Pharaohs, Tombs, and Temples: The Art of Ancient Egypt

Evidence of a sophisticated civilization begins to appear on the banks of the Nile around 3500 B.C.

Painting and Sculpture:

Among the earliest historical examples of Egyptian art are a wall painting that appears to record funerary practices, and a ceremonial stone palette carved on both sides, with scenes in relief commemorating the unification of Egypt.

The oldest Egyptian art:

The Predynastic, or prehistoric, beginnings of Egyptian civilization are chronologically vague. But tantalizing remains from around 3500 B.C. attest to the existence of a sophisticated civilization on the banks of the Nile.

3-1 People, boats, and animals, detail of a watercolor copy of a wall painting from Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis, Predynastic, ca. 3500-3200 B.C. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

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The unification of the two Egypts:

In Predynastic times, Egypt was divided geographically and politically into Upper Egypt (the southern, upstream part of the Nile Valley), which was dry, rocky, and culturally rustic, and Lower (northern) Egypt, which was opulent, urban, and populous.

3-2 Palette of King Narmer (left, back; right, front); from Hierakonpolis, Predynastic, ca. 3000-2920 B.C. Slate, approx. 2' 1" high. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

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The portrayal of divine kings:

On the front of the palette, the elongated necks of two felines form the circular depression that would have held eye makeup in an ordinary palette not made for display.

Architecture:

The brick or stone mastaba with sloping sides was a standard type of tomb in early Egypt. The first monumental royal tomb, built in stone by the architect Imhotep for King Djoser at Saqqara, comprised a stepped pyramid, temple, and other buildings within a large, rectangular enclosure surrounded by a high wall.

Art and the afterlife:

Narmer's palette is exceptional among surviving Egyptian artworks because it is commemorative rather than funerary in nature.

3-3 Section (top), plan (middle), and restored view (right) of typical mastaba tombs.

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The first pyramid and the first known architect:

One of the most renowned figures in Egyptian history is Imhotep, the royal builder for King Djoser (r. 2630-2611 B.C.) of the Third Dynasty.

3-4 Imhotep, Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Dynasty III, ca. 2630-2611 B.C.

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3-5 Restored plan (top) and view drawing (bottom) of the mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Dynasty III, ca. 2630-2611 B.C.

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3-6 Imhotep, columnar entrance corridor to the mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Dynasty III, ca. 2630-2611 B.C.

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3-7 Imhotep, Facade of the North Palace of the mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Dynasty III, ca. 2630-2611 B.C.

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