HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -I

LECTURE-5

Egyptian Civilizations

Concept of the Royal Necropolis, locational context and architectural characteristics of public buildings, e.g. mastabas, pyramids and temples(rock-cut & structural) Worker’s settlement- city of Kahun.

1st Semester B .Arch, August - December 2013

Unit-I

• Definition and scope of Architecture. Interdependence of various components of the built environment. Need for a holistic approach.

• Man’s early/prehistoric attempts to colonise and personalize space. Examples of early shelters, Stonehenge, tumuli, etc. as expression of man’s physical and spiritual needs

• Determinants of Built Form - geo-physical, societal, political and technological, etc. Global examples of vernacular architecture.

• Introduction to the River Valley Civilizations. Comparative study of different manifestations with reference to location, materials and techniques, socio-cultural influences and other contextual factors

Unit-II

• Egyptian Civilization: Concept of the Royal Necropolis, locational context and architectural characteristics of public buildings, e.g. mastabas, pyramids and temples(rock-cut & structural) -one example of each type to be chosen. Worker’s settlement- city of Kahun.

• Mesopotamian Civilization; the urban context and architecture of public buildings (ziggurats and palaces). Examples of the city and Ziggurat of Ur, city and palace and of Khorsabad.

Unit-III

• Indus Valley Civilization: Form of the Harappan City, location and role of public buildings.• Architecture of the typical Harappan dwelling, Granary and Bath.• The Vedic Village, Building typology and construction

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -I

PART ONE

RECAPITULATION OF LECTURE 4

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -I

EARLY RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION

Made lasting contributions to civilizations.

Impact of geography (location) on the origin of civilizationReligion, beliefs Social structureWriting Government

Egyptian Civilizations

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -I

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

The land of Egypt was protected by natural barriers on all sides.

The climate was good for agriculture, but with little

or no rainfall, farmers had to depend on the river for

irrigation by constructing canals to carry water out

into the valley.

The Nile provided the perfect waterway for trade.

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

• Egyptians believed in reincarnation, or, life after death• Their belief in re-birth after death became their driving force behind their funeral practices ‘

mummification’.• The dead were buried in monumental tombs: Pyramid, mastabas. The amount and quality of

tomb goods and the form of the tombs themselves reflect the social status of the deceased.

Pyramid

Mastabas

They also worshipped natural elements (Nile river, earth)and some animals that were considered sacred: crocodile, cat , beetle.Egyptian religion was ‘polytheistic’, that is ,they believed in various gods and goddesses and

Temple of Khons,Karnak

LECTURE - 5

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -I

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

Tura Limestone used for religious structures Sun baked mud brick used for other structure Exterior & interior walls, columns, piers covered with heirographics, pictorial frescoes and carvings

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

Post and lintel construction, with flat roofs made of huge blocks supported by external walls and closely spaced

Hypostyle hall, columns with a greater height.

CONCEPT OF THE ROYAL NECROPOLIS

Dead buried in “cities of the dead”, called Necropolis located in desert

The pharaoh and his court lived in Memphis When they died they were buried at the Necropolis at Saqqara

Earthly dwelling of ancient Egyptians was temporary The tomb as a permanent dwelling

Tombs serve as focus for the worship of the dead

The Tomb evolved during the old kingdom from Mastaba.

CONCEPT OF THE ROYAL NECROPOLIS

CHRONOLOGYThree major periods of Egyptian history:

Old Kingdom 2670-2150 BCE

Middle Kingdom 2150-1800 BCE

New Kingdom 1550-1070 BCE (includes Amarna period-1370-1350 BCE)

Egyptian tomb Architecture

The tombs were of three main types:

1. MASTABAS

2. ROYAL PYRAMIDS

3. ROCK-HEWN TOMBS

•Ancient Egyptians believed that preserving the body after death was important to keep their soul alive.

•Mummification

• After 70 days, a funeral procession was headed towards the tomb.

• Mummies were placed in a sarcophagus which was highly decorated .

• This fabulous wealth in gold, silver and jewels belonging to the Kings, Queens and nobility, attracted the attentions of robber - the tomb raiders.

SARCOPHAGUS

MASTABAS

MASTABAS

A mastaba consist of 3 parts:-

1. Burial chamber/ tomb:- 30’ below ground

2. Serdab :- statue of a dead person

3. Chapel:- prayer and offerings

Tombs started with Mastaba.

Rectangular in shape with sloping sides & flat roofs

Very simple tomb without any decoration.

MATERIAL USED:-

Sun-baked mud-brick or stone structures and consisted of

Single elevated platform.

Enormous amounts of time, money, and manpower involved in the building of their tombs.

Mastabas are built on the west side of the Nile (symbol of death, where the sun sets).

TYPES OF MASTABAS

MASTABA OF AHA-SAKKARA (1st Dynasty) MASTABA AT BEIT KHALAF (2nd – 3rd Dynasty)

MASTABA AT GIZEH (4th Dynasty) MASTABA OF THI – SAKKARA (5th Dynasty)

1. MASTABA OF AHA-SAKKARA( 1ST DYNASTY)•Plain mastaba

•Several small rooms, center one containing sarcophagus

•Others funerary offerings

•Construction in broad pit below the ground

•Doors on East and South side

The tomb at the centre

2. MASTABA AT BEIT KHALAF ( 2ND & 3RD DYNASTY)

2. MASTABA AT BEIT KHALAF ( 2ND & 3RD DYNASTY)

3. MASTABA AT GIZEH (4TH DYNASTY)

4. MASTABA OF THI – SAKKARA ( 5TH DYNASTY)

Larger in size than other mastabas

143’ X 110’ in size, 30’ height

Staircase has been added.

Separate offering rooms

Serdabs:- Statue of the dead person

Material:- Sun baked mud bricks

PYRAMIDS

PYRAMIDSEgyptians built pyramids as tombs for Pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes

There are about 80 pyramids known today.

Have used limestone as a material for exterior

The three largest and best-preserved is at Giza.

The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the Pharaoh Khufu(Cheops). It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'.

TYPICAL PYRAMIDS COMPLEX

N

Mortuary temple:- •Temple constructed adjacent to pyramids.•Used as a resting place

Sanctuary:-A sacred place, such as shrine

Chapel:-Used for offerings and prayer

Causeway:-A way/path from temple to the pyramid

Construction method

Slaves dragging blocks of stone up a big ramp. Progressive picture showing:-Use of "External Ramp" during construction

Construction method

TYPES OF PYRAMIDS

Pyramid of Giza Pyramid of Khufu Pyramid of Khufu

CheopsChephren

Menkaure

Step Pyramid of Zosar Saqqara, Egypt Bent Pyramid at Sneferu Meidim Pyramid

PYRAMID OF ZOSAR SAKKARA, EGYPT

PYRAMID OF ZOSAR SAKKARA

THE "GRAND GALLERY" INSIDE THE PYRAMID

Imhotep took idea of the mastabas and stacked six of them one on top of other creating a stairway to Heaven

This became the Egypts 1st monumental construction made completely of stone

Begun as a mastaba, the pyramid was built in several stages:-A mass rising in 6 steps

PYRAMID OF ZOSAR SAKKARA

PLAN

1.

1.

2. 3. 4.

2.3

4

33’ high wall

35 ACRES OF LAND -East

358’.

397’

Festive ceremony

EXAMPLE OF PYRAMID: KHUFU’S PYRAMID AT GIZA

INTRODUCTION:- Khufu (Cheops in Greek) outside of Cairo (Giza)

Belief :- Pharaoh would join sun-god of 4th dynasty

20 years to build the pyramid of Khufu.

The Pyramid of Giza is about 4,500 years. Also known as the Great Pyramid

The tallest building in the world till 1800

Large team of labourers, during flood season when agriculture work was impossible.

Built with over 2 million of blocks of stone.

Total weight of the structure is 6.5 million tons.

Sphinx, a man headed lion of 187’ long and 66’ high carved in natural rock.

Khufu, khafre and Menkaure are the Pharaohs of 4th dynasty.1. Khufu/Cheops 1st built, unplanned without proper proportions

755 x 755 base, area of 13 acres, height of 481 feet. Angle at 51 degree

Lime stone in the exterior. Pharoahs chamber made of granite.

2. Pyramid of khafre/Chephren, Son of khufu, smaller in size than Khufu.

705 feet sq. base, angle of 53 degree.Height 471 feet

Sphinx at the entrance to the north.

Best state of preservation.

3. MenkaureSmallest of Giza, a son of Khafre.343’ at the base, slope of 51 degree, 213’ high

4. CAUSEWAY connected from river temple to the upper or mortuary temple at the base.

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KING’S CHAMBEROriginal chamber built underground Is in center of pyramid with red granite

QUEEN’S CHAMBERThe original burial place Located underground, beneath the Great Pyramid

GRAND GALLERYGrand passage leading from the entrance to the King’s ChamberOriginally intended to be used only once, for the king’s burial

Entrance on the north side

Two air shafts connect king’s chamber to outside for ventilation

Weight-relieving chambers :-King's chamber distribute the weight to overlying rock and prevent the king's chamber from collapsing.

Beni Hassan consists of three main elements:- 1. COLONNADE ENTRANCE:- Portico for public worship2. A CHAMBER OR HALL:- With columns supporting the roof serving as a chapel3. CHAPEL :- A small recess towards the back where the person is buried

The columns on the exterior were shaped like a prism with 8 or 16 sides

1 2 3

VIEW

ENTRANCE

ROCK –HEWN TOMBS

TEMPLES

TYPES OF TEMPLES

Great temple of Amun at Karnak Hatshepsut’s Mortuary temple, Deir-el-bahari

Temple of Khons,Karnak Great temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel

TEMPLE OF KHONS, KARNAK

PYLONS

pylons

OBELISKS

OBELISKS

LIGHT

COURT HALL

SANCTUARY

TEMPLE OF KHONS, KARNAK

BIRDS EYE VIEW FRONT VIEW

COLLONADED COURTYARD

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Pylons(Tall tower like str.)

Obelisks (landmark)

TEMPLE OF KHONS,KARNAK

WORKER’S SETTLEMENT- CITY OF KAHUNThe world‟s 1st “workers‟ housing” was in the ancient town of Kahun

Built about 3000BC for the builders of the pyramids at Kahun near Giza.

The town was laid in rectilinear grid.

Comprised a few large houses (government quarters) and many smaller ones

Acropolis:- Community centre, place of worship and seat for government quarters which were a higher group of community

Workers Housing

Government Quaters

River nile

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES:-

Nile connected axis to the whole region. It also acted as a major highway.

Fine example of standardized buildings grouped into special zones.

Brick row houses for workers and craftsmen, often back to back

A quarter of large mansions for government officials

An enclosed compound

LOCATION MAP

PLAN

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