AncientEgyptian

Art

AncientEgyptian

Art

Remember:Remember:

You will receive a grade on your notes for the presentation as well as the test grade.

Tutankhamun coffin

1352 BC

Art History test:Art History test:

Thursday, Nov 15thThursday, Nov 15th

AncientAncientEgyptian ArtEgyptian Art

Lesson Lesson ObjectiveObjective

Ancient Egyptian art forms the basis for the artwork we do today. They are the one of the first noted societies to develop complex artwork. The art and architecture of this long-lasting civilization still influence our arts in this day and age.

• You will learn vocabulary important to this time period.

• You will learn about Egyptian art innovations and how they influence modern art forms.

• You will view several pieces of Egyptian art and learn to identify the Egyptian art characteristics.

Vocabulary for Book:Vocabulary for Book:

• Hieroglyphic

• Stele

• Pharaoh

• Papyrus

• Scribe

• Silt

• Polytheistic

Noted Ancient Egyptian Artist:Noted Ancient Egyptian Artist:

• Imhotep

• Located in the Nile river valley

• Civilization developed by about 3,000 BC

GeographyGeography

Protected from invaders by:

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

GeographyGeography

GeographyGeography

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.

GeographyGeography

The Nile River provided them with the means for great sources of income through farming and local trade. They had the time and money to create lasting artwork.

Every year, the Nile river flooded. When the waters receded, SILT (very rich soil)

was left behind which richly fertilized the crops, giving the Ancient Egyptians lots of income for

their efforts.

Religion was the basis for most of the artwork of Ancient Egypt.

• Hieroglyphics in tombs depicted spells to guide the departed soul to the afterlife.

• Cats were sacred in their religion, so their cats were mummified.

• Great temples were built to honor the gods – of which there were at least 115 – each in charge of a different aspect of life.

Ancient Egyptian Art & Ancient Egyptian Art & ReligionReligion

They were POLYTHEISTICPOLYTHEISTIC – They worshipped many gods

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

PeoplePeople

PeoplePeopleArtists, 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

The leader was called a PHARAOH.

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

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

PeoplePeople

Today’s most well-known mummy was a young Pharaoh known as King Tutankhamun. He was 19 years

old when he died, but he had been preparing for his death since the time he first took the throne. His tomb was the most intact tomb ever excavated, providing an

invaluable look at Ancient Egypt.

Modern scientists recently did a cat scan of the mummy revealing even more details of life in Ancient

Egypt.

Video of preparation for CT Scan

King TutankhamunKing Tutankhamun

ContributionsContributions

• 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

The AncientThe AncientEgyptians:Egyptians:

They also used

HIEROGLYPHICS.

• HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics are an

early form of picture

writing.

ContributionsContributions

ArchitectureArchitecture

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.

• 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.

ArchitectureArchitecture

The three “great pyramids” are located at Giza.

Each tomb houses ONE pharoah only.

The pyramid structure is still used in architecture today.

ArchitectureArchitecture

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.

ArchitectureArchitecture

The ancient Egyptians also built beautiful temples to honor the

gods.

ArchitectureArchitecture

MummiesMummies

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.

These are the mummified remains of a pharaoh

named Ramses II.

MummiesMummies

After embalming, mummies were

carefully wrapped in yards of linen

bandages.

MummiesMummies

The ancient Egyptians even

mummified animals.

MummiesMummies

SculptureSculpture

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.

This stele shows Ramses II slaying his enemies.

SculptureSculpture

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

SculptureSculpture

Heads 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.

- This allows the figures to stand without falling over. The civilization of Ancient

Greece introduced freestanding figures.

SculptureSculpture

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

• Gold

• Turquoise

• Lapis Lazuli

• Red coral

• Glass

SculptureSculpture

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

SculptureSculpture

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

SculptureSculpture

Not all of their artwork is like this however; this sculpture of Queen Nefertiti is much more relaxed and graceful than most ancient Egyptian sculpture.

SculptureSculpture

PaintingPainting

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.

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

PaintingPainting