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EGYPT UNDER THE PHAROAHS APAH GARDINER CHAPTER 3-2 PP. 59-64

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THE OLD KINGDOM 2575-2134 BCE The fist of three great period of Egyptian history Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom Djoser and the Third Dynasty are included in the Old Kingdom

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THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZEH Greatest architectural achievement of the Old Kingdom One of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world Three pyramids built over 75 years Tombs of the Fourth Dynasty pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure Culmination of evolution of mastabas

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GREAT PYRAMIDS 2500 BCE, GIZEH, EGYPT Giant monuments to dead pharaohs Each had an enjoining mortuary temple Huge pile of limestone blocks -> minimal interior for deceased Pharaoh buried within the pyramid Each side oriented toward a point on the compass Symbolize the sun

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BUILDING THE GREAT PYRAMIDS Limestone quarried from the Gizeh plateau Roughly equal sized blocks transported to the building site and dressed ASHLAR MASONRY = cut and regularly shaped blocks piled in successive rows Great rubble ramps piled against the core of pyramid -> linear ramps? Zigzag or spiral ramps? Outer layered cased in white limestone blocks

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THE GREAT SPHINX 2500 BCE, GIZEH May be a portrait of Khafre -> it sits in front of his pyramid Carved IN SITU from a huge spur of rock SPHINX = lion with human head -> symbol of the sun god Originally brightly painted to stand out in the desert

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KHAFRE ENTHRONED 2500 BCE Primary material for funerary statuary was stone Seated statue of Khafre Carved from diorite Wears a simple kilt, sits rigidly upright on throne with interlocking lotus and papyrus plants at base-> united Egypt Idealized features and body Flawless, perfect, ageless ideal proportions = the divine nature of the Pharaoh Pose is frontal, rigid, symmetrical -> eternal stillness

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MENKAURE AND KHAMERERNEBTY 2490-2472 BCE Double portrait stone sculpture of the Pharaoh Menkaure and his wife Figures attached to stone, arms and legs not cut free -> high relief Pose is rigidly frontal, arms hanging straight down, close to well built body, in stride -> symbolize kingship She is in similar pose, one arm around him, left gently on his arm Looking out into space -> timelessness

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SEATED SCRIBE 2500 BCE Painted limestone Not a pharaoh -> sagging chest, protruding belly -> signs of aging Lifelike, but not a portrait -> composite image of a scribe Rule of portraiture -> as a human subjects importance decreases, formality is relaxed and realism is increased

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TOMB OF TI, SAQQARA TI WATCHING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS HUNT, 2400 BCE Painted relief in the mastaba of Ti, a govt. official Successful hunt was a metaphor for triumph over evil Ti stands aloof and above the hunters -> shows status Hierarchy of scale Twisted perspective CANON = system of proportions to the human figure -> strictly followed