Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering burial practices, materials, temples, dwellings, and gardens in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Valley of the Kings

A royal burial site near Thebes where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in rock-cut tombs rather than pyramids.

Pyramids (pyramid complexes)

Monumental tombs built for early pharaohs; later pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings.

Mudbrick

Sun-dried clay bricks used in Mesopotamian architecture; less durable than stone.

Stone construction

Durable building material used by Egyptians for long-lasting monuments.

Axial processional arrangement

Temple layout organized along a central axis for ceremonial processions.

Temple symbolism

Temples thought to represent the land of Egypt and the journey through the Nile.

Early temples as funerary complexes

In earlier periods, temples were built as part of funerary complexes.

Independent temple

Later temples built as standalone religious buildings separate from funerary complexes.

Dwellings (houses)

Both Mesopotamian and Egyptian houses used mud brick/adobe and had flat roofs.

Temple gardens

Gardens within temples featuring sacred herbs, flowers, and animals; evolved from orchards to pleasure gardens; present in temples and residences.

Sacred plants

Sycamore, date palm, pomegranate, rose, and water lilies.

Garden accessibility

Temple gardens were not restricted to the pharaoh or religious elites; they were part of temples and residences accessible to others.