EGYPTIAN

GROUP 1
DELA REA EGUIA ENDO GAŇO VALCONCHA
0 EGYPTIAN

1 INFLUENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

2 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

3 SAMPLE STRUCTURES
 EGYPTIAN

DELA REA EGUIA ENDO GANO VALCONCHA

 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R Geography & Climate
C
H • Sandy Desert with narrow stretch of Fertile and Arable.
• Beyond riverbanks, barren desert and rugged cliffs prevented attack
I
invaders.
T
• Only Nation of the ancient world which had one easy access to the
E Mediterranean and Red Sea as well as Eastern or Arabian Sea.
C • Waters were the fertilizing agents that made desert sands into fruitful
U fields.
R • Abundance of Minerals and Rocks.
E • Climate is Equable and of Warm Temperature which accounts to a large
extent for the good preservation of the Temples.
 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R Religion
C
H • Traditional, Unchangeable and Mysterious.
• High degree of learning in Astronomy, Mathematics and Philosophy;
I
Papyri, or MSS (written on paper made from the pith of papyrus).
T • Cult of many Gods representing nature: Sun, Moon, Stars, Animals.
E • After Death; eternal life in Kingdom of the God Osiris.
C • Pharaohs were buried, bringing with them the things they might need in
U the afterlife, even living people.
R • Wished for a fine burial, embalmment and funeral rites, and a
E permanent tomb or “eternal dwelling”.
• Dead body had to be preserved to house the spirit.
 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R
C Social Political
H
I • A vast population was available for employment on public works,
T the workmen probably receiving no other pay than their food.
E
C • Cheap labor existed which eminently favorable to the execution of
U large and Despotic Government and Monumental Works.
R
E
 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R Historical
C
H • Nile River would overflow, leaving the land Fertile for Growing Crops.
• Nile River was a Trade Route.
I
• Gold from Nubia in the South.
T • Two kingdoms, Lower and Upper Egypt, combined by King Menes in
E 3100 BC.
C • Many small towns, but Royal Cities at Memphis and Thebes.
U • A single kingdom for most of its existence – unified under the centralized
R omnipotent authority of the Pharaoh (King).
E
 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R Pharaohs
C
H • Seen as Gods dwelling on Earth.
I
T
• Sole Masters of the Country and its inhabitants.
E
• Builders and Leaders.
C
U • Initiated the Design, Financing, Quarrying and Transporting of Materials,
R Organization of Labor and Construction of Labor and Construction itself.
E
 I N F L U E N C E s
A
R Society
C
H • Divided into Groups by Order of Importance: Senior, Priests, Officials,
I Noblemen and Army Commanders.
T
• Most Ordinary Egyptians were farmer.
E
C • Architects, Engineers, Theologians, Masons, Sculptors, Painters, Laborers,
U Peasants, Prisoners.
R
E • Weaving, glass-making, pottery, metal, jewelry and furniture.
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
C
Egyptian Beliefs
H
I • Afterlife - Life and House on Earth is Temporary, the Tomb is Permanent.
T
E • Sustenance and Eternal Enjoyment of the Deceased.
C
U • Religion is the Dominant Element in Egyptian Architecture.
R
E
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
Materials
C
• Stone was abundant in Variety and Quantity.
H
I • Used for Monuments and Religious Buildings.
T
E • Durability of Stone is why monuments still exist to this day.
C
U • Other Materials, Metals and Timber were imported.
R
• Mud bricks: for Houses, Palaces (Reeds, Papyrus, Palm Branch Ribs,
E
Plastered over with Clay).
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
Roof Openings
C
H
• Roof was not an Important Consideration.
I
T • Flat roofs sufficed to Cover and Exclude Heat.
E
C • No windows.
U
R • Spaces were lit by Skylights, Roof Slits, Clerestories.
E
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
C Walls
H
I • Batter wall - diminishing in width towards the top for stability.
T
E • Thickness: 9 to 24m at temples.
C
U • Unbroken Massive Walls, Uninterrupted Space for Hieroglyphics.
R
E
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
Decorations
C
H
• Mouldings such as “Gorge" or “Hollow and Roll" was inspired by Reeds.
I • Torus Moulding.
T • Hieroglyphics were Pictorial Representations of Religion, History and
E Daily Life.
C • Derived from the Practice of Scratching Pictures on Mud-Plaster Walls.
U • Avenue of Sphinxes: Rows of Monsters (Body of Lion, Head of Man,
R Hawk, Ram) leading to Monuments.
E
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R Decorations HIEROGHYPHICS
C
H MOULDINGS
I
T
E
C
U
R
E
SPHINX
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R Decorations (Common Ornaments)
C
• Common capitals
H
used were the lotus,
I papyrus, palm which
T echoed indigenous
E Egyptian plants, and
C were symbols of
U fertility as well.
R
• The shaft represented
E
bundle of stems.
 C H A R A C T E R s
A
R
Decorations
C
H
• Mouldings such as “Gorge" or “Hollow and Roll" was inspired by Reeds.
I • Torus Moulding.
T • Hieroglyphics were Pictorial Representations of Religion, History and
E Daily Life.
C • Derived from the Practice of Scratching Pictures on Mud-Plaster Walls.
U • Avenue of Sphinxes: Rows of Monsters (Body of Lion, Head of Man,
R Hawk, Ram) leading to Monuments.
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Luxor, Egypt
C
H • An example of Mastaba, made of mud brick, rectangular in plan with a
I flat roof and sloping side, from which a shaft lead to underground burial
T and offering chamber.
E
C
U
R
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Karnak, Temple Complex, Luxor, Egypt
C
H • One of the main components of political and religious landscape was
I the temple complex of Karnak.
T
E
C
U
R
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Obelisk
C
H • An Egyptian monolithic four-sided standing stone, tapering to a
I Pyramidical cap.
T
E
C
U
R
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Pylon
C
H • A gateway guarding a sacred precinct consisting of both a pair of tall
I truncated pyramids and a doorway between them.
T
E
C
U
R
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Pyramid of Djoser
C
H • Built by Imhotep, architect to King Zoser, made of limestone. A sample of
I Step Pyramid.
T
E
C
U
R
E
 S T U C T U R E S
A
R
Pyramid of Sneferu
C
H • Built by Sneferu who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty. A sample of Bent
I • Pyramid.
T
E
C
U
R
E