We invite you to know all the characteristics of the egyptian art in this article, since the Egyptian Empire and its art has drawn the attention of many people for the way of making its different works of art and its great buildings. The pyramids that have been great funerary temples that still exist today with many secrets to unveil. Keep reading the article and learn more about Egyptian art!
egyptian art
Egyptian art is a very unique art since in its time works of great importance and at the same time monumental were built that had a symbolic, religious and funerary character for the society of that time. But Egyptian art is based on many works such as architecture, painting, sculpture and jewelry. Since many of these works of art were great works of works that were carried out as engineering works to represent the Egyptian culture.
Many of these works are currently in good condition thanks to the dry and arid climate in Egypt and many of these works of Egyptian art were covered by sand that over time were unearthed by people who have been found many works carried out that are in an optimal state.
Although other works of Egyptian art have been destroyed by inclement weather. As well as the wars that have occurred. Others have been taken to quarries to be destroyed and important works of Egypt have been looted by art thieves.
That is why when referring to Egyptian art, a journey through the entire history of that country must be made. Since its inception, Egyptian art has been a manifestation that has been of great importance to today's society since time immemorial.
Because the Egyptian civilization based its entire culture on Egyptian art, creating endless works of art based on painting, architecture and sculpture. As well as engineering works that have drawn the attention of many people around the world.
In the same way, it is necessary to emphasize that Egyptian art is closely linked to the environment of Egypt because it develops in different locations and also influences the daily aspects of society. On the one hand, the geographical environment stands out and, on the other, it is determined that it is a society that has a very closed culture that is making its Egyptian art with the influence of what is happening outside the borders of Egypt.
But Egyptian art is evolving little by little over time and it is doing it on its own structures because there is a lot of influence both from outside and inside society.
But the use of materials stands out since this indicates that the Egyptian society of that time was concerned about using the best materials and tools to be able to eternalize the works of art that inside almost always carried a person who had already died with the in order to raise the morale of the deceased and of the God to whom tribute was paid.
In Egypt to pay tribute to the different Gods and the pharaohs, the Egyptian society dedicated itself to building monumental temples whose main function was to use them as tombs for people who had great importance in Egyptian society and is related to several determining factors of the Egyptian art which are the following religion, the monarchy and the environment where you live.
For which the pharaohs, the Egyptian priests and the noble people are the main figures and protagonists of Egyptian art since this art focuses on the courtly and the official. And it is developing fundamentally in the religious since the pharaoh is linked as a character very close to the Egyptian gods.
In this same way, Egyptian art is subject to a series of rules and stereotypes in which the precision in the finish of the different works of art made has been valued. In addition to the originality that each work of art has. As well as the impact that the work has on the viewer due to its realism, its symbology and its magic.
Although there is no accurate knowledge about the names and life of the different Egyptian artists who made great works of art. There is documentation of some very important artists in the Ancient Egyptian Empire. But the works that have been preserved over time are works that belong to the new Egyptian empire and the artists that have more information have been the architects who have made monumental works that have endured over time.
Because the Egyptian artists who dedicated themselves to making paintings and sculptures were considered by the pharaohs, the priests and the people of high society as simple craftsmen. That is why they were not taken as a priority in the Egyptian art of the time of the empires.
Although it should be noted that there were two types of workshops in the Egyptian era where the different artists were trained, the so-called official workshops that were inside the palaces and temples to train the future artists who made the works of art for the pharaohs and priests. and the private workshops that trained artists working for noble and high-ranking people in Egyptian society.
history of egyptian art
Art in each society is a very fundamental point and one of the most basic for human needs after those of housing, food, laws and religion are already covered.
Individuals begin to produce art in order to leave a mark on the civilization in which they live and in Egyptian art, works of art have the main impact on religious beliefs and the construction of large buildings that are used as architectural works for funerary acts and religious. As well as to worship certain Egyptian gods, these temples and tombs today have great strength and durability.
In this way, Egyptian art has its foundations in the well-known Predynastic period (ca. 6000 - ca. 3150 BCE), at this time the different Egyptian artists began to make works aimed at images of animals, humans and religious figures or divine as gods were made of rock. All these works of art that belong to this period are very rustic figures when compared to other newer works of art.
But all Egyptian works of art have a very important characteristic which is the balance in the work. Therefore, the different artists of Egyptian origin relied on the harmony of the pieces to be able to carry out different works of Egyptian art. They relied on a technique known as ma'at, which is born and is based on the story about the creation of the universe according to Egyptian history.
Egyptian art is based on a perfect balance on the work of art made and is reflected in all the Egyptian gods in order to represent their ideal world. In the same way that the Egyptian gods gave a large number of gifts to humans, such as their different characteristics and abilities.
The Egyptians decide to create Egyptian art as an offering to the gods for these excellent gifts and in the practice of Egyptian art it began to manifest practically from the beginning of their civilization. Therefore, it did not matter how beautiful the work of art was or how it was carved because the main purpose of the work was to serve as a home or refuge for the Egyptian god or his spirit.
In this way, what is called the amulet was given rise to being a spiritual object and of great attractiveness since it possessed an aesthetic beauty and according to many people of Egyptian origin it had the power of creative force and protection against thoughts. Negative and bad influences.
That is why in the temples and tombs of important people such as the Egyptian pharaohs and priests, different works of art such as paintings and sculptures were made to remind society that life was eternal and the most important value is personal stability and stability. community.
Art in the first Egyptian dynasty
In the different works of Egyptian art, the main characteristic that was manifested was the balance and symmetry in the works of art, especially in the sculptures. The rock carving that inspired Egyptian artists in the well-known Predynastic period was based on the harmony of each piece.
This was allowing each Egyptian artist to develop their techniques to elaborate each Egyptian work of art. This time was known as the first dynasty of Egypt that is described between the years ca. 3150-2613 BCE and reached its highest level with the well-known Narmer Palette between ca. 3200-3000 BCE. This instrument was the union between Upper and Lower Egypt in the reign of Pharaoh Narmer ca. 3150 BCE.
The well-known Narmer Palette tells the story of Pharaoh Narmer's victory over all his enemies and how the Egyptian gods gave him the motivation and help to carry out the different strategies. The palette is made of a slime stone slab in the shape of a shield with several engraved reliefs. But several reliefs have been difficult to interpret by specialists in Egyptian art.
But it is identified in the engravings that it is the strength of the union, since it relates the pharaoh Narmer with the power and divine strength of the bull or with the god Api. Who holds the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt in a grand parade of triumph. Below this pharaoh you can see two people who are fighting some beasts which many interpret as Upper and Lower Egypt.
But this interpretation that is made has many objections and there is no credible and true justification. On the back of the palette is the story about Pharaoh Narmer and how he had the cunning to defeat all his enemies. While the Egyptian gods approve of the actions he performed. All these carvings that were made to the Narmer palette were made with such rigor that they give great harmony to the work of Egyptian art.
One of the most important figures in Egyptian art is the well-known architect and engineer Imhotep (ca. 2667-2600 BCE), who used the technique of engraving, as well as the use of harmony in the different Egyptian works of art that gave him great results at the end of the Egyptian First Dynasty period. When he began the design and construction of the different Egyptian pyramids of Pharaoh Djoser ca. 2670 BCE.
It also contributes with the images of lotus flowers, papyrus plants and the well-known djed symbol that has as its meaning the stability of the person and society. These symbols can be found in many Egyptian works of art as well as in the different Egyptian buildings and temples both inside and outside of them and in relief.
By this time of the Egyptian period, artists had already perfectly mastered the technique of relief and stone engraving, as sculptors had created many three-dimensional sculptures with great balance and harmony in all the features of the Egyptian work of art.
Many of the works of Egyptian art of this time were made on a natural scale and others had large dimensions such as the figures of the pharaohs. Among the most important works that are detailed in this Egyptian period, the sculptures of Pharaoh Djoser stand out.
Art in the Ancient Egyptian Empire
In the well-known stage of the Old Kingdom period that is located between the years a. 2613-2181 BCE. Egyptian art developed thanks to the action of the power of the pharaohs and the combination of the economic power that Egypt lived at that time. For which it was possible to finish large-scale artistic works such as the well-known Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx and the different Egyptian temples used as tombs for priests and pharaohs.
It was also possible to complete the work of the Obelisk that began to be built in the period of the First Dynasty, was greatly improved in the Ancient period and the details of the Obelisk were finished in the Ancient Egyptian Period. While the painting in Egyptian art remained although with many changes and developments in the area of the tombs.
But in the Egyptian sculptures throughout the Egyptian period he kept the same way making works on a natural scale that had a lot of harmony and balance in the different features of the structure.
This can be exemplified by the similarity in a statue of Pharaoh Djoser that was found in the city of Saqqara. With a tiny ivory statue bearing the sphinx of King Khufu, which was found in the Great Pyramid of Giza. When conducting a detailed study of these works by specialists, it was determined that both sculptures have the same characteristics and techniques when they were made by Egyptian artists.
In the Ancient Egyptian period, Egyptian art was commissioned by order of the Pharaoh and the Egyptian priests. For the nobility that had very influential people in that area. All the works of Egyptian art were made with the guidelines of the Pharaoh or those who made up the State at that time, in this way many of the pieces and works of art have a lot of similarity in the techniques used and many look alike.
It is also noted that many works of Egyptian art had different forms when they were made, but all the artists had to comply with the orders given by the pharaohs, the priests and the different clients that belonged to the Egyptian nobility. This archetype that Egyptian artists had to follow to make works of art continued to be used until the Ancient Egyptian Empire died, thus giving birth to the Egyptian Intermediate Period.
Egyptian First Intermediate Period
In the Egyptian period this stage was characterized by the chaos and darkness that was experienced. The Egyptian art that was used in this very difficult period for civilization was characterized to show the discontent that was had with the main figures that exercised the laws and regulations.
Well, the works of art and the different architectural works that were carried out were of very low quality, this could be observed with the different studies carried out where it was captured that the Egyptian culture was in a moment of decline and was caused by the anarchy that was lived.
Also that there was a rupture in the Egyptian civilization. That is why there is a very clear reality and that is when the Egyptian First Intermediate Period had a time of growth and cultural change. Well, the pieces of the Egyptian works of art were of very poor quality since there was no Egyptian government that cared about the different works that were being built and the workforce was scarce.
In each area that was part of the Egyptian Intermediate Empire, it was free to develop Egyptian art through the personal perception of whoever was in charge of the government in power. Although many specialists of Egyptian art affirm that there was no low quality but that they used different material to make the different Egyptian works.
Nor was a plan made for the large buildings that were to be built during this period. While the dynasties of the other Egyptian empires invested economic resources as well as raw materials in creating great monuments in order to enhance the Egyptian works of art.
In this stage, known as the time of the fifth Egyptian dynasty, no plans were made and the economic factor was not available, as well as the raw materials to carry out large-scale works. Therefore, this Egyptian Empire and the well-known sixth Egyptian dynasty reflected times of confusion and anxiety, but in the studies carried out by Egyptologists there are no indications that it is a stage of darkness.
At the time of the first Egyptian intermediate period, an important set of pieces and works of art were made, since the works that had been made by a single Egyptian artist in this period began to be made pieces and the Egyptian works of art were assembled and painted with a group of artists working as a team.
These pieces and works of art were distinguished by being amulets, coffins, ceramic dolls and busts of Egyptian gods. Shabti dolls were a special part of Egyptian works of art since they were very valuable and important objects in funeral acts since these dolls went with the dead.
The Egyptians believed that these Shabti dolls, being buried with the person when they returned to life again, had the responsibility to take care of the person and the decisions made by these dolls are made of different materials such as ceramics, wood and stone. depending on the social class to which the deceased individual belonged.
In this Egyptian period, many works of art were made en masse for the Egyptian population so that they could be sold at an affordable price for the population. These Shabti dolls were very important as the souls in the other world could relax as they would always return to the earthly world because these dolls perform the work that one should have done.
In other Egyptian empires the only people who could afford the value of a Shabti doll were the pharaohs, the priests and the nobles who belonged to or had a strong position in the Egyptian government that was led by the Pharaoh. But at this stage the dolls were purchased by people with less resources to earn heaven.
Art in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom
The Egyptian Middle Kingdom begins when the pharaoh Mentuhotep II between the years a. 2061-2010 BCE faced the kings of Herakleopolis. Thus begins the Egyptian Middle Kingdom. Which lasts between the years 2040-1782 BCE in the city of Thebes.
However, this city became the capital of Egypt and thus gave birth to a very strong new government that had the power and decision to establish a taste for Egyptian arts and how to perform them in the best way using the most appropriate techniques with which better tools.
Starting a series of rules in the Middle Egyptian Empire which encouraged various areas of the country to create different styles of Egyptian art and that the nobility that was formed by the wealthiest people agreed with the techniques and materials that would be used. for the design of Egyptian works of art.
Although many people attached great importance to the works of art they worshiped and venerated. While other people of the Egyptian nobility believed more in the other Egyptian art of the Middle Kingdom which paid artists to reflect the same techniques of the works made. But in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom the works of art stand out more for the themes that were exposed in each work carried out and for better working the technique.
Although the Egyptian Middle Kingdom stood out for taking Egyptian culture to one of the highest points in its time. That is why the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Mentuhotep II is simply a work of art by Egyptian artists. Since the tomb was made of rocks and very well carved and is very close to the city of Thebes.
Which blends very well with the natural landscape of Egypt and gives the viewer the feeling that everything is a single complex or as if the work of art that is the tomb were part of the natural landscape of Egypt. Similarly, the frescoes, sculptures and paintings that accompany the tomb of Pharaoh Mentuhotep II reflect a splendid symmetry that harmonizes with the landscape and gives a certain balance.
At that time of the Egyptian period, jewelry is also given a lot of relevance, turning it into an Egyptian art. Since they perfect it to a greater degree than in other Egyptian periods. Many specialists and Egyptologists have commented that the jewelry of this time is the finest and best worked.
For example, there is the necklace from the reign of Sesostris II (ca.1897-1878 BCE), he gave it to his daughter and is made with very thin gold threads that are attached to a solid gold pectoral with lace of 372 jewels. different semi-precious In addition there is a set of statues and busts of the pharaohs and their queens that were made with great precision and great beauty. This was sorely lacking in past Egyptian periods,
A point to note in this period of Egyptian art is that in the Middle Kingdom people who were part of the town, could acquire these works of art more often than those who belonged to the society of the nobles.
It is also noted that the influence that existed from the Egyptian first intermediate period was still reflected in the Egyptian art of the Middle Kingdom by which the workers, dancers, singers, farmers and people who were engaged in domestic work received much attention from the pharaohs, priests , the nobility and some gods.
The tombs were very important works of art in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom since they were carved with great care to reflect the life that the deceased wanted in his afterlife. When you return to the earthly world. While the literature of that Egyptian period was highly questioned since the belief of the people is that it should concentrate on the only life that it had, that is, the present.
When they focus on this factor that was the present and earthly life, the artists, when making their works of art, such as sculptures, began to design them more real to people and less idealized. For example the pharaohs as in the case of Sesostris III ca.1878-1860 BCE. The sculptures that were made were of a very nice king.
While researchers and Egyptologists have recognized the different characteristics in Egyptian works of art, such as the details and homogeneity in the sculptures of Pharaoh Sesostris III, he was represented in various sculptures and works of art with different ages. While in other sculptures they represent this Pharaoh with a look of victory and with a look of suffering.
Although other pharaohs from different eras were portrayed as being of the same age, young and full of strength and bravery at the same time. Although Egyptian art is very famous because its sculptures show almost no signs of expressiveness since the artists recognized that expressions were fleeting and did not want to reflect an eternal image of the pharaoh or the person forever. But of the entire stage of his life from youth to old age.
In the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, artists adhered to this goal of creating sculptures and works of art that reflect the person's present life and emotional states, but were not interested in representing him in his past or future life. Since Egyptian art emphasizes the present of the person and what he is living.
Since many artists, when making images of the other life of the person, did it enjoying the pleasures such as eating and drinking. While others made works of art of the person sowing and harvesting the fruits of the fields. Although Egyptian artists placed a lot of emphasis on earthly pleasures that were done most of the time. An object that was used in works of art and became fashionable was dog collars.
These necklaces became more sophisticated and were used for leisure. In addition, they were used to decorate everyday objects. But there came a point in the Egyptian era when the Middle Kingdom began to decline and dissolve, that was precisely in the XIII Dynasty according to various studies by Egyptologists. This was because the rulers of this region felt so comfortable that they were abandoning the affairs of the state and their obligations to the people.
The Nubians began to invade Egypt from the south. While the Hyksos some foreign peoples invaded them and were occupying their spaces. This happened in the north of the country in what is known as the Delta. The authorities and military leaders of the city of Thebes lost control before the chaos that was occurring. A large part of Egyptian territory was occupied by the Hyksos.
While the Egyptians could not carry out any strategy against them since they were losing ground and soldiers in the southern part of the country when they were facing the Nubians. The government of Egypt was becoming incapable and obsolete with what it was facing and this is how it was opening the way to a new era known as the Second Intermediate Period (ca.1782 – ca.1570 BCE).
In this new Egyptian stage, the government that was directed from the city of Thebes continued to be in charge of the works but on a smaller scale, while the new occupants, the Hyksos, were carrying out other works and began to rearrange the temples and began to carry out larger and larger works. Larger as well as better quality.
Art in the Second Intermediate Period/New Kingdom
In the Egyptian second intermediate period there were also manifestations of Egyptian art, but these manifestations were of lower quality than in the previous Egyptian periods. While the most renowned artists were used by the nobility and pharaohs in the city of Thebes.
These artists, being making works for the most influential people in Egyptian society at the time, made works of very good quality since they had unlimited resources. While other artists who do not work for royalty, their work was of lower quality and they performed according to a disorganized and a bit chaotic work.
But it should be noted that the works that were carried out in this Egyptian stage were of very poor quality when carrying out an analysis of Egyptian art, since many of the works of art were very simple and of low quality.
Although in the jewelry pectorals and gold necklaces were still made and the temples were built with many reliefs and the tombs were made different paintings and landscapes according to what the owner of the same ordered to do in life. The new occupants of Egypt known as the Hyksos began to make their contributions to Egyptian culture and art.
But over time they were pushed aside by Egyptian historians. Although these also began to write their own history and copied Egyptian statues and sculptures as well as many works of Egyptian art. But between the years ca. 1570-1544 BCE), under the command of the Theban prince Ahmose, the Hyksos were expelled from the territory of Egypt. In the reign of Prince Ahmose began the new kingdom of Egypt that is established between the years ca. 1570–ca. 1069 BCE
In this new stage of the Egyptian period, he stood out a lot since he was known as the most famous. Because there were the rulers who stood out for the actions they took and Egyptian art was highly recognized in this period. The statues that had enormous proportions that were built in the Middle Kingdom became the center of attention for the Egyptian society.
The great temple of Karnak with its famous Hypostyle Hall was frequently enlarged. One of the most important books of the Egyptian culture known as the book of the dead was recollected using more drawings and vignettes were used. This had the purpose that the Egyptian settlers, as well as the courtiers, the nobles and the officials knew its content.
In the same way, more Shabti dolls of very good quality were made, as well as various funerary products that people bought for when they died, they would adorn their graves with these objects so that when they return to earthly life, they have a better life than before.
Egypt is known as the new kingdom. That is why the Egyptian Empire grew larger as the borders and territory expanded and this was an improvement for Egyptian art as the artists acquired new knowledge and improved their techniques to carry out their works of art. better way.
At least the work with the metal used by the Hittite people that they themselves invented. The Egyptians accepted this and began to use this technique to make their own weaponry out of pure metal which made it more rigid and of better quality. Also this technique greatly influenced Egyptian art. Since the wealth obtained by the Egyptian empire in this period was reflected on all sides such as culture, society and economy. In addition, this is closely related to Egyptian art and the individual art of artists.
In the reign of Pharaoh Amenophis III (1386-1353 BCE), with the economy that the country had, this Pharaoh ordered the construction of many monuments and temples. According to researchers of the history of Egypt, they attribute this period of prosperity to the great works that were carried out to enhance their culture and Egyptian art.
Among the works that caused the most influence are The Colossi of Memnon, which are two large statues of a seated king. These statues weigh about 720 tons with a height of 18 meters or about 60 feet in elevation. When these statues were completed, they stood at the entrance to the well-known mortuary complex of Amenophis III, which has now disappeared.
The son of Pharaoh Amenophis III, who was called Amenophis IV, but was better known by the name of Akhenaten (1353-1336 BCE), this pharaoh was the name that was placed after consecrating himself to the so-called God Aton and began to eliminate many traditions of what became known as the Amarna period.
Many of the sculptures and statues of Egyptian art turned to the naturalism that prevailed in the well-known Middle Kingdom. But at the beginning of the new Egyptian kingdom these artistic representations were the most appropriate and the most used in the kingdom of Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BCE), in this kingdom the queen was personified in a very natural way. But many other sculptures and statues made for the nobility show the idealism and sensitivity that still existed for the old kingdom that perished.
These sculptures were made with happy and smiling faces and had a heart shape. In the Egyptian art that prevailed in the well-known Amarna period, it was so real that many specialists in Egyptian art have even commented that they could perform the gestures they had if they were sick or in pain.
There are two works that are very important for Egyptian art that have been made in the New Kingdom, from the Empire of Egypt, the first is known as the Bust of the goddess Nefertiti and the other is the well-known gold death mask of Tutankhamun.
The artwork known as the goddess Nefertiti who is known to have lived between the years (ca. 1370-1336 BCE), was the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten and the bust of her was found in Amarna in the year 1912 CE. By the archaeologist of German origin named Borchardt and is a synonym today of Egypt.
While the gold mask of Tutankhamun. It was made during his government between the years ca. 1336-1327 BCE. This was the son of the pharaoh who is known as Akhenaten. This Pharaoh intended to remove all the religious reforms that his father had put in place and bring Egypt back to the religious beliefs of the past but he did not carry them out as he died when he was 20 years old.
His tomb was well known and very famous when it was discovered in the year 1922 after Christ for the large number of treasures and artifacts it contained from the Egyptian era. One of the most frequently found treasures was the well-known gold mask of Tutankhamun and other metal objects that were found in the tomb of this Pharaoh.
All the metal artifacts found were inventions and innovations made by the Egyptian people thanks to the techniques they learned from the Hittites people. Egyptian art in the New Kingdom is among the greatest in the entire civilization of the world. Since there was a lot of interest in learning the new techniques and styles of Egyptian art. Before the people known as the Hyksos arrived to occupy part of the territory of Egypt.
It should be noted that the Egyptians had the firm belief that the other civilizations that existed were barbaric and uncivilized, that is why the Egyptians did not take into account the other civilizations because they were not worthy of their attention.
But when the Hyksos people invaded Egyptian territory, they realized that they should recognize other civilizations and their ways of thinking as well as the different contributions they made to the Egyptian people.
Later Egyptian periods and their legacy
The techniques and skills that the Egyptians have acquired during all the periods that have been given will continue to be used throughout the third intermediate period that lasts between the years (ca. 1069-525 BCE) and is more accentuated at a later stage. which is fixed between the years (525-332 BCE).
These Egyptian stages which Egyptologists have compared in a very negative way with the Egyptian empires where political power remained centralized. Since the style that was given to direct was very affected by the time and the resources that were available. But despite all these situations, Egyptian art always had a remarkable quality in the different works that were made.
As the Egyptologist David P. Silverman mentioned in one of his investigations, Egyptian art reflects the opposing forces of tradition and the change that was obtained. However, those who held power in the Kushite civilization during the late period wanted to impose the same rules that were used in the Ancient Egyptian Empire.
This resulted in the Egyptian people identifying with traditions that they had already abandoned. While the other rulers who belonged to the nobility tried to progress in Egyptian art through new techniques and artistic manifestations in the new Egyptian kingdom, giving very good results in the sculptures, paintings and reliefs they made.
Although this same scheme was influenced by the Persian empire, when they had the great idea of invading Egypt in the year 525 after Christ. But the Persians acquired great respect for Egyptian culture and art as many of these were identified with the funerary temples found in Egypt. As well as the other architecture that existed at that time of the invasion
It is also important to highlight the so-called Ptolemaic period (323-30 BCE) at that time there was a fusion between Egyptian art and Greek art, resulting in several statues with very different characteristics, among which the statue of the God Serapis stands out, a god known as Greco Egyptian which was also worshiped by the Romans and became known as Roman Egyptian art.
After this meeting, Rome would adopt various techniques of Egyptian art as well as many of its characteristics. In order to adapt the Egyptian deities to the understanding of Roman civilization. Regarding the Egyptian paintings in the tombs, they are influenced by Roman customs, but the Egyptians always used the techniques they learned from the beginning of the ancient Egyptian kingdom.
architecture of egypt
After having told in this article everything about the Egyptian empires and their main characteristics in Egyptian art, we are going to delve deeper into Egyptian art focused on its architecture. Since its buildings and temples have been characterized by being large. Since the Egyptians used to carry out these works large blocks that were carved using the use of ashlars and solid columns.
To understand how great and ingenious architecture is in Egyptian art, one must know the following conditions that had to be met in Egypt since political power was centralized in a single person known as the Pharaoh. In addition, there was a religious concept that was known as the immortality of the Pharaoh and he would return to his power in the other life that he had.
As for the different technical knowledge that the Egyptians had, they made good use of mathematical calculations and engineering and architectural techniques to make their monumental Egyptian works of art. Although for the time this knowledge is very disconcerting for researchers and specialists in the history of Egypt and its art.
In addition, there were technicians and specialists as well as artisans who had a lot of knowledge about their work and works that they also carried out at that time the raw material such as stone abounds everywhere and they were easily carved.
Although it should be noted that in Egyptian art, the architectural constructions that have most attracted the attention of people around the world are the so-called pyramid complexes and funerary temples known as tombs (mastabas, speos, hypogea and cenotaphs), but all These tombs depended on how great the character was in life to make a great temple.
Although it should be noted in this article on Egyptian art that pyramids were built for many pharaohs to bury them there, the most important are those attributed to Seneferu, Cheops and Khafre. Similarly, it is necessary to highlight that one of the pyramids belongs to the seven wonders of the ancient world, which is the pyramid of Jufu, and that it is still there today.
In this same way, the Egyptians dedicated themselves to building temples for the different gods to whom they paid tribute for their well-being. Since this for the Egyptian civilization was a great symbolic act. While the Egyptian architects gave these great temples harmony and functionality. These architects had a lot of knowledge about physics and geometry.
In addition, they distributed the work of the pyramids to many people, including artists, artisans, painters and carvers. They also used transportation to be able to move the large monolithic obelisks that were made of granite as well as large statues. This led the Egyptians to have a lot of mathematical knowledge.
In addition, there are great palaces that the architects dedicated themselves to building for the comfort of the Pharaoh and his family. But what was more important for the Egyptians was to build large tombs with many reliefs to return from the afterlife and live in better comforts than they already had.
Characteristics of Egyptian architecture
The main materials used in Egyptian architecture as part of Egyptian art were the so-called limestone and mud bricks. Limestone was used primarily for the construction of temples and funerary buildings such as the different pyramids.
While the bricks were used in the construction of houses and palaces for the pharaohs. In addition, with these bricks the different Egyptian fortresses and the walls for the pyramids and funerary temples were built.
At present, many of the Egyptian cities have disappeared because they were located very close to the Nile River and with the flooding of the river all these cities were flooded with the mud of the river that with time disappeared.
That is why it is important to note that Egyptian art focused on architecture has been based mainly on religious monuments since they had a lot of faith in their Egyptian gods, these structures have been characterized over time for being massive and for their large size.
Also because they have walls that have few openings and are slightly inclined and because many Egyptian engineers and architects used a repetition method in all the works in order to obtain greater stability in each building and in the adobe walls.
In the same way, the set of ornaments that were made on the surface of the walls of the temples and funerary buildings was derived from an ornamentation in the different adobe walls. Since the arch in the doors began to be used in the Egyptian fourth dynasty.
Since many constructions have large pillars and retaining walls inside and were covered with flats that were made up of large stone blocks that rested on the external walls and on large columns.
In the different Egyptian buildings the interior and exterior walls were carved with hieroglyphics and illustrations of what are known as low relief and sculptures with many very bright colors. In Egyptian art, the ornaments that were used to decorate the walls of the different temples were symbolic elements dedicated to their religious beliefs, such as the sacred scarab, the solar disk and the vulture.
Other ornaments that were used in Egyptian art and were in common use are palm leaves, papyrus plant, and lotus flowers. All these hieroglyphs had the mission of telling some story to future civilizations or were historical legends about Egyptian culture and art.
Egyptian Sculpture
One of the Egyptian art that has stood out is Egyptian sculpture which is a very important chapter in civilization. Egyptian sculpture will emerge as a representation of the image of the pharaohs and their queens.
It was also used as Egyptian art to represent the different gods and the person who departed from the underworld to the afterlife. In the same way, sculptures were used to perform religious ceremonies and rituals.
Although the place they gave to the different sculptures was in the temples and in the different palaces where the pharaoh lived together with his family and other royal characters. It was a piece that adorned temples and palaces.
Characteristics of Egyptian Sculptures
In Egyptian art, what predominated were architectural works and sculptures, although over time many sculptures continued to be made without changing the technique and methods, but small changes were observed throughout all the Egyptian empires that existed between the main Characteristics of Egyptian sculptures we can name the following:
- All the Egyptian sculptures maintained their rigid character and greatness, since it was desired with the sculpture that it transmits permanence in the earthly world. But when episodes were presented they were related to transitory scenes. This stands out more with servants, pharaohs, and nobles.
- Many of the Egyptian sculptures were made with round shapes to give the piece balance and prevent the sculpture from cracking over time.
- All Egyptian pieces have a law known as the law of frontality, this law was formulated in the XNUMXth century by the Danish Lange. All the sculptures are very frontal and symmetrical so that there is balance and harmony in the piece and it lasts for many years.
- Egyptian sculpture articulates with a horizontal and a vertical plane but its base has an orthogonal shape.
- The materials used to make Egyptian sculptures were basalt, granite and limestone. Although many sculptures were also made of wood. For the Pharaoh, noble materials such as ivory were used to make his sculpture.
- When wood and limestone were used to make the different Egyptian sculptures, the artists would polychrome the sculpture to give a more prominent touch to the work of art. In addition, precious stones were placed to give it a more striking touch.
- Egyptian sculptures have a different size, there was no specific rule to make them since many works were monumental and others were the size of the same person who ordered them to be made. But what is most striking is that no part of the sculpture was out of tune with the harmony and balance of the piece.
- All the sculptures were very real from the animals to the people themselves since the sculptures were very real to the person.
- Egyptian sculptures were made with the purpose of conveying calm and serenity to the person who sees the image, they did so with the aim of showing a person will be and peaceful.
major works of egyptian art
There are many works that the Egyptian Empire carried out during all the years that it existed, although these monuments had a symbolic character since the Egyptians had many religious beliefs, in this article we will say many works that still exist and have attracted the attention of many, among which have:
- The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
- The three pyramids of Seneferu at Meidum and Dahshur.
- The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) in Giza.
- The pyramid of Giraffe (Kephren) in Giza.
- The pyramid of Menkaura (Mycerinus) in Giza.
- Great Temple of Amun at Karnak.
- Luxor temple. (Amenhotep III / Ramses II).
- Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari.
- Temples of Ramses II in Abu Simbel.
- Hypogea of the Valley of the Kings.
- Temple of Khnum in Esna
- Temple of Horus in Edfu
- Temple of Sobek and Haroeris at Ombos
- Temple of Isis at Philae
- Temple of Hathor in Dendera
Achievements of the Egyptian civilization
For a long time the Egyptian civilization had too many achievements in its art as it reached a very high level of complexity and productivity.
Since the Egyptian art and engineering came together to develop great buildings with a great topography since many of these buildings have an exact position with the sun and the moon.
It is also important to note that the Egyptians were the first people to use mortars in temple and pyramid constructions. They also used the risks for agriculture and thus take advantage of the water of the Nile River in their food.
In other of its achievements it was the first civilization to produce its first grains and save them to be the main grain producers of the ancient world.
Many researchers have guessed that the pharaohs of the twelfth Egyptian dynasty used the water from Lake Fayum to deposit it in large, circular tanks to always be supplied with clean water in the seasons of maximum heat and the river goes down to the minimum.
Many of the sculptures and in Egyptian art used the turquoise color since the Egyptians found mines of this material and exploited the mines to be able to extract all the mineral that was there.
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