Seated scribe

ID: Name: Palette of King Narmer

Artist: Unknown

Period: Predynastic Egypt

Dates: 3000-2920 B.C.E.

Culture: Egypt Material: Greywacke Size: 25” x 16.5

Visual analysis: Contextual analysis: The Seated Scribe is a finely detailed statue featuring a life-like representation of an ancient Egyptian scribe. The figure is seated cross-legged, with a partially unrolled papyrus scroll on his lap, suggesting active engagement in writing or recording. The scribe's eyes are particularly striking, made of polished crystal with copper rims, giving them a lifelike and attentive expression that contrasts with the more idealized depictions of pharaohs.

Contextual:The Seated Scribe dates back to the Old Kingdom of Egypt, around 2450-2325 BCE, and reflects the high status of scribes in ancient Egyptian society, as literacy was rare and highly valued. Unlike the idealized images of pharaohs and gods, the scribe is portrayed realistically, emphasizing the importance of intellect and administrative skill over physical perfection. This sculpture was likely created for a tomb, intended to serve the scribe in the afterlife by ensuring his continued work as a scribe for the deceased's ka, or spirit

Great pyramids & great sphynx

Identification Great Pyramids (Menkaura, Khafre, Khufu) and Great Sphinx (2 images) Giza, Egypt Old Kingdom, Fourth Dynasty, ca. 2550-2490 BCE

Visual analysis: The Great Pyramids of Giza, with their massive limestone blocks and precise geometric alignment, dominate the Egyptian landscape, symbolizing the pinnacle of ancient architectural achievement. Nearby, the Great Sphinx, with its colossal lion's body and human head, complements the pyramids, exuding a sense of mystery and guardianship over the plateau

Contextual analysis: The Great Pyramids were constructed as monumental tombs for Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure during the Old Kingdom, reflecting the Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and the divine status of their rulers. The Sphinx, likely built under Pharaoh Khafre, serves both as a symbol of royal power and as a protective figure, embodying the fusion of human intellect and animal strength

Pyramid of Khufu

Identification Visual analysis Contextual analysis giza, egypt, old kingdom, fourth dynasty, ca. 2550-2490 BCE

The Great Pyramids of Giza, with their massive limestone blocks and precise geometric alignment, dominate the Egyptian landscape, symbolizing the pinnacle of ancient architectural achievement. Nearby, the Great Sphinx, with its colossal lion's body and human head, complements the pyramids, exuding a sense of mystery and guardianship over the plateau.

The Great Pyramids were constructed as monumental tombs for Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure during the Old Kingdom, reflecting the Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and the divine status of their rulers. The Sphinx, likely built under Pharaoh Khafre, serves both as a symbol of royal power and as a protective figure, embodying the fusion of human intellect and animal strength

Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx

Visual analysis:

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second-largest pyramid at Giza, easily identifiable by its remnants of the original smooth limestone casing at its peak, which contrasts with its weathered, stepped lower portions. In front of it lies the Great Sphinx, a colossal statue with a lion's body and a human head believed to bear the likeness of Khafre, combining regal authority with protective symbolism.

Context analysis:

Constructed during Khafre's reign around 2570 BCE, the pyramid and Sphinx emphasize the pharaoh's divine status and his connection to the sun god Ra, as seen in the alignment and the solar symbolism of the structures. The Sphinx, positioned as a guardian, reflects ancient Egyptian beliefs in protection and the eternal vigilance of the pharaoh, serving both religious and political purposes

Pyramid of Menkaure

ID: Menkaure, Ancient Egypt Old Dynasty, Fourth Dynastic Cut Limestone 2550-2490 BCE Giza, Egypt

Visual Analysis: The Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three main Giza pyramids, features a steeper angle and was originally encased in a combination of limestone and granite, giving it a distinct appearance. Its more modest size and rougher exterior compared to the other pyramids highlight its unfinished state, with some of the casing stones left incomplete

Contextual: Built around 2510 BCE for Pharaoh Menkaure, the pyramid reflects a shift in resources and possibly in the scale of royal building projects, as it is notably smaller than those of his predecessors, Khufu and Khafre. Despite its reduced scale, the pyramid and its accompanying mortuary complex still emphasize the pharaoh's divinity and role in the afterlife, maintaining the essential religious and political symbolism of pyramid construction in ancient Egypt

King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and queen

ID: King Menkaura and Queen Ancient Egypt Old Kingdom, Fourth Dynasty Greywacke 2490-2472 BCE Giza, Egypt

Visual: The statue of King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Queen portrays the royal couple standing side by side, with Menkaure depicted in a traditional, idealized pharaonic pose, and the queen slightly behind him, her arm affectionately around his waist. The figures are carved from smooth, dark stone, with fine detailing that emphasizes their youthful, athletic forms, conveying both strength and serenity.

Contextual: Created during the Fourth Dynasty, around 2490-2472 BCE, this sculpture symbolizes the divine nature of the king's rule and the queen's supportive, yet powerful, role within the royal hierarchy. The intimate pose and the scale of the figures reflect both the idealized portrayal of the royal family in ancient Egyptian art and the cultural emphasis on the unity and strength of the pharaoh's household as central to the stability of the nation. King Menkaura and Queen Ancient Egypt Old Kingdom,

The Code of Hummurabi

Identification: Code of Hammurabi Babylon (modern Iraq) Susian 1792-1750 Basalt

Visual analysis: The Code of Hammurabi is a tall basalt stele featuring a relief at the top that depicts King Hammurabi receiving the laws from the sun god Shamash, emphasizing divine authority. Below the relief, the cuneiform script is intricately inscribed in neat, vertical columns, outlining the legal codes. The stele's imposing height and detailed carvings are meant to convey the importance and solemnity of the laws, as well as Hammurabi's role as a divinely sanctioned ruler.

Contextual analysis: The Code of Hammurabi, dating to around 1754 BCE, is one of the earliest known legal documents and reflects the complexities of Babylonian society. It established a legal framework that codified justice, emphasizing retribution and social order, particularly through the principle of "an eye for an eye." The laws were meant to ensure the king’s control over a diverse empire, addressing issues from property rights to family law. The stele also served as a public monument, asserting Hammurabi’s legacy as a just ruler whose authority was rooted in divine will

Temple of Amun-Re and the Hypostyle Hall, Karnak

ID: Temple of Amun-Re and Hypostyle Hall, Ancient Egypt New Kingdom, 18th and 19th Dynastic, Cut sandstone and Mud brick 1550-1250 BCE, Karnak (Luxor, Egypt)

Visual:The Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak features a grand Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns, each intricately carved with hieroglyphs and sunken reliefs, creating a forest- like effect of towering stone pillars that evoke awe and grandeur. The central columns are taller, allowing clerestory windows to illuminate the hall with natural light, enhancing the sacred atmosphere within the vast, enclosed space

Contexual: Constructed over several centuries, primarily during the New Kingdom (circa 1550-1070 BCE), the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak was the most important religious center in Thebes, dedicated to the chief god Amun-Re. The Hypostyle Hall, built by Pharaohs Seti I and Ramesses II, exemplifies the political power and religious devotion of the pharaohs, serving as a monumental space for rituals, processions, and the reinforcement of the divine kingship that underpinned ancient Egyptian society

Mortuary Temple and Large Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th Dynastic, Sandstone 1473-1458 BCE, Luxor, Egypt

Visual: The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri is an architectural masterpiece, with its three terraced levels seamlessly integrated into the cliffs, featuring colonnaded facades and ramps that create a grand, symmetrical design. The Large Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut, placed within the temple, depicts her in the traditional pharaonic pose, offering jars to the gods, yet with distinct feminine features subtly blended with the masculine iconography of kingship

Contextual Analysis : Built during the 18th Dynasty, around 1479-1458 BCE, the temple emphasizes Hatshepsut's divine birth and her legitimacy as pharaoh, using its grand design and alignment with the surrounding landscape to reinforce her authority and connection to the gods. The kneeling statue, one of many in the temple, reflects her unique status as a female pharaoh, portraying her in a way that balances traditional male representations of kingship with her identity, thereby legitimizing her rule in a patriarchal society

House Altar depicting Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Three of their Daughters

Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters Ancient Egypt New Kingdom (Amarna), 18th Dynastic Limestone 1353-1335 BCE Amarna, Egypt

Visual Analysis:

The House Altar depicting Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and three of their daughters is a carved limestone relief that showcases the royal family in an intimate and informal scene, with the figures characterized by elongated bodies, prominent facial features, and flowing lines typical of the Amarna style. The sun disc, Aten, shines down upon them, with rays ending in hands offering ankhs, symbolizing the divine blessing and life bestowed by the sun god

Contextual Analysis: Created during the Amarna Period (circa 1353-1336 BCE), this relief reflects the revolutionary religious shift initiated by Akhenaten, who moved away from traditional polytheism to focus on the worship of Aten, the sun disc, as the sole god. The intimate portrayal of the royal family highlights Akhenaten’s emphasis on the human aspects of the pharaoh and his family, breaking from the more formal and distant depictions common in earlier Egyptian art. This work also underscores the central role of Nefertiti and their daughters in the royal and religious life of the period, as they are shown receiving divine favor alongside Akhenaten

Tutankhamun’s tomb (innermost coffin and death mask)

Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th Dynastic, Lapis Lazuli, Turquois, pure gold, 1323 BCE, Valley of the Kings, Egypt

Visual Analysis: Tutankhamun’s tomb (innermost coffin and death mask) Tutankhamun's innermost coffin is crafted from solid gold and intricately inlaid with semi-precious stones, depicting the young pharaoh in a serene, idealized form, holding the crook and flail, symbols of kingship. The coffin’s surface is richly decorated with intricate patterns and inscriptions that invoke protection for the pharaoh in the afterlife. The death mask, also made of gold, portrays Tutankhamun with a calm, regal expression, adorned with lapis lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian, highlighting the craftsmanship and the high value placed on the materials

Contextual Analysis

Tutankhamun's tomb, discovered almost intact in 1922, offers a rare glimpse into the burial practices and wealth of New Kingdom Egypt, despite the young king’s relatively short reign (1332-1323 BCE). The lavish materials and detailed craftsmanship of the innermost coffin and death mask reflect the Egyptians' beliefs in the afterlife and the importance of ensuring the king’s safe passage and eternal life among the gods. Tutankhamun's death mask, in particular, has become an iconic symbol of ancient Egyptian culture, representing the combination of divine authority and youthful beauty attributed to the pharaoh, despite his minor role in history compared to other rulers. King Tut's Tomb Ancient Egypt New Kingdom, 18th Dynastic Lapis Lazuli, Turquois, pure gold 1323 BCE Valley of the Kings,