1~ Egyptian Architecture with details ppt.pdf

about egyptian architecture

1. Ancient Egyptian
Architecture Architecture
3000 B.C. –30 B.C.
Prepared by:
Sucharita Acharya
Lecturer in Architecture
North Calcutta Polytechnic

2. Geographical Feature
A
Egypt is situated on the North-East
part of the
African Continent
A
On its north is Mediterranean Sea
and the
European Continent
A
On its East is Red Sea and the Asian Continent
A
On its South and south-west lie the Sahara Desert The
ancient Egypt
comprised long,
N
A
The
ancient Egypt
comprised long,
narrow
valley of Nile
, bounded on
each side by
arid deserts
AFrequent floods
in Nile enriched the
land with a
thick layer of alluvial soil
.

3. Geological Condition
A
Rich clay
was abundant from Nile delta from which bricks were made
A
Sun-dried or kiln-burnt bricks
were the chief building materials
A
Reeds, papyrus and palm branch ribs
were employed for reinforcement
ADue to scarcity of wood,
palm logs
were employed for roofing
A
Fine limestone
was quarried from Tura in northern or lower Egypt.
A
Sandstone
was employed in construction of temples, sarcophagus.
A
Red or grey granite
was brought from Aswan in southern Egypt.
Climatic Condition
A
The climate of Egypt was
hot and arid
A
There were only two seasons,
spring and summer
ASnow and frost were unknown
to them
A
Except on Nile delta,
storm and rain were very rare

4. Historical Background
AEarlier Egypt was divided in two kingdoms,
Upper kingdom and Lower kingdom
AAround 3000 B.C.
, a highly
centralized monarchy
emerged in Egypt
AThereon the
Pharaohs ruled Egypt
for nearly three millennia
AThe Pharaohs consist of
thirty dynasties
.
AThe first ten dynasties were
Ancient Kingdom, (B.C. 3000 – 2130)
AEleventh to seventeenth dynasties comprise
Middle Kingdom (B.C. 2130 – 1580)
A
The last thirteen dynasties are
New Kingdom (B.C. 1580
–
332)
A
The last thirteen dynasties are
New Kingdom (B.C. 1580
–
332)
AFrom 525 B.C.
, Egypt fell under
Persian Empire
.
AIn 332 B.C., Alexander
, the Macedonian king conquered Egypt from Persians
A
After his death, his empire was divided and
Egypt fell to his general Ptolemy
.
A
Thereafter it became prosperous under
Ptolemaic dynasty (B.C.332-30).
A
The last ruler of this dynasty
, Queen Cleopatra committed suicide in 30 B.C
.
A
Thereafter Egypt came under
Roman rule under Emperor Augustus

5. Social Background
APharaohs were considered as divine kings
who after death joined the pantheon of gods.
A
The Pharaohs also looked after the religious rites as powerful priests.
A
Pharaohs owned the whole country and distributed land among their
relatives and nobles
A
There were
farmers, craftsmen and herds
who were
free citizens
.
A
They employed the
slaves and prisoners of war
for agriculture and building construction
A
Egypt maintained
trading relations
with
Mesopotamia, ancient Greek islands
A
The ancient Egyptians were among the first groups of people to invent a
writing system
.
Cultural Background
A
The ancient Egyptian writing was
hieroglyphics
, with pictures representing words
A
The Egyptians pioneered the use of
dams, canals and irrigation channels
A
The Egyptians made great progress in
astronomy
. The observation of stars was
important in
predicting seasons and determining the annual flooding of the Nile
.
A
The Egyptians devised their highly accurate
solar calendar
. The Egyptian calendar
contained
365 days
, divided into
12 months
. Each month had
30 days
, and there
were an
additional five festival days
at the end of each year.
A
The Egyptians were experts in many
applied chemistry fields
such as
metallurgy,
glass making, paper manufacture, paint pigments, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.

6. Religious Background
A
In Egypt,
religion had a strong influence on architecture
A
Egyptian religion had
many gods and goddesses
.
A
The principal deity was
sun-god or Amon with his consort Ra
.
A
Another deity was
Osiris, the god of death and resurrection to eternal life.
A
The governing idea of the religion was their
strong belief in life after death
.
A
To secure immortality of the soul of the Pharaohs, elaborate preparations were
made for the
preservation of their bodies after death
.
A
Tombs
were the
permanent abode
, so royal pyramids were constructed out of
A
Tombs
were the
permanent abode
, so royal pyramids were constructed out of
enduring stones
.
A
The earthly
dwelling houses
were regarded as
temporary lodging
, and hence were
made mostly of
sun-dried bricks
which were perishable.
A
Egyptian religious rites were
mysterious and very rigid
.
A
These characteristics were reflected in the architecture of
tombs and temples
with
dark mysterious chambers and accesses
.
A
Thus religious belief in life after death lends the
most characteristic effect
in the
architecture of ancient Egypt
.

7. Architectural Characteristics
A
Bricks
were made from alluvial soil which were
sun-dried or kiln-burnt
A
Sandstones and lime stones
were used for special constructions
A
Palm logs
were used for roofing ordinary houses
A
Reeds
and
palm branch ribs
were employed
for reinforcement
n
Structure:
n
Chief building materials:
A
The structures were essentially
columnar & trabeated
A
External walls
were provided with
a slope or ‘batter’
on outside
n
Ornamentation: A
Painting
were done with
primary colours
A
Low relief carving
was also employed
A
The inside of the wall remained
vertical
for ordinary convenience
A
Unbroken massive walls without windows
protected the interior from the fierce heat
A
The houses were
one or two storeys high
with the living hall in the centre
A
As rain was very rare,
flat roofs
were common without any need of roof drainage
A
Columns
had distinctive character with
inverted bell or lotus capital

8. Architectural Characteristics
n
Types of buildings and structures
:
A
Mastabas
: These were earlier flat topped funerary mounds with battered sides
A
Pyramids
:These were massive masonry structures built as Royal tombs for Pharaohs
A
Rock-hewn tombs
: These were open fronted tombs cut into rock
c
Tombs:
c
Temples: A
Temples
were built for the worship of the gods and religious rituals
A
Temples
were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated.
c
Other structures: A
Pylons
: These were monumental gateways of temples, decorated with carvings
A
Obelisks
: These were tapered monolithic pillars, erected in pairs at the entrances
of temples, with all four sides of the shaft being carved with hieroglyphs
A
Sphinx
: It was a huge statue of a creature with the body of a lion and the head
of a human, most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress
A
Temples
were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated.

9. Tomb Architecture
Mastabas: First dynasty
c
The term mastaba comes from the
Arabic word for "bench”
c
The mastabas were constructed out of
mud bricks
c
These graves comprised
several small rooms
c
A central room contained the
sarcophagus or the stone coffin
c
Other rooms surrounding it received the abundant
funerary offerings
c
The whole was constructed in a
broad pit below ground
c
The wooden roof
was supported by
wooden posts
or
crude brick pillars
c
The wooden roof
was supported by
wooden posts
or
crude brick pillars
c
The entire area was covered by a
rectangular flat topped mound of soil
c
The mound was retained in place by
very thick battered side walls
.

10. Mastabas: Second and Third dynasty
c
Stairway mastaba
c
Tomb chamber and attendant magazines sunk deeper in the rock
c
Steps and ramps from the top connected with a shaft
c
Shaft descended to the level of the tomb chamber.
Tomb Architecture

11. Mastabas: Fourth to Sixth dynasty
c
a columned hall
c
‘serdab’- a completely enclosed room except for a slot
A
Small
offering chapel
developed which became increasingly elaborate
A
The actual
tomb chamber
was built below the south-end of mastaba,
A
It was connected by a
slanting passage
to a
stairway
emerging in a columned hall
A
A group of rooms within or adjacent to the mastaba mound included:
A
The serdab contained statue of the deceased within
Tomb Architecture
A
‘Stela’ – an upright slab and an offering table was in the offering room
A
The walls were lined with vividly coloured reliefs
Mastaba of Thi,
Sakkara
(5th dynasty)

12. Example: Mastaba of Thi, Sakkara (5th dynasty)
Mastabas: Fourth to Sixth dynasty
Pillared court Stair to
tomb chamber
Serdab
Tomb Architecture
Serdab
Offering room
Tomb chamber
Pillared court Portico

13. Pyramid
Tomb Architecture
A
The pyramid was a
royal tomb
which evolved from the earlier mastabas.
A
Pyramids were the primary part of a
complex of buildings
which comprised:
c
an offering chapel
A
The
tomb chamber
was concealed and well-protected
c
It housed the
body of the Pharaoh
preserved carefully
c
It was either
cut in the rock
below the monument or was
in constructed core
A
Pyramids were founded on
leveled rock
and were made of
limestone
.
Granite
was used limitedly for lining the chambers and passages.
c
a mortuary temple
for the worship of the deified Pharaoh
A
Granite
was used limitedly for lining the chambers and passages.
A
The sides were perfectly
oriented with the cardinal points
Pyramid
complex,
Giza

14. Pyramid
Example:
The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Giza (26
th
Cent. B.C.)
A
The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the
oldest and largest
in the Giza pyramid complex
A
It is the oldest of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
.
A
Cheops was the second king of 4
th
dynasty.
A
The
total surrounding area
of the pyramid complex was about
13 acres
.
A
The pyramid was constructed of
lime stone and granite
A
This pyramid took nearly 27 years to be built by about
3,00,000 workers
Tomb Architecture
A
This pyramid took nearly 27 years to be built by about
3,00,000 workers
A
It was built with more than
two million stone blocks
, each weighing about
2 to 3 tons
Pyramid of
Cheops (Khufu),
Giza

15. A
The pyramid was originally
480’ high, 736’ square in plan
A
The
four sides facing the cardinal points
are nearly
equilateral triangles
A
The
entrance
of the pyramid is
on the north side
and
55’ above ground level.
A
A
corridor
descends from the entrance to the original rock-cut
subterranean chamber
A
An
ascending corridor
is constructed through the descending one
A
It is about
60’ long and rises at an angle of 30
A
It rises to a height of
70’ above the ground
and connects to the
‘Queen’s Chamber’
Thereon the ascending corridor is widened into a
large passage
known as
‘Grand Gallery’,
The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Giza
Tomb Architecture
A
Thereon the ascending corridor is widened into a
large passage
known as
‘Grand Gallery’,

16. AThe ‘Grand Gallery’ is about
7’ wide and 28’ high
covered by a corbelled vault.
AAt the end of the Grand Gallery, there is the
‘King’s Chamber’
with the
granite stone coffin
or the sarcophagus
Tomb Architecture
The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Giza
Sarcophagus
King’s Chamber
Stone Beams
AThe ‘King’s Chamber’ is
34’ long, 17’ wide
and
19’ high
and is
lined with granite
AIt is covered by
five tiers of stone beam
rising
up to 70’ from the floor of the chamber.
A
Two ventilation shafts
were provided from the
‘King’s Chamber’ to outside.
Grand Gallery
‘King’s Chamber’

17. Tomb Architecture
Rock-cut Tombs
A
These were the burial chambers of nobility cut into the natural rock formation
Example: The Rock-cut Tombs, Beni Hasan (2130 – 1785 B.C.)
A
These were 39 tombs for a provincial noble family.
A
These were primarily used during the Middle Kingdom, (Middle Bronze Age).
A
Each tomb consisted of a chamber behind an entrance portico.
A
The tombs had vaulted rock-ceilings.
A
Interior walls were lightly stuccoed and painted. Interior walls were lightly stuccoed and painted.

18. Temple Architecture
A
The temple buildings were usually enclosed by high brick walls
A
Egyptian temples were rectangular in plan with a line of successive buildings
A
Their roofs decreased in heights behind the imposing gateway- the pylon.
A
The temples were fronted by obelisks or monolithic pillars
A
The temples were approached by a row of sphinxes or statues of mythical monsters
A
The different buildings of the temple were : –
i
Pillared court:
•
There were one or more open courtyards surrounded by rows of pillars
•
There were one or more open courtyards surrounded by rows of pillars
•
At the front of each court was usually a pylon, flanking the main gateway
i
Hypostyle hall:
•
It was a mysterious dark hall with numerous columns.
•
Hypostyle hall stood over the processional path.
•
These halls had clerestories to provide light inside
i
The sanctuary:
•
The sanctuary of the temple was laid along the axis
•
It stood near the back of the temple
•
It was a dark chamber with the statue of the god
The Temple of Ramesses III

19. Temple Architecture
Example: The Great Temple of Amon , Karnak, Thebes (1530 – 323 B.C.)
A
The temple of Amon, the Sun god is the largest of all Egyptian temples.
A
It was built by several successive kings to glorify the Sun god.
A
It was situated within an enclosure along with other temples and a sacred lake
A
It was surrounded by a boundary wall, 20’ to 30’ thick.
A
It was connected by an avenue of sphinxes with the temple at Luxor along,
Temple of Amon
at Karnak

20. A
The temple is laid out on
east–west axis
.
A
The temple is based on a
rectangular plan
measured
1200’ long and 360’ wide
A
There were
six pairs of pylons
built one
after another by successive Pharaohs.
A
Behind the entrance pylons, there was a
Temple Architecture
The Great Temple of Amon , Karnak, A
Behind the entrance pylons, there was a great court
measuring
338’ X 275
’.
A
On the south side of this forecourt, there
is a small
temple built by Ramesses III
.
A
It gives entrance to the vast
hypostyle hall

21. Temple Architecture
The Great Temple of Amon , Karnak,
A
The hypostyle hall was the most impressive part of the temple.
A
The hypostyle hall was
338’ X 175’ in dimension
internally
A
The roof made of enormous stone slabs was supported by
134 columns in 16 rows
.
A
The central avenue was about
78’ high
with
columns 69’ high and 11’ 9” in diameter
.
A
The side avenues are lower with
columns 42’ 6” high and 8’ 9” in diameter
.
A
The light was admitted through the
clerestory windows
formed by the difference in
height of the columns in the central avenue and the side avenues.
A
The wall surfaces, shafts of the columns and
the architraves were covered with
incised
inscriptions
and
relief works in different colours
.

22. Monuments
Pylon
A
Pylon was a
monumental gateway
to the Egyptian temples
A
It was a mass of masonry with a central tall opening,
A
It was
rectangular in plan
at the base with
sloping sides
and
flat top
.
A
Some pylons also contained
internal stairways and rooms
A
Pylons were often decorated with
sunk or low-relief carving or statues
A
Pylons were constructed to
add grandeur to the temple
Pylon of Rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel Pylon of Temple of Edfu

23. Obelisks
Monuments
A
Obelisks are the
huge monolithic pillars
,
square or rectangular in plan,
A
The pillars tapered upwards with a
pyramidal top with a metal capping
A
Obelisks were set up
in pairs
beside the
temple entrances
.
Obelisk at Karnak
Cleopetra’s Needle
temple entrances
.
A
The height of the obelisk was 9 or 10
times than its diameter at the base.
A
The four sides were cut with
hieroglyphs
.
A
Many were
removed
from Egypt
by the
Roman Emperors
.

24. Sphinx
Monuments
A
Sphinxes were the huge statues of
mythical creatures
A
Sphinxes had the
body of a lion
and the
head of a man, hawk, ram or woman
.
A
They were carved out of a
single rock
.
A
Sphinxes were considered as guardian figures,
protecting of the pyramids
A
They were usually placed
beside the approach way to the temples or pyramids
.
Sphinx at Giza
Sphinxes at Karnak

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