The Great Pyramids and The Stepped Pyramid Ancient Egyptian architecture is arguably the most recognizable of all the architecture of the civilizations that came before us. Two examples of the precision and skill of the ancient Egyptians are The Great Pyramids of Giza and Imhotep’s Stepped Pyramid and Mortuary precinct of Djoser. These were built at different time periods with Imhotep’s Stepped Pyramid being constructed around three hundred years before the Great Pyramids of Giza. But even with this time gap there were still many similarities between the two pyramids. The first similarity one will notice about both of the monuments is that they are both located on the west bank of the Nile, in a region called the Necropolis.
One of the most unique traits of the Egyptians was their architectural innovation for building pyramids. Built as tombs for the pharaohs and the queens, they come in many different shapes and sizes. The pyramid represented the first land to appear at the beginning of time-a hill called
[YOUR LAST NAME] 1 [YOUR NAME] [PROFESSOR’S NAME] [COURSE NAME] [DATE] Classical Sculpture Classical sculpture did not appear from nothing; its genesis was not that of Athena’s birth from the head of Zeus, but a rather more sedate process. The roots of classical sculpture are, surprisingly, to be found in Egypt. The Egyptians had highly developed sculpture, most of which had religious implications, as can be seen by the hieroglyphic inscriptions on many of the pieces (Wilkinson, 34-37). Subjects of sculptures included the numerous gods and goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon, pharoahs (who were considered divine) and slaves and other figures created for inclusion in burials; these sculptures, along with real items (e.g., chariots) would become part of the deceased’s “estate” in the afterlife (ibid., 64). The majority of Egyptian sculptures were all in the same style, regardless of whether they represented an animal-headed god, a king, or a scribe.
The flabby skinned and slouchy depiction of Haremhab as a Scribe of the King has more than what meets the eye. Thru this simple figure is the tale of Egypt’s history that is as rich as the Nile itself. The various symbols and figures of the sculpture all represent certain significances in ancient Egyptian culture, tradition, and customs. During my research, I hope to gain insight on the importance of Haremhab as a Scribe of the King back in ancient Egyptian times, and what significance the sculpture holds as a work of art. My research will conclude with a primary analysis from my own investigation of the art work which is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Khufu’s pyramid faces north entirely followed by the other two. This pyramid is most famous of the three for many reasons. Standing at its original size of “482 feet high on a plan that’s 760 feet square” (Trachtenberg and Hyman 65) the structure has extremely detailed internal arrangements consisting of three different chambers. My research will mainly focus on the internal arrangements of the pyramid. Archeological evidence shows that the bottom chamber was abandoned, while the second was named the queens chamber.
The hallmarks of ancient Egyptian civilization, such as art, architecture and many aspects of religion, took shape during the Early Dynastic period. Before the unification of Egypt, the land was settled with autonomous villages. With the early dynasties, and for much of Egypt's history thereafter, the country came to be known as the Two Lands. The rulers established a national administration and appointed royal governors. The buildings of the central government were typically open-air temples constructed of wood or sandstone.
But, what makes them so wonderful? One would have to say the thrilling, rich history that dwells within its mysterious tunnels. Along with the precise measurements of the structure that ancient Egyptians conquered so flawlessly. Although ancient Egyptians are said to of constructed this otherworldly masterpiece, many skeptics say that it would have been impossible due to the precision that coats this elegant work of art. Each side is perfectly aligned, facing each direction, (north, east, south, and west), only offset by a fraction of a degree.
The pyramids of Egypt are the best known example of Egyptian architecture. According to the ancient Egyptian belief, pyramids were built to protect the bodies of Egypt kings and royalty for their life after death. Pyramids can be defined as large structures with four triangular sides that meet in a point at the top, directly over the centre of the pyramid’s square base. There are approximately 110 pyramids currently known in Egypt, most of them in bad condition and almost destroyed and others that have remained unfinished. The first pyramid built that was similar to a true pyramid, was built during the 3rd Dynasty – 2630 B.C.
Of these the pyramids were very notable, according to archaeological evidence; it has been shown that the ancient Mayans began building their characteristic ceremonial structures, known as Mayan Pyramids or Pyramid-Temples, about 3,000 years back. Mayan pyramids, in fact, were built in a wide variety of forms to serve a wide variety of functions, apart from religious ones, according to the customs of each region as well as period. (New World Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Dec. 2009) They also built temples; the temples were impressive and decorated structures themselves.
Now talking about the art of ancient civilization, it represents the culture and the tradition of the people in the early century. It depicts what type of people were they and the kind of activities done to adjust in the society. The ancient era basically includes the ancient Egypt, ancient Greek and the ancient Rome. Egyptians believed about the life after death and God controlling the workings of the universe. And also the divine power of the king granted by the God.