A N C I E N T R I V E R VA L L E Y

C I V I L I Z AT I O N S : E G Y P T

LECTURE 3

B Y : A R . S WA T I A G R A WA L
05.05.21
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

¢ THE NILE RIVER WAS THE AXIS OF TWO EARLY AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS,
EGYPTIAN AND NUBIAN . THE NILE RIVER SHAPED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH CIVILIZATIONS, PROVIDING A RELIABLE SOURCE
OF WATER FOR FARMING AND LINKING THEM TO SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA
AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA .
¢ THE NILE GAVE THEM LIMITED ACCESS TO VARIOUS BANTU PEOPLES TO THE
SOUTH AND VARIOUS MEDITERRANEAN PEOPLES TO THE NORTH.
¢ ALTHOUGH BOTH CIVILIZATIONS CRYSTALLIZED ALONG THE NILE ,
THEY DEVELOPED ALONG DIFFERENT LINES.
¢ EGYPT UNIFIED POLITICALLY EARLIER AND MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN
NUBIA . THE RULER-CONQUEROR FIRST UNITED EGYPT ABOUT 3100
B.C.E. THE IDEA OF THE PHARAOH AS A DEIFIED RULER DEVELOPED
DURING A PERIOD KNOWN AS THE ARCHAIC PERIOD(3100-2660 B.C.E.).
¢ THIS CREATED THE FIRST MONARCHY OR RULE BY KINGS
 L A S T I N G C O N T R I B U TIO N S
¢ Specialized Workers:
L A S T I N G C O N T R I B U TIO N S
¢ Religion:
⚫ Egyptians were polytheistic &
believed the gods controlled all
aspects of life
 L A S T I N G C O N T R I B U TIO N S
¢ Writing:
⚫ Egyptian hieroglyphics
was both pictograms &
a phonetic alphabet
 L A S T I N G C O N T R I B U TIO N S
¢ Technology:
⚫ Egyptian ideas included a 365-day
calendar, geometry, astronomy, &
pyramids
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GEOGRAPHY
¢ GEOGRAPHY IS DESTINY. THIS WAS
PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR THE NILE
RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION.
¢ THE NILE WOULD FLOOD EACH YEAR
STARTING IN JULY AND LASTING UNTIL
NOVEMBER. THIS FLOOD WOULD
PROVIDE NEW, RICH SOIL FOR THE
EGYPTIANS AND WOULD WASH AWAY
WASTE.
¢ THE SEAS AND THE DESERT THAT
SURROUNDED THE NILE VALLEY
SERVED AS A BARRIER AGAINST
CONQUEST AND DISEASE.
¢ EGYPT KNOWN AS “ THE LAND OF
PHARAOH “, & “DESERT LAND “.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
I. GEOGRAPHY
Nile
A. THE NILE
River
1. EGYPT’S SETTLEMENTS AROSE ALONG NARROW
STRIP OF LAND MADE FERTILE BY THE RIVER
2. YEARLY FLOODING, BUT PREDICTABLE
REGULAR CYCLE: FLOOD, PLANT, HARVEST...
3. INTRICATE NETWORK OF IRRIGATION DITCHES
4.WORSHIPED AS A GOD – GIVER OF LIFE AND
BENEVOLENT

Irrigating scene painted on tomb at Thebes

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
I. GEOGRAPHY
B. UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT
1. MOST OF EGYPT’S HISTORY
FOCUSED
AROUND LOWER EGYPT,
AROUND THE NILE DELTA
WHICH FLOWS INTO THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
2. UPPER EGYPT DEVELOPED LATER
UPSTREAM

3. NILE PROVIDED RELIABLE

TRANSPORTATION

- TO GO NORTH, DRIFT WITH THE

CURRENT TOWARD THE SEA

- TO GO SOUTH, SAIL CATCHING

THE MEDITERRANEAN BREEZE
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
C. ENVIRONMENT
1. UNLIKE MESOPOTAMIA, THE NILE
WAS
PREDICTABLE

2. DESERTS ON BOTH SIDES OF NILE

- PROVIDED NATURAL
PROTECTION AGAINST
INVADERS

- ALSO REDUCED INTERACTION

WITH
OTHER PEOPLE

EGYPT DEVELOPED MOSTLY IN

ISOLATION AND THEREFORE, HAD
A CULTURE THAT WAS QUITE
UNIQUE.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT
A. UNLIKE SUMERIA, NO INDEPENDENT CITY-STATES IN EGYPT
B. MENES, THE KING OF UPPER EGYPT,

1. UNITED THE TWO REGIONS – UPPER AND LOWER – IN 3,100 B.C.E.

2. CAPITAL: MEMPHIS
3. CREATES FIRST EGYPTIAN DYNASTY
C. THE PHARAOH [MEANS, ROYAL HOUSE] – THE RULER OF EGYPT

1. WERE CONSIDERED GODS; SERVED BOTH POLITICAL DEFINE

AND RELIGIOUS ROLES TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE POLITICAL
RULERS ARE THOUGHT TO BE DIVINELY-GUIDED, OR
EVEN DIVINE THEMSELVES IS A THEOCRACY.

BEFORE 3000 B.C., THERE WAS THE WHITE CROWN OF UPPER

EGYPT AND THE RED CROWN OF LOWER EGYPT. WHEN EGYPT WAS
UNITED, THESE TWO CROWNS WERE COMBINED INTO THE
DOUBLE CROWN OF UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT

2. BELIEVED EACH PHARAOH RULED

EVEN AFTER DEATH, BECAUSE THEY
ALL POSSESSED THE SAME
ETERNAL
SPIRIT = KA;

AND BEING GODS, THEY NATURALLY

BORE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EGYPT’S WELL- BEING.

THE PHARAOH AKENATON AND HIS

WIFE-SISTER NEFERTITI
WORSHIPING
THE SUN GOD, RA.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT

3. THEREFORE, PHARAOH’S TOMB VERY

IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE IT WAS STILL A PLACE OF RULE.
BUILT MASSIVE TOMBS CALLED PYRAMIDS.
4. THE PYRAMIDS WERE
BUILT MAINLY IN THE
OLD KINGDOM
PERIOD.

The Great Pyramids at Giza.

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-CHRONOLOGY
¢ ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HISTORY IS DIVIDED BY DYNASTY AND
“KINGDOM”.
¢ 30 DYNASTIES – STARTED FROM 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C. TO
ROMAN PERIOD. EGYPT WAS PART OF PERSIAN EMPIRE FOR
2 CENTURIES, BEFORE THE INVASION OF “ALEXANDER THE
GREAT “.

¢ THE THREE PRINCIPLE PERIODS ARE:

⚫ OLD KINGDOM - (2660-2160 B.C.E. )( 1ST – 10TH DYNASTY
)
⚫ MIDDLE KINGDOM -(2040-1640 B.C.E.) ( 11TH – 17TH
DYNASTY )
⚫ NEW KINGDOM - (1550-1070 B.C.E.). ( 18TH – 30TH
DYNASTY )
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD 2920-2575
BCE

• UNIFICATION OF UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT

BY
MENES.

• FOUNDATION OF THE CAPITAL MEMPHIS.

• EARLY STEP PYRAMID WAS BUILT AT

SAQQARA.

OLD KINGDOM - 2660-2180 BCE

• THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF KHUFU

(CHEOPS), KHAFRE (CHEPHREN),
MENKAURE (MYCERINUS) WERE BUILT AT
GIZA.

• PYRAMIDS OF SAHURE, NEFERIRKARE,

RANEFEREF, NEUSERRE WERE BUILT AT
ABUSIR.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
MIDDLE KINGDOM 2180-1550 BCE
• FRAGMENTATION OF CENTRALIZED POWER.
• KINGS IN THEBES ESTABLISH CONTROL
OVER ALL EGYPT.
• CHAOS LEADS CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
IN LOWER EGYPT TO DISAPPEAR
FOLLOWING INFILTRATION BY HYKSOS, AN
ASIATIC PEOPLE IN THE NILE DELTA.
• UPPER EGYPT DOMINATED BY KINGS IN
THEBES.
NEW KINGDOM 1550-1070 BCE
• THEBAN KING AHMOSE EXPELS THE HYKSOS
AND REUNITES EGYPT.
• REIGNS OF SUCH KINGS AS AMENHOTEP
AND THUTMOSE (THUTMOSIS). MEMPHIS
NOW MAIN RESIDENTIAL CITY.
• RAMSES II (1290- 1224 BC) DIVIDES POWER
IN MIDDLE EAST WITH THE HITTITES;
QANTIR CAPITAL OF EGYPT.
• INVASIONS OF MYSTERIOUS SEA PEOPLE
WRECK HAVOC THROUGHOUT
MEDITERRANEAN REGION.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-OLD KINGDOM
⚫ IN A NUMBER OF WAYS THE OLD KINGDOM IS CONSIDERED THE
CLASSIC ERA IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HISTORY. THIS PERIOD IS
MARKED BY THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE PHARAOH BEING
AT ITS HEIGHT.

⚫ THIS IS SHOWN IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASSIVE

PYRAMIDS FOR BURIAL OF THE PHARAOHS.

⚫ PYRAMIDS WERE CONSTRUCTED DURING ALL THREE KINGDOM

PERIODS, BUT THE LARGEST PYRAMIDS WERE BUILT DURING THE
OLD KINGDOM .

⚫ THE MOST FAMOUS PYRAMIDS WERE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 2600

AND 2500 B.C.E. AT GIZA , TWO OF THE BEST KNOWN BEING THE
GREAT PYRAMID OF THE RULER KHUFU AND THE GREAT SPHINX.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III.EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
1. POLYTHEISTIC - The worship of or belief in more than one god.
A. OVER 2,000
RA, THE SUN GOD; HORUS, SKY GOD; ISIS, MOTHER GODDESS “GIVER OF
LIFE” ASSOCIATED WITH NILE

ABOVE: THE PANTHEON OF EGYPTIAN GODS*

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H .S .
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION

DIFFERENT EGYPTIAN GODS:

AMUN—RA : CHIEF GOD

RAH : SYMBOL OF THE SUN , HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE , SUN GOD FR.
HELIOPOLIS
ATUM : WORLD CREATOR OSIRIS
: GOD OF THE DEAD ISIS : WIFE
OF OSIRIS
HORUS : SKY GOD, SON OF OSIRIS, ALSO REINCARNATION OF
― RAǁ HIMSELF
SET : DREAD GOD OF EVIL, BROTHER OF PLEASURE
THOT : IBIS HEADED GOD OF WISDOM ANUBIS :
JACKAL HEADED GOD OF DEATH PTAH : GOD OF
CRAFTSMEN
SERAPIS : BULL GOD

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H .S .

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
2. BELIEF IN AFTERLIFE! THE DEAD WERE JUDGED BY OSIRIS, GOD OF THE
DEAD.

DESIRING TO MAKE IT TO THE OTHER WORLD SAFELY, EGYPTIANS OF

ALL CLASSES MADE SPECIAL PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR BURIALS,
INCLUDING MUMMIFICATION – EMBALMING AND PRESERVING THE
CORPSE TO PREVENT IT FROM DECAYING.

ABOVE: CANOPIC JARS FOR THE BODY’S

VARIOUS ORGANS.
RIGHT: COFFIN OF A MIDDLE KINGDOM
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION

THE MUMMY OF RAMSES II (1304 -1237 BC ) STILL PRESERVED TODAY, 3,200

YEARS LATER, AT THE CAIRO MUSEUM.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
EGYPTIAN
COFFINS
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION

BURIAL MASKS

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H .S .

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

WEALTHY MAN’S
HOUSE AT
AMARNA.

BAS-RELIEF OF SERVANTS ATTENDING A ROYAL LADY.

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

• ROYAL FAMILY

• UPPER CLASS
. LANDOWNERS (ALSO KNOWN
AS ARISTOCRACY OR NOBILITY)
. PRIESTS
. ARMY COMMANDERS
. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

• MIDDLE CLASS
(MERCHANTS /
ARTISANS)
BEAUTI
A. FULLY C ARVED
HARVESTING SOAPSTONE
GRAIN; B. MUSICIANS PLAY FOR
WORKERS
THE SPHI INNX
THE FIELDS; C
STORAGE DI.SH.
WOMEN WINNOWING THE
• LOWER C LASS MIDDLE
GRAIN; KINGDOM
D. SCRI BES TALLYPERI
THEODFARMER’S TAXES; E. THE
(PEASANT FARMERS, FARMER’S SON TENDING THE LIVESTOC K / C ATTLE.
UNSKILLED LABORERS)
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-WRITINGS
IV.EGYPTIAN WRITING

A. PICTOGRAPHS DEVELOPED INTO HIEROGLYPHICS

B. WRITTEN ON PAPYRUS, UNFURLED REED FROM THE
NILE, DRIED INTO STRIPS
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-TECHNOLOGY
V. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
A. GEOMETRY, NUMERIC SYSTEM ON BASE 10 (DECIMAL),
ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS, FIRST TO USE STONE COLUMNS

B. CALENDAR
C. AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS IN
MEDICINE

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H .S .

 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-INVASIONS
VI. INVASIONS

A. OLD KINGDOM BEGINS TO DECLINE,

CA. 2180 B.C.E. AFTER ABOUT A CENTURY THEBES
OF FRAGMENTED AND WEAK RULERS,

B. MIDDLE KINGDOM PERIOD RISES [2080-

1640 B.C.E.]
N
• CENTER OF POWER IS NOW IN THEBES IN I
UPPER EGYPT RATHER THAN LOWER L
EG Y P T
EGYPT’S OLD MEMPHIS CAPITAL.
• THIS IS A PROSPEROUS PERIOD.MASSIVE R.

BUILDING PROJECTS AROUND THEBES.

• THE EGYPTIANS TOOK THEIR YEARS OF WELL-
PROTECTED GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION FOR
GRANTED AND MADE LITTLE REAL DEFENSIVE
PREPARATIONS
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-INVASIONS

C. INVADED BY THE HYKSOS, AN THEBES

ASIATIC PEOPLE, GREAT CHARIOT-
RIDERS – WHICH THEY INTRODUCED
IN EGYPT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
N
THESE FOREIGNERS BRING THE I
MIDDLE- KINGDOM PERIOD TO AN L
EG YP T
ENDAND RULED EGYPT FOR 70 YEARS.
R.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
VII. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

• STONE – ABUNDANT BUILDING MATERIAL EXCEPT

ON TEMPLES & PYRAMIDS
• SOFT STONE – LIMESTONE , SANDSTONE , ALABASTER .
• HARD STONE – GRANITE , QUARTZITE , BASALT ,
PORPHYRY
• SAND DRIED BRICKS – MADE UP OF CLAY &
CHOPPED STONE FOR PYRAMIDS & TEMPLES.
• DATE PALM – FOR ROOFING’S & PALM LEAVES – FOR
ROOFING MATERIALS .
• ACACIA – FOR THEIR BOAT
• SYCAMORE – MUMMY CASES
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
VIII.CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

• STRUCTURE HAVE NO DOWNSPOUT , DRAINAGE ,

GUTTERS DUE TO ABSENCE OF RAIN .

• NO WINDOWS TO CUT HEAT PENETRATION AND

SANDSTORM.
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
¢ ANCIENT EGYPTIANS VIEWED
EARTHLY
DWELLINGS AS TEMPORARY
¢ THEY PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO
HOUSE
CONSTRUCTION
¢ THE TOMB WAS SEEN AS A
PERMANENT DWELLING FOR THE
AFTERLIFE
¢ TREMENDOUS EFFORT WAS EXERTED
IN TOMB CONSTRUCTION
¢ THE MUMMIFIED DEAD BODY
WAS BURIED IN A STONE BOX
CALLED SARCOPHAGUS IN THE
TOMB
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
¢ BELIEVED A DEAD PERSON
NEEDS ALL HER/HIS
WORLDLY GOODS
¢ TOMB USUALLY PACKED
W/ ALL THE TREASURES
OF DEAD PERSON
¢ IF ANYTHING CANNOT BE
PROVIDED, IT IS PAINTED
ON THE WALLS OF THE
TOMB
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
¢ TOMBS ALSO HAVE CHARMS
TO PROTECT DEAD
PERSON & HER/HIS
PROPERTY
¢ DEAD BURIED IN -CITIES
OF THE DEAD, CALLED
NECROPOLIS LOCATED IN
DESERT
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

• SIMPLICITY
• MONUMENTALITY
• SOLIDITY OR MASSIVENESS

SYSTEMS OF CONSTRUCTION:

POST & LINTEL; COLUMNAR OR

TRABEATED. BATTERWALL

FEATURES OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

• BATTERWALL- INCLINATION FROM

BASE TO TOP OF THE FAÇADE.

•HIEROGLYPHICS- USE AS
ORNAMENTS, PICTURES &
WRITINGS FROM THE WALLS

HIEROGLYPHICS
 EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-ARCHITECTURE
¢ DURING THE OLD KINGDOM, THE PHARAOH AND HIS
COURT LIVED IN MEMPHIS
¢ WHEN THEY DIED THEY WERE BURIED AT THE NECROPOLIS AT
SAQQARA
¢ THE EARTHLY DWELLING OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS WAS SEEN
AS TEMPORARY AND THE TOMB AS A PERMANENT DWELLING
¢ HOUSES WERE BUILT OF TEMPORARY MATERIALS TO LAST
FOR A LIFETIME
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-
TOMB ARCHITECTURE

¢ TOMBS WERE MOST OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT

OF THE PERIOD

¢ TOMBS ALSO SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR THE

WORSHIP OF THE DEAD
¢ THE TOMB EVOLVED DURING THE OLD KINGDOM FROM THE
MASTABA, THROUGH THE STEPPED PYRAMID TO THE
RENOWN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PYRAMID
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

¢ THE EARLIEST METHOD OF BURIAL IN ANCIENT EGYPT WAS

IN SHALLOW PITS IN THE DESERT
¢ THE DESERT DRIED THE BODIES AND PRESERVED THEM
¢ WHEN ANIMALS PREYED ON BODIES, THE PEOPLE DUG
DEEPER
¢ IN THE END THEY BUILT A BENCH-LIKE STRUCTURE OVER
GRAVES TO CREATE FIRST BURIAL STRUCTURE CALLED
MASTABA
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

¢ THE NAME MASTABA IS DERIVED FROM PODIUMS

FOUND IN THE FRONT OF TRADITIONAL HOUSES
¢ IN THE OLD KINGDOM, RICH AND NOBLE PERSON BUILT
MASTABA FOR THEIR BURIAL IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD
¢ ABOVE GROUND THE MASTABA IS A LARGE BENCH OF
SUN-BAKED BRICKS RISING 9 METERS HIGH
¢ IT HAD A FLAT TOP AND SLANTING WALLS
¢ THE EARLIEST ROYAL TOMBS WERE DECORATED
WITH PAINTED PATTERNS IN BRILLIANT COLORS
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS MASTABA
¢ INTERNALLY, A MASTABA
CONSIST OF THREE PARTS- A
BURIAL CHAMBER, A SERDAB
AND A CHAPEL

¢ THE BURIAL CHAMBER WAS

LOCATED 30’ BELOW GROUND
⚫ CONNECTED TO BURIAL
CHAMBER ABOVE GROUND
THROUGH A SHAFT

⚫ PLACE FOR THE BURIAL OF

THE DEAD PERSON
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS MASTABA
¢ IN THE CHAMBER IS FOUND
THE SARCOPHAGUS WHERE
THE DEAD BODY WAS PLACED

¢ THE BURIAL CHAMBER IS

PACKED WITH ALL THE
NECESSARY THINGS
NEEDED IN THE AFTERLIFE

¢ AFTER BURIAL, THE SHAFT

TO THE BURIAL CHAMBER
WAS SEALED
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS MASTABA
¢ THE SERDAB AND CHAPEL
ARE LOCATED ABOVE
GROUND
¢ THE SERDAB IS A ROOM
WHERE THE STATUE OF
THE DEAD
PERSON IS KEPT
⚫ STATUE ACTS AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR BODY
IN CASE IT IS
DESTROYED
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS MASTABA

¢ EGYPTIANS BELIEVED THAT THE KA MUST RETURN TO

THE BODY OR A COPY OF IT EACH NIGHT
¢ IF BOTH BODY AND STATUE ARE DESTROYED, THE KA
WOULD DIE
¢ THE CHAPEL IS WHERE THE KA IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE
FOREVER
⚫ COLORFUL ROOM MEANT TO DECEIVE THE GODS INTO
LETTING THE KA ENTER THE NEXT WORLD
⚫ FALSE DOOR LEADING TO THE LAND OF THE DEAD
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS MASTABA

¢ SOME MASTABAS HAD FENCE WALLS, AND CHAMBERS FOR

BURIAL OF SERVANTS

¢ MASTABA SERVED AS AN EMBRYO FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE

PYRAMID
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS PYRAMIDS
PYRAMIDS – EVOLVED FROM MASTABA ; W/ FOUR SIDES
FACING THE CARDINAL POINTS , THEY WERE MADE BY 100,000
MEN FOR 100 YEARS.

• STEP PYRAMID – EVOLVED FROM MASTABA

• BENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID – 2 DEGREES OF

INCLINATION OF SLOPE

•SLOPE PYRAMID – PARTS ( KING’S CHAMBER , QUEEN’S

CHAMBER , SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER, GRAND GALLERY,
AIRSHAFTS.
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID

¢ KING ZOSER (DJOSER) WAS THE POWERFUL PHARAOH OF

THE THIRD DYNASTY OF THE OLD KINGDOM

¢ THE STEPPED PYRAMID WAS BUILT FOR KING ZOSER

BY IMHOTEP
¢ IT WAS BUILT AS A FUNERAL COMPLEX IN THE
NECROPOLIS AT SAQQARA

¢ IMHOTEP INITIALLY CONCEIVED OF THE TOMB AS A LARGE

MASTABA OF STONE
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID
¢ DISSATISFACTION W/
RESULT LED TO
STACKING OF MASTABA
¢ RESULT WAS STEPPED
PYRAMID W/ FIVE
SLOPING SETBACKS
¢ THE STEPPED PYRAMID
IS THE INTERMEDIATE
STEP BETWEEN MASTABA
AND GEOMETRIC
PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID

¢ STEPPED PYRAMID WAS 200’

HIGH W/ 6 GIANT STEPS
¢ BURIAL CHAMBER IS ENTERED
FROM NORTH SIDE & IS 92’ DOWN
¢ ON EITHER SIDE OF CHAMBER ARE
STORE ROOMS FOR KING’S
TREASURES
¢ ALL TREASURES BURIED W/
ZOSER HAVE BEEN STOLEN
¢ A STONE STATUE OF ZOSER ALSO
RECENTLY FOUND STARING OUT
THROUGH PEEP HOLES IN HIS SERDAB
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID

¢ SERDAB LOCATED ON
NORTH SIDE, ALONG W/
FUNERARY TEMPLE

¢ STEPPED PYRAMID STANDS

AT MIDDLE OF LARGE
COMPLEX
¢ FUNERAL COMPLEX
CONSISTED OF PALACES,
TEMPLES & STEPPED
PYRAMID
¢ ALL SURROUNDED BY
FENCE WALL 33’ HIGH
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID

¢ FENCE WALL OF FUNERAL COMPLEX HAS BREAKING

PATTERN OF ~200 PROJECTIONS/RECESSIONS
¢ FOURTEEN WERE LARGER THAN THE OTHERS & 13 OUT OF
THE FOURTEEN HAD FALSE DOORS
¢ FALSE DOORS FOR USE OF PHARAOH’S KA
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID

¢ ENTRANCE DOOR LEADS

TO LONG HALL W/ TWO
ROWS OF COLUMNS

¢ ONE OF THE 1ST USES OF

COLUMNS IN HISTORY
¢ COLUMNS DESIGNED TO
LOOK LIKE BUNDLES OF
REEDS… & HAD FLUTES
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS STEPPED PYRAMID
¢ IN NORTH PALACE ALSO
STONE COLUMNS W/
CAPITALS
¢ DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE
PAPYRUS PLANT
¢ ZOSER’S FUNERAL COMPLEX
DESIGNED AS MODEL OF HIS
PALACE, CITY & KINGDOM
¢ SHAPE OF PYRAMID
SUGGESTS STAIRWAY TO THE
SKY TO JOIN THE SUN
GOD AMON
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING

¢ AFTER THE STEPPED PYRAMIDS, THERE WERE SEVERAL

ATTEMPT AT BUILDING A PURE GEOMETRIC PYRAMID
¢ AMONG THE PROMINENT ATTEMPTS:
⚫ PYRAMID AT MEDUN
⚫ TWO PYRAMIDS BUILT BY SNEFRU AT DASHUR
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING

¢ KING HUNI MADE THE

FIRST ATTEMPT AT
BUILDING PURE PYRAMID
AT MEDUN
¢ CONSTRUCTED SEVEN-
STEPPED PYRAMID WITH
SQUARE PLAN AND
HEIGHT OF 90M AND
ANGLE OF INCLINE: 51°
¢ PYRAMID DID NOT HAVE
MORTUARY TEMPLE
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING
(BENT PYRAMID)
¢ PHAROAH SNEFRU MADE TWO
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID
CONSTRUCTION

¢ 1ST PYRAMID, THE BENT

PYRAMID AT DASHUR HAD
A SQUARE PLAN WITH A
HEIGHT OF 102M
¢ THE PYRAMID HAD A
CHANGE OF ANGLE
MIDWAY, LEADING TO
ITS BEING CALLED THE
BENT PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
BENTPYRAMID
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING (SLOPE
PYRAMID)

¢ SNEFRU’S 2ND PYRAMID--

NORTH PYRAMID--IS PLACE
HE WAS BURIED
¢ LOW PITCH OF 43° INSTEAD
OF 52° MAKING IT LOOK
STUNTED
¢ A TRUE PYRAMID HAS AN
INCLINE ANGLE OF 52°
¢ SLOPE PYRAMID – PARTS
§ KING’S CHAMBER ,
§ QUEEN’S CHAMBER
§ SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER
§ GRAND GALLERY
§ AIRSHAFTS.
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

¢ CONSTRUCTION OF A
TRUE GEOMETRICAL
PYRAMID ACHIEVED
DURING REIGN OF
CHEOPS, SON OF SNEFRU
¢ LOCATED AT GIZA
¢ CALLED “GREAT PYRAMID”
BECAUSE OF SIZE
¢ THE PYRAMID IS 482’
HIGH ON A PLAN 760’
SQUARE
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

¢ TWO ADDITIONAL
PYRAMIDS BUILT AT GIZA
¢ 2ND LARGEST IN THE
CENTER BUILT BY
CHEFREN, THE SON OF
CHEOPS

¢ 3RD AND SMALLEST BUILT

BY MYKERINUS, SON OF
CHEFREN
¢ THE THREE TOGETHER ARE
REFERRED TO AS THE
PYRAMIDS AT GIZA
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

¢ THREE ARE ALIGNED

DIAGONALLY ALONG THE
PROJECTION OF THE
DIAGONAL OF THE GREAT
PYRAMID

¢ THE SMALL PYRAMIDS

CLOSE BY WERE BUILT FOR
QUEENS
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE GREAT PYRAMID CHEOPS

¢ GREAT PYRAMID HAD

UNIQUE INTERNAL
ARRANGEMENT
¢ FIRST: A CHAMBER BUILT
BELOW BASE OF PYRAMID
¢ ANOTHER CHAMBER BUILT
ABOVE IT KNOWN AS
QUEEN’S CHAMBER
¢ LARGER BURIAL CHAMBER
KNOWN AS THE KING’S
CHAMBER BUILT CENTER OF
PYRAMID
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE GREATPYRAMID CHEOPS

¢ CHAMBER WHERE THE KING

WAS BURIED IN HIS
SARCOPHAGUS
¢ KING’S CHAMBER 35’ X17’
AND 19’ HIGH
¢ BOTH KING & QUEEN CHAMBER
CONNECTED TO THE ENTRANCE
ON THE NORTH SIDE
¢ TWO AIR SHAFTS CONNECT
KING’S CHAMBER TO OUTSIDE
FOR VENTILATION
¢ ONCE A KING IS BURIED,
BURIAL CHAMBER SEALED
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF THE CHEOPS OR KHUFU (146.4 MTS. HIGH
& ( 750 SQ. FT. ) INPLAN
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF CHEOPS or
“Khafra”
( 143.0 mts. high )
& (705 sq. ft. ) in
plan.
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF MYKERINOS OR “MENKAURA “ (109.0
MTS. HIGH) & (218FT. HIGH)
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID
¢ THE PYRAMIDS DESIGNED AS PART OF
A FUNERAL COMPLEX FOR BURIAL OF
PHARAOH

¢ CHEFREN’S COMPLEX IS BEST

PRESERVED EXAMPLE

¢ COMPLEX CONSIST OF THREE

INTERCONNECTED UNITS:
⚫ A VALLEY TEMPLE BY THE RIVER
NILE WHERE THE PHARAOH’S
BODY WAS EMBALMED
⚫ A PYRAMID MORTUARY TEMPLE
FOR RITUALS
⚫ A LONG NARROW CAUSEWAY
CONNECTING THE TWO
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION
¢ HOW WERE THE PYRAMIDS CONSTRUCTED?
¢ NO ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS
¢ ESTIMATES VARY:~ 100,000 MEN WORKED 3-4 MONTHS
EACH YEAR FOR 30 YEARS TO BUILD THE PYRAMIDS.
¢ LIMESTONE QUARRIED FROM NEARBY --TRANSPORTED BY
LEVER ACTION

¢ PAID IN FOOD, CLOTHING AND DRINKS

 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
WHY DID EGYPTIANS BUILD PYRAMIDS

¢ THE PYRAMIDS WERE IN GENERAL A

RESPONSE TO THE VAST DESERT
LANDSCAPES

¢ FOR STRUCTURES TO BE VISIBLE IN

THE DESERT THEY HAVE TO BE OF
HUGE SIZE

¢ THE PYRAMIDS WERE ALSO A PRODUCT

OF THE WILL TO ACHIEVE
IMMORTALITY BY THE PHARAOHS

¢ PYRAMIDS ARE THE EVERLASTING

HOME OF THE PHARAOH’S KA
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
END OF PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION
¢ AFTER THE MYKERINUS PERIOD, THE ERA OF PYRAMID
CONSTRUCTION ENDED
¢ MORE PYRAMIDS WERE BUILT LATER BUT THEY WERE
SMALLER AND LESS COMPLEX
¢ LATER PHARAOHS COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST OF HUGE
PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION

¢ GRAVE ROBBERS LEARNED HOW TO BREAK INTO AND STEAL

THE GOODS BURIED WITH PHARAOHS
¢ END OF THE OLD KINGDOM THEREFORE MARKED THE END OF
THE GREAT ERA OF EGYPTIAN PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION.