EGYPTian

ARCHITECTURE

Image Source:
https://givemehistory.com/ancient-egyptian-architecture
 Image Source:
Image Source:
parkoffletter.com/howard-carters-discovery-
Imhotep | First Pyramid Builder
of-tutankhamuns-tomb/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpL5TgIRukQ

The Uraeus is the stylized,

upright form of an Egyptian cobra,
used as a symbol of sovereignty,
royalty, deity and divine authority
in ancient Egypt

Image Source:
Image Source: Egyptian Ankh, represent the word for “life”
Ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power, ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Egyptian-Collectible-Ankh-
and good health Wall-Plaque-Symbol-of-Wholeness-Vitality-and-H-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus /391915403358
The architecture of the ancient
civilization that flourished in the
Nile River in Nor thwest
Africa from before 3000 B.C. to
its annexation by Rome in 30
B.C.

Characterized
especially by
Axial Planning

Image Source:
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CITIES AND TOWNS
factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub365/item1942.html
Geographical Influence
“Land of Pharaoh” and
“Desert Land.”

Nile River is their means

highway and lifeline.

Egypt greatest wealth was its

“fertile soil.”
Image Source:
https://universeofegypt.weebly.com/vocab.html

Image Source:
https://www.tes.com/lessons/J_lQaplOZxgd7Q/ancient-egypt
 Climatic Influence
Image Source:
https://ancientegyptianfacts.com/ancient-egyptian-buildings.html

Structures have no
downspout, drainage, gutters

Geological Influence
SOFT STONE
limestone, sandstone, alabaster

HARD STONE
granite, quartzite, basalt,

SAND DRIED BRICK

Image Source
https://www.wonders-of-the-
made up of clay and chopped
world.net/Pyramids-of-Egypt/Materials-of-
the-pyramids-of-Egypt.php stone used in mastaba
 DATE PALM AND PALM LEAVES
- for roofing materials

ACACIA TREE - for boat construction

SYCAMORE TREE - for mummy case Image Source:

treeinspection.com/atlanta-s-trees/item/sycamore

Image Source:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/347283/secret-writing-discovered-in-ancient-mummy-cases
Religious Influence
Image Source:
http://hemanththiru.blogspot.com/2015/11/what-hell-happens-after-death-afterlife.html

PYRAMID was built because

they believe in

“LIFE AFTER DEATH”

and for the preservation

of the dead body.

Image Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_funerary_practices
 Image Source:

PHARAOH https://interestingfactsforkids.wordpress.com
/2015/06/07/tutankhamun-pharaoh-of-egypt/

is not only king

but also “god,”

both political and

religious ruler,
when dies,
he becomes
“Osiris” god of dead.

They are polytheistic in practice.

Ra (chief god)
Osiris (god of the dead)
Image Source:
https://sites.google.com/a/i
cs.edu.hk/ancient-
egypt/religion/major-gods
 Historical Influence
Egypt was part of Persian Empire
for two centuries, before the
invasion of Alexander the Great.

Image Source:
http://spaceio.com/608/egyptian-architecture/
1. Ancient Kingdom
(1st-10th dynasties)

2. Middle Kingdom
(11th-17th dynasties)

3. New Empire
(18th-30th dynasties)

4. The Ptolemaic Period

Social and Political Influence

MONARCHY form of government

PHARAOH King of Egypt, ruler,

SON OF PHARAOH successor of
the throne

VIZIER King’s most powerful official Image Source:

https://ancientegypt8.weebly.com/influence-

high priest in Egypt of-egyptian-law.html

CHANCELLOR controls the royal treasuries,

granaries and supervises the census

CHIEF STEWARD in-charge of King’s

personal estate and household
Social Ranks:
1. Noble Families – royal throne with his families

2. Soldiers, Viziers, Chancellors, Chief Stewards

(next to leaders)

3. Fishermen, Farmers,
Craftsmen, Merchants
(ordinary Egyptians)

4. Slaves – lowest form

Image Source:
The Caste System, Ancient Egypt
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/260012578465183697/
 Architectural Character:

1. Simplicity
2. Monumentality
3. Solidity

Image Source:

Systems of Construction:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture

Post and Lintel or

Columnar and Trabeated
 Features of Egyptian Architecture
Batterwall -inclination from base to top of the façade
Hieroglyphics – pictures and writings from the walls
used as ornaments

Egyptian Structures
1. Tombs
2. Temples
3. Palaces
4. Obelisks
5. Sphinx
6. Capitals and Columns
7. Mouldings
 Hieroglyphics
Image Source:
How to read Egyptian hieroglyphs: 10 tips for the beginner
http://thinkingmuse.com/egyptian-hieroglyphs/

Image Source:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/130322982954795157/

Hieroglyph comes from the Greek word hieroglyphikos

The combination of hierós meaning “sacred” and
  glýphō meaning “I engrave or carve”
A noun meaning “sacred engraving”
Hieroglyphics

Image Source:
https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/egyptian-hieroglyphs-language-gods-002990
Tombs

1. MASTABA
- An ancient Egyptian tomb
made of mud brick,
- Rectangular in plan with
a flat roof and sloping sides.
Image Source:
- Long sides had north-south orientation egypttripguides.com/cairo-tours/unusual-saqqara/

Image Source:
SAQQARA, Mastaba of al-Faraoun
http://looklex.com/egypt/saqqara26.htm
Ancient Mastaba Three Important
Parts of Mastaba

1.Outer Chamber
where offerings were
place

2. Serdab
the inner chamber
containing the statues of
the deceased member
of the family

3. Sarcophagus
chamber containing the
“coffin” reached by an
underground shaft.
Tombs

2. PYRAMIDS

evolved from mastaba

a massive masonry structure having a rectangular base and

four steeply sloping sides facing the cardinal points and
meeting at an apex.

used in ancient Egypt as a tomb, containing burial chamber

and the mummy of the pharaoh.

Image Source:
theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/06/new-discovery-throws-light-on-mystery-of-pyramids-construction
a. Step Pyramid evolved from mastaba

ex. Pyramid of King Djoser (Zoser)

built by Imhotep, oldest surviving
masonry building structure
in the world with
6 huge square tiers of
60 meters high.

Image Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Step-Pyramid

Step Pyramid of King Djoser, Saqqara

Image Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/pyramid_gallery_05.shtml

b. Bent or Blunt Pyramid

two degrees of inclination of slope

ex. Pyramid of King Sneferu, two stages of 55 and 43 degrees

Bent Pyramid, Dahshur

 Image Source:
https://www.getyourguide.com/activity/pyramids-of-giza-l4184/from-
sharm-giza-pyramids-saqqara-memphis-tour-t317147?utm_force=0

c. Slope Pyramid - parts (king’s chamber, Queens chamber,

subterranean chamber, grand gallery, airshafts.

ex. Three Pyramid

at Giza

Pyramid at Giza
Tombs

1. The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

146.4m high and 230.6m square on plan.
Largest of the three.
In plan two times the area of the famous “St. Peter
Basilica” in Rome.
Has an angle of 51° 52’ with the ground.

Image Source:
Image Source:
https://sites.google.com/site/7wondersbypaula/the-7-
ancient-egypt-online.com/khufu.html
ancient-world-wonders/the-great-kheops-pyramide
 2. The Pyramid of Chephren (Khafra)

143m high and 216m square on plan.

Second of the three.
Has an angle of 52° 20’ with the ground.

Image Source: Image Source:

https://www.luxorandaswan.com/blog/egypt- http://www.ancient-egypt.info/2012/01/khafre-
pyramids/khafre-pyramid-pyramid-of-chefren/ pharaoh-2559-bc-2535-bc.html
 3. Pyramid of Mykerinos (Menkaura)

The smallest of the three.

66m high and 109m square on plan.
It has an angle of 51° with the ground.

Image Source: Image Source

Pyramid of Menkaure, Giza Egypt https://www.etsy.com/hk-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LVElKsMPxg en/listing/665158055/history-egyptian-king-
menkaura-mycerinus
PYRAMID STONES
Image Source:
https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/has-function-great-
pyramid-giza-finally-come-light-009861

BASALT

GRANITE SLAB
Image Source:
https://www.wonders-of-the-world.net/Pyramids-of-
Egypt/Materials-of-the-pyramids-of-Egypt.php

LIMESTONE

Image Source: image Size:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3697208/Forget-boobytraps-Ancient- https://www.pierreetsol.com/vente/en/belgian-quality-stone/630-
Egyptian-builders-used-granite-blocks-create-primitive-machine-defend-tomb.html gobertange-sandy-limestone-9145342712400.html
Image Source:
The Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/337136722101919110/

Image Source:
https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-inside-the-great-pyramid
Image Source:
https://newsofthenewage.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/orion-the-hunter-and-the-pyramids/
Tombs
3. Rock Cut Tomb or Rock Hewn Tomb
cut deep into the mountains rock.

ex. Tombs of the Kings, Thebes

Image Source:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/valley-of-the-kings-egypt-guide-4160182
Temples

1. Mortuary Temple
built in honor of the Pharaohs

Image Source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/mortuary-temple Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Temples

2. Cult Temple
built for the worship of the gods
only high priest can enter in both types and temples

Great Temple of Amun at Karnak

Image Source:
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/karnak-temple-complex-of-karnak-egy-qena-karn.htm
Parts of an Egyptian Temples

1. Entrance Pylon
massive sloping towers fronted by
an obelisk known as gateways in
Egypt

2. Hypaethral Hall
Large outer court open to the sky

3. Hypostyle Hall
a pillared hall in which the roofs
rest on the column
Image Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luxor_te
mple_entrance.JPG
Entrance Pylon

Image Source:
https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/an
cient-egypt-and-nile/accommodations/
Hypaethral Hall Image Source:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/hypostyle-hall
Image Source:
https://liliontheloose.com/2016/06/30/hypaethral-hall-trajans-kiosk/

Hypostyle Hall
Parts of an Egyptian Temples

4. Sanctuary
usually surrounded by passages
and chambers used in connection
with the temple services

5. Avenue of Sphinx
where mystical monster
were placed

Image Source:
https://www.planetware.com/egypt/philae-egy-asw-phil.htm
Sanctuary

Image Source:
Sanctuary of Horus, Edfu Temple, Egypt
flickr.com/photos/adam_hallyburton_images/4338886824
Avenue of Sphinx

Image Source:
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/karnak-temple-complex-of-karnak-egy-qena-karn.htm
Image Source:
https://www.slideshare.net/JaimeAlonsoEdu/egyptian-art-and-architecture

Parts of Egyptian Temple

 Egyptian Temple
Karnak

Image Source:
https://discoveringegypt.com/karnak-temple/

Image Source:
https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/egypt/egca08e.html
 Image Source:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/197032552427510402/

Egyptian Temple, Karnak

Image Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortuary_Temple_of_Hatshepsut

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Upper Egypt

Image Source:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hathor-temple

Temple of Hathor, Dandarah, Egypt

Image Source:
https://egyptfuntours.com/egypt-attractions/aswan-attractions/abu-simbel-temples/

Abu Simbel Temple, Aswan, Egypt

Image Source:
https://egyptfuntours.com/egypt-attractions/aswan-attractions/abu-simbel-temples/

Abu Simbel Temple, Aswan, Egypt

Palace

Image Source:
https://charleshstewart.com/product/egyptian-palace-interior/

Egyptian Palace (interior)

Palace

Akhenaten Palace (PLAN)

Image Source:
http://www.touregypt.net/fea
turestories/northpalace.htm
Palace

Image Source:
https://www.renderhub.com/dazinbane/akhenatens-palace

Akhenaten Palace
Image Source:
https://www.deviantart.com/dazinbane/art/Akhenat
en-Palace-B-679322305
OBELISK

are monumental pillars usually in pairs at the

temple entrances considered the
symbol of “ heliopolis” the sun god.

They are square in plan and stands at a height

of 9 to 10 times the diameter of the base.

The four sides tapers to the top on the form of a

small pyramid.

Example:
1. Cleopatra’s Needle, London
2. Piazza of St. John Lateran, Rome Image Source:
Hatshepsut’s Obelisk,
Karnak's Great Temple
of Amun,
Image Source:
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC59ANJ_c
leopatras-needle-london?guid=a3a6999d-b205-
Piazza of St. John Lateran
4366-83b1-72642152dd59
Rome

Cleopatra’s Needle
London
Image Source:
https://vinoconvistablog.me/tag/st-john-lateran-basilica/
SPHINX a mystical monster

Image Source:

Androsphinx Ancient Egyptian Art

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/305470787207624792/

a body of a lion and

a head of a man

Image Source:

Heiraosphinx https://www.klm.com/destinations/gb/en/ar
ticle/the-pyramids-of-giza-and-the-sphinx

a body of a lion and

a head of a hawk

Criosphinx
a body of lion and
a head of a ram Image Source:
http://en.wataninet.com/news-2/newsline/69-years-on-discovery-of-
avenue-of-rams-in-luxor/23524/
Avenue of Sphinx Image Source:
https://www.tes.com/lessons/nHz5JaBEviqzQg/8-features-of-civilization-egypt
CAPITALS
AND
COLUMNS

1. Bud and Bell Capital

2. Hathor Head Capital
3. Palm type Capital
4. Papyrus Capital
5. Volute Capital
6. Polygonal Columns
7. Osiris Pillars
Image Source:
Ancient Egyptian Architecture
8. Square Pillars https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/
317081630005498185/
Image Source:
https://arsartisticadventureofmankind.wordpress.com/tag/old-kingdom-sculpture/

Kom Ombo Temple,

Egypt

Egyptian Columns & Capitals

 Egyptian Column
& Capitals

Image Source:
Image Source:
https://www.pinterest.ph/leroyktj/egyptian-temple/
https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/egyptian-3/
 Image Source:
https://treasuresegypt.com/temple-kom-ombo/

Kom Ombo Temple, Egypt

MOULDINGS

Gorge and
Hollow Moulding Image Source:
https://quizlet.com/272492801/jpt-hoa-1-egyptian-
architecture-flash-cards/

ORNAMENTS
Image Source:
https://buffaloah.com/a/archsty/egypt/egypt.html

Lotus Papyrus & Palm – for fertility

Solar Disk and Vultures – for protection
Spiral and feather ornament – for eternity
Scarab or Sacred Beetle – for resurrection
ORNAMENTS

Image Source: Image Source:

http://eclipsology.blogspot.com/2009/09/winged-sun-disk-symbol-of-ancient.html https://www.etsy.com/no-en/listing/289655501/history-
egyptian-ur-uatchti-winged-sun

Image Source:
Kemet Egypt
Image Source:
https://www.pinterest.
Egyptian Mythology
ph/pin/303852306106
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/18366310957027151/
443305/

Solar Disk & Vultures

ORNAMENTS
Image Source:
https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/179-egyptian-ornament

Image Source:
https://www.tes.com/lessons/v4MWzMpJgtpAaw/1-2-scarabs-dung-beetles-
mummies-eye-of-horus

Scarab or Sacred Beetle Spiral and Feather ornament

 Image Source:
When was the ancient Egyptian civilisation?
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/239394536418340005/

HOUSES
OF ANCIENT EGYPT
made of bricks
(mud and chopped straw)

some large homes were built of

stone,

most homes of both the rich and the

poor were build of brick

Image Source:
Egyptian Homes
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/28147566397700982/
HOUSES
OF ANCIENT EGYPT
(rich and noble)

Nobles lived in villas along the Nile

River

Very wealthy lined the outside of their

homes with white limestone.

Walls were washed with pastel colors

to brighten, lighten and clean.

Windows were cut high to keep out

sand.

Had gardens and pools both inside

and outside the house.
Image Source:
Estates & Houses
https://www.pinterest.pt/pin/327073991683923105/
References:

History of Architecture by Sir Banister Fletcher

JPT Review Center Handbook

Homes - Ancient Egypt for Kids

https://egypt.mrdonn.org/homes.html

Encyclopedia Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/