Egypt: Old Kingdom B.C./B.C.E.

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1 The Art History of Ancient Egypt Farming & ART The first farming communities are born along the Nile River in Egypt, North Africa and in Mesopotamia, East Asia along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, 10,000-12, 000 years ago. Farming gave people extra food which gave us extra time to develop skills in the arts and other areas because we didn t have to always search for food.

2 Egypt: Old Kingdom B.C./B.C.E. The upper and lower kingdoms are united, pyramids begin to be built Architecture The First Pyramids have stepped sides because they are easier to build. The Step Pyramid of Zoser: 2600 BC/BCE like most pyramids it is a part of a group of buildings with temples and smaller tombs. There are 110 pyramids in Egypt. The Great Pyramids at Giza, The largest pyramid in the world is for the Pharaoh Khufu, 2530 BC/BCE., 482 feet high necropolis (tomb city) in ancient Memphis near the modern capital Cairo covers 13 acres and aligns with the cardinal directions: North, South, East, & West. All are built of limestone blocks in mathematical prescision, originally smooth & polished to shine, some have royal boat pits and queen pyramids.

3 Egypt: Old Kingdom, B.C./B.C.E. Sculpture Sphinx, sandstone, c B.C.E. c., 65' h. faces E. to life & resurrection. Buried until the c.1800s A.D. when rediscovered by Napoleon's French invading troops. Mycerinus & his Queen, Stylized portrait, clean lines, simplified not naturalistic Seated Scribe, Unusual in its naturalistic style (more like real life) Painted Relief (partial carving), Hippopotamus Hunt in Tomb, uses hierarchical perspective (important figures are larger)

4 Egypt: Middle Kingdom, B.C./B.C.E. Broken-up by Unpopular Eastern Invaders Frontalism Ancient Egyptian painting and relief style is called frontalism. It uses a combination of front and side views. The head is drawn in profile (side view), the whole eye is facing the viewer from the front, and the torso also faces front. The legs are turned to the side with one foot in front of the other. There are different "rules" for drawing animals, slaves, pharaohs and gods. Beni Hasa Rock-Cut Tomb. Hidden by digging them into mountain faces, to protect these unpopular pharaohs final resting places from robbers. This rectangular architecture with columns influences future buildings. No more pyramids are built in ancient Egypt. Fig-pickers, tomb wall painting. During the Middle Kingdom art shows less skill and time put into it. This shows the troubled times of the Middle Kingdom.

5 Egypt: New Kingdom B.C./B.C.E. The Empire is Reunited & Power Returns to One Ruler Dancers and Musicians, art reflects the luxurious wealthy lifestyle that came from peace & good governing New Kingdom Nefertiti limestone bust painted in the Amarna Style (Middle Eastern/Asian invaders, sister-in-law or aunt to Tutankhamen, was a middle Eastern Princess married to an Egyptian Pharaoh to create political alliance Temple to Amon-Ra (God) B.C. with four 65' h. portraits of Pharaoh Ramses II, dwarfing Amon-Re over the door. Ramses II was a great builder, military man, & had over 100 children. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, 1450 B.C. the first great female ruler in history, the only female Pharaoh. She made art more delicate and brightly colored. Notice the building is rectangular and uses columns.

6 New KINGDOM B.C.E Tutankhamun Death Masks & Furnishings of Tutankhamen s tumb, gold & precious stones, Pharaoh B.C., found in 1922 with over 5,000 objects in it, famous because it is the only tomb in the Valley of the Kings (miles of over 62 burial chambers) that was not robbed.

7 Review: The Art History of Ancient Egypt List the #s on your paper. Write the corresponding letter/s next to the #s. A B C D E 1. Middle Kingdom influences it 2.Temple to Amon-Ra 9. The New Kingdom 3.The Sphinx 10. Pharaoh Tutankhamun 4.A tomb 11. Showed leisure of the times 5. Ramses II 12. Largest pyramid in the world 6. Shows frontalism 13. Near the modern capital Cairo 7. At Giza 14. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut 8. The first pyramids 15. Near the ancient capital Memphis 16. The only unrobbed tomb 17. Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu 18. Part cat part human B.C./B.C.E 20.Hidden for 2000 years 21. The 1 st major female ruler 22.The only female Pharaoh 23. An unpopular king

8 Review 1. List one fact about the Sphinx. 2. What event made the Middle Kingdom? How did it effect the arts? 3. What shape were the walls of the first pyramids (see Zoser)? 4. What event/invention made it possible to give people extra food which provided extra time to develop skills in the arts? 5. What were the pyramids used for? 6. What is the Egyptian figure painting style called? Name one thing that makes it special. 7. What is the name of the first great female ruler and the only female pharaoh? 8. List 2 things about the New Kingdom?

9 1. List one fact about the Sphinx. Review Answers 2. What event made the Middle Kingdom? How did it effect the arts? 2 pt. 3. What shape were the first pyramids (see Zoser)? 4. What event/invention made it possible to give people extra food which provided extra time to develop skills in the arts? 5. What were the pyramids used for? 6. What is the Egyptian figure painting style called? Name one thing that 2 pt. makes it special. 7. What is the name of the first great female ruler and the only female pharaoh? 8. List 2 things about the New Kingdom? 2 pt. 10 Nose shot off, found by Napoleon s troops, 65 tall, sandstone, faces east Empire broken-up, Asia invades, stopped making pyramids, no money no time for art steps farming Pharaoh's Tombs/buried people Frontalism, side view of face and legs, front view of torso and eye Hatshepsut + Reunited, expanded, King Tut is one ruler among others