The Architecture of Ancient Egypt

Vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from the lecture notes on ancient Egyptian architecture.

Ancient Egyptians

Indigenous people of Egypt who traded with Western Asia and Libyan tribes.

Lower Egypt

The northern region of Egypt, encompassing the entire Delta area until near Memphis.

Upper Egypt

The southern region of Egypt, extending from Memphis to Aswan.

King Menes

The ruler who unified Egypt and established Memphis as the capital.

Protoliterate Period

The time around 3000 B.C. marking the end of primitive writing and the start of more complex societies.

Neolithic village life

Early human communities that engaged in farming and animal husbandry in the Nile Valley.

Archaic Period

Also known as the Thinite Period, it lasted from 3000 to 2665 B.C. and marked advances in Egyptian building.

Old Kingdom

Period in Egyptian history from ca. 2686 to 2181 B.C. characterized by the construction of pyramids.

Middle Kingdom

Period from ca. 2055 to 1650 B.C. marked by shared power among provincial governors and the priesthood.

New Kingdom

Period from ca. 1550 to 1070 B.C. known for flourishing monumental temple architecture.

The Nile

The primary river in Egypt crucial for agriculture and civilization, known for its predictable flooding.

Pyramid

A monumental structure built as a royal tomb; represents the pharaoh's ascension to the divine.

Mortuary temple

A temple dedicated to the deceased pharaoh where offerings were made.

Obelisk

A tall, four-sided narrow tapering monument that was a common architectural feature in ancient Egypt.

Hypostyle hall

A large room with a roof supported by columns, found in temples and used for important ceremonies.

Sphinx

A mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head, often associated with royal power.

Amun

The principal deity of Thebes and the national god of ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom.

Akhenaten

An Egyptian pharaoh who introduced the worship of the sun-disk Aton, disrupting traditional worship.

Tuthmosis III

A powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, known for military campaigns and extensive temple building.

Karnak Temple

The principal religious center of ancient Egypt dedicated to the god Amun, consisting of numerous structures.

Luxor Temple

A large ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile, dedicated to Amun.

Hieroglyphics

The writing system used in ancient Egypt, consisting of pictorial symbols.

Funerary art

Art created for the deceased, including sculptures and paintings, intended to secure a safe passage to the afterlife.