Ancient Egypt

Great Pyramid & Great Sphinx

Pyramid: Tomb for the pharaoh—reflects belief in afterlife and divine kingship.

Sphinx: Guarding the funerary complex of Khafre.

Limestone

Afterlife Beliefs

Egyptians believed in a life after death and buried people with goods.

Tomb Artefacts included luxury items like furniture, jewelry, and models of homes.

Thrones of Tutankhamon and High Class Funerary Objects

• Meant to reflect divine protection and royal legitimacy.

• Serve the deceased in the afterlife.

• Express status, wealth, and divine favor.

• Ensure successful journey to and existence in the afterlife.

Wood overlaid with gold leaf, silver, semi-precious stones

Reserve Heads

Idealized sculpted heads found in tombs; possibly had spiritual function.

Khnumhotep tomb wall paintings

• Show Hieratic Scale

• Standarized Poses

• Hieroglyphs: a stylized picture of an object representing a word

Nebamun's garden wall painting

• Depicts a lush, symmetrical garden—idealized nature.

• Symbol of eternal paradise in the afterlife.

• Features include fish, trees, birds, and pools (symbolizing fertility and order).

 Seated scribe

• Sculpture in the round: a type of sculpture in which the figures are presented in complete three- dimensional form and are not attached to a flat background.

• Realistic body and face, signs of aging

• Shows elevated status of scribes, not idealized like kings.

• Meant for funerary purpose—to serve the deceased in afterlife.

Painted limestone

King Menkaure and queen

• Stiff frontal pose, idealized bodies.

• Shows eternal strength and unity.

Stone sculpture.

Mask of Tutankhamen

• Found in Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings.

• Represents the idealized face of the young king.

• Symbols of royalty and divinity

Gold inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Amun-Re complex at Karnak

• Largest religious complex in ancient Egypt

• Hypostyle Hall:

  • Forest of massive columns (134 total).

  • Filled with hieroglyphic inscriptions.

• Obelisks:

  • Tall, pointed monuments dedicated to Amun, often inscribed.

• Festival Temple

Standardized Poses

Rigid, repeated postures to ensure symbolic meaning.

Idealization

Art that represents people in perfect, idealized form.

Naturalism

A more realistic style, showing physical traits (e.g., Seated Scribe).