

Mortuary temples owe origin to pyramid funeral

complex, particular the valley and pyramidtemples

Underground tombs became popular because ofthe belief that they could not be robbed

Many powerful and wealthy pharaohs and noblescarved tombs directly into rock cliffs andunderground during the Middle and Newkingdoms

Most of the tomb and burial chamber construction

was carried out at Del Al Bahari



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Mid & New Kingdom Burial-ChamUnderground Tomb- Rock Cut Tomb

Two types of Underground

tombs were built by pharaohsand nobles during the Middle

and New Kingdom periods-

Rock cut tombs and Shaft

tombs Rock cut tombs are tombs

that are carved out of rocks

Many of theses are found

along the cliff of the Nile A very good example is the

Rock cut tomb at Beni

Hassan



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Beni Hassan consists ofthree elements:

Colonnade entrance

portico for public worship

Behind portico, achamber or hall with

columns supporting the

roof serving as a chapel

A small recess towardsthe back of the chapel

where the person is

buried



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The columns on the

exterior wereshaped like a prism

with 8 or 16 sides

The columns in the

interior were

designed as a

bundle of reed tiedtogether by rope



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Mid & New Kingdom Burial-ChamUnderground Tomb- Shaft Tombs

Shaft tombs were a

complex series ofundergroundcorridors and roomscut out of the

mountains in thevalley of the King atDel-Al-Bahari

Large # of rooms &

complicatedarrangementdeliberate--to createa maze or puzzle

Mid & New Kingdom Burial-Cham


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Mid & New Kingdom Burial ChamUnderground Tomb- Shaft Tombs

This is designed to

make it difficult forrobbers to determinewhere a dead personis buried

A dead pharaoh ornobleman is buried inone of the manyunderground rooms

Once the burial isfinished, the entranceis sealed permanentlyand hidden from

everybody

Materials Const & Systems


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Materials, Const. & SystemsMaterials

Three common materials of construction in Egypt Plant materials, clay and stone

Plants consist of readily available material likereeds , papy rus and palm ribs and shaft

Timber was available in limited quantity; used forroofing

Clay was used for construction either as for frameconstruction or as sun dried brick

Stone was not much used during the early period

of ancient Egyptian civilization It became popular after the 3rd dynasty of the

Early Kingdom and was used for tombs andtemples



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Materials, Const. & SystemsConstruction System

Construction system in ancient Egypt

reflected the availability of materials Two construction systems were

predominant: Adobe const ruc t ion and post

and beam const ruct ion Adobe construction took the form of clay on

vegetable material or sun dried brickconstruction

This construction was reserved for housesand other buildings of daily life

These buildings are supposed to last for

only a generation



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Egyptian monumental construction is mainly of a

post and beam style

This is expressed mainly in pyramids, tombs and

temples

Columns are designed to look like plant material Their shaft resemble bundles of plant stems tied

together

Their capitals are derived from the lotus bud or

the papyrus flower or the palm leave

Great importance was attached to relief carving

and it was an integral part of the architecture



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The true arch was not extensively used inancient Egypt

The principle was however known

Construction in Egypt took place during theperiod of floods

It took 30 years to build a pyramid with a

team of 100,000 men working three to fourmonths during the floods

Principles of Arch Organization


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Principles of Arch. OrganizationEmphasis on Building Masses

Ancient Egyptian architecture shows more

concern with massing and limited attention to

space or function

The Mastaba, Pyramids, Mortuary and Cult

temples all display a focus on massing and form Limited consideration on functional space

Consideration of function in design limited to

provision of spaces for ritual activities--such as chapels dedicated to Gods in

Pyramid funeral complexes and Mortuary

and Cult temples



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Principles of Arch. OrganizationApplication of Linear & Geometrical Org

The Most important compositional principle

in ancient Egypt is linearity and axial

organization

Linearity means organization along a line,

while axial organization means that there isa defined axis running through the whole

composition

Almost all the predominant monumentshave a linear & axial organization

These include the pyramid funerary

complexes, the mortuary & cult temples



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Principles of Arch. OrganizationApplication of Linear & Geometrical Org

Egyptian architecture also displays an

understanding and application of geometry indesign

This is noticeable in the pyramids at Giza

All the three main pyramids are Geometricalpyramids

A geometric pyramid has a square base and 52inclination of its sides

All the pyramids are also aligned in a straight linealong their axes

This could only have been achieved with theunderstanding of geometry



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Principles of Arch. OrganizationApplication of Harmony & Contrast

Architecture in ancient Egypt also displaysunderstanding of the principle of Harmonyand contrast

Example of this reflected in pyramids atGiza

The color and material of the pyramidcreate a harmony between the pyramids and

the desert The form and shape of the pyramids

however contrast sharply with the smooth

undulating desert



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Principles of Arch. OrganizationApplication of Harmony & Constrast

This understanding is also displayed in thetemples of Mentuhotep and Hatshepsut

A double row of columns used to front the lowerand upper terraces create a harmony with the

rugged background of the mountain cliffs The terraces of the temples are however in

sharp contrast with the mountainous nature of

the environment The temples appear like an island of peace in a

rugged and violent environment

Forces Shaping Arch Organization


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Forces Shaping Arch. OrganizationInfluence of the Desert

Ancient Egyptian architecture can only beunderstood by also looking at the environment in

which it is located

Egypt is essentially located in a desert and the

desert is empty space

For anything to be visible and considered

monumental, it must match the scale of the desert

This understanding may have influenced thearchitects of ancient Egypt to focus on building

and creating the massive buildings that we have

studied

Forces Shaping Arch Organization


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Forces Shaping Arch. OrganizationInfluence of the Nile

The Nile had an important influence in the

linearity and axiality of ancient Egyptian

Architecture

The Nile was a very straight river

The straightness of the line provided the

ancient Egyptians with both a symbolicsense of direction and a principle for

application in the creation of monumental

buildings


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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 ofChefren

The Sphinx


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The SphinxDimensions of the Sphinx

Paws: 50 long (15m)

Head: 30 long (10m) 14 wide (4m)

Entire Body: 150 (45m)


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Originally commissioned by

Kaphre (a son of Cheops)

Constructed from a single piece of

stone weighing hundreds oftons

bedrock found within the Valley ofGiza.

Age of the Sphinx: ~5,000 years old

The Sphinx


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The SphinxArcheologists and historians found many pictures of the Sphinx drawn

with wings, the body of a lion and ox, and the face of man

Theories:

Muhammad Saim al-Dahr

British

Turks

Napoleon Bonaparte

Mamluks

1867

1925restoration


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The Sphinx

?


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Review of Architectural PrinciplesCulture- Nile - source for all life

-East bank: land of the living-West bank: land of the dead

- Mystery of sun, moon, stars, futility & grave- Complex hierarchy of gods

- Service to religion: made their art & architecture

Religion- Survival after death depended on preservation of body-At day of resurrection, "Ka" entered dead- Good Burial" became obsession - mummification an art

Burial- Impregnable tomb - the basis for Egyptian architecture- Man mummified and buried w/wives & possessions

- Tombs to be durable and "look" durable - monolith


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MAJOR WORKSMajor Works

Old Kingdom

1. Mastabas2. Stepped Pyramid of Zozer @ Saqqara by Imhotep

3. Great Pyramids @ Giza Cheops (Khufu)

Chephren (Kafra)

Mykerinus (Menkaura)

Middle Kingdom

4. Rock Cut Tombs @ Beni Hasan

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

3200 - 2258 BC

2650 BC

2575 BC

2530 BC

2500 BC

2134 - 1570 BC

1975 - 1800 BC

1570 - 1085 BC

1500 BC @ Deir el-Bahari by Senmut

1390 - 1260 BC

1314 - 1200 BC

1257 BC

1198 - 1166 BC

322 BC


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Team Prompts 1


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1. Analyze the evidence supporting the claim that AncientEgyptians used a concrete-like mixture in constructing somesegments of the pyramids.2. Discuss the evidence/arguments refuting the above claims.3. Make the best case for either side.FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITING EVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.

Team Prompts 21. Discuss the significance of the Nile river in the development of theEgyptian civilization.2. What was the significance of -- and discoveries at -- Kom el-Ahmar (Greek name: Hierakonpolis) 'the Red Mound'.FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITING EVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.EACH PROMPT RESPONSE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF FOUR

COMPLETE AND DETAILED SENTENCES, FILLED WITH SPECIFICITY

FROM THE SOURCES AND REFLECTING INSIGHT AND ANALYTICAL

THOUGHTNOTMERELY SUPERFICIAL GENERALITIESTHANK YOU! Team Prompts


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1. Analyze the evidence supporting the claim that AncientEgyptians used a concrete-like mixture in constructing somesegments of the pyramids.2. Discuss the evidence/arguments refuting the above claims.3. Make the best case for either side.

FOR FULL CREDIT, BE SPECIFIC IN CITINGEVIDENCE/SUPPORT FROM THE READING.

EACH PROMPT RESPONSE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF FOUR

COMPLETE AND DETAILED SENTENCES, FILLED WITH SPECIFICITY

FROM THE SOURCES AND REFLECTING INSIGHT AND ANALYTICAL

Important

Notes Below

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Wcv Egyptian Architecture