Art Appreciation

Artwork Discovered During the Early Civilization

(Egyptian’s Era)

Submitted by:
Ronor Angela L. Albeto
BSED – Mathematics 1

Submitted to:

Ms. Angelie Naquila

Instructor
Art of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian art refers art produced in ancient Egypt between the 31st century BC
and the 4th century AD. It includes paintings, sculptures, drawings on papyrus, faience,
jewelry, ivories, architecture, and other art media. It is also very conservative: the art
style changed very little over time. Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and
monuments, giving more insight into the Egyptians' belief of the afterlife.

Mask of Tutankhamun
The mask of Tutankhamun is a gold mask of
the 18th-dynasty ancient
Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun (reigned 1332–1323
BC). It was discovered by Howard Carter in 1925 in
tomb KV62 in the Valley of the Kings, and is now
housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The mask
is one of the best-known works of art in the world.
Bearing the likeness of Osiris, Egyptian god of the
afterlife, it is 54 centimeters (1.8 ft) tall, weighs over
10 kilograms (22 lb) or 321.5 Troy Ounces, and is
decorated with semi-precious stones. An ancient
spell from the Book of the Dead is inscribed in
hieroglyphs on the mask's shoulders. The mask had
to be restored in 2015 after its 2.5-kilogram (5.5 lb)
plaited beard fell off and was hastily glued back on
by museum workers.
Egyptian Dance
Dancing played a major role in the culture of the ancient Egyptians. Music and dance
were the norm. A rhythmic dance
was imprinted into the hearts of the
Egyptians, with people often
working along to the sounds of
songs and percussion instruments.
The ancient Egyptian era also saw
the birth of street dancers who
would entertain passersby.
Egyptian dance was divided into
different categories depending on
the participants and the occasion.

This painting, in particular, shows “pair dancing” where two women dance together in a
pair while another group plays music. Pair dancing involved either two men or two
women dancing together in unison. There were also group dances where a group of
trained performers would entertain spectators, but even more popular were the festival
dances with each dance unique to its particular celebration.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead (16th century BC)

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is
an ancient Egyptian funerary text,
and was used from the beginning of
the New Kingdom (around 1550 BC)
to around 50 BC. The original
Egyptian name directly translates as
the “book of coming forth by day” or
the “book of emerging forth into the
light.” It contains spells to help a
dead person travel through the
“duat” or realm of the dead, into the afterlife. The Book of the Dead includes pyramid
and coffin texts which were originally painted onto objects, not papyrus.
The bust of Nefertiti (14th century BC)
Nefertiti’s bust was most likely
made around 1340 BC, at the same
time as the great statue of
Akhenaten. It weighs 20 kilograms
and is life-sized, cut from a single
square of limestone. The idea of a
royal likeness was not uncommon
in ancient Egyptian culture; Egypt’s
temples and palaces are brimming
with them. What makes this
representation exceptional is its
accurate depiction of the queen.
Nefertiti’s bust is remarkably well preserved. The face has been carved to show her
delicately sloping cheekbones, solid jaw line, and sharp nose, and the limestone center
was coated in gypsum stucco which was then painted. The outcome is a staggeringly
accurate likeness. The bust shows her dark colored skin, red lips, jewelry, and crown.
The eyes are set with gemstones and fixed with beeswax.

Canopic jars
Canopic jars were used by the ancient
Egyptians during the embalming process
to store and protect the deceased’s
organs. Each organ has its own container.
The jars were made of stoneware or
carved from limestone. These containers
were used from the time of the Old
Kingdom up until the Late Period or the
Ptolemaic Period, after which the organs
were wrapped and put in with the body.
The term “canopic” was mistakenly
believed to be associated with the Greek legend of Canopus by early Egyptologists.
Canopic containers of the Old Kingdom were only occasionally engraved and had a
plain lid. In the Middle Kingdom, engravings became more common and the lids were
often shaped as human heads. By the 19th dynasty, the lids had come to represent the
four children of Horus as gatekeepers of the organs.
Papyri
The word “paper” comes from “papyrus,”
a plant which was grown in the Nile delta,
and papyrus paper was made from its
pith. Long rolls of papyrus have been
found, some up to 10 meters in length.
The method for creating papyrus was lost
for a while, but was rediscovered by an
Egyptologist during the 1940s. Papyrus
writings show many elements of ancient
Egyptian life and incorporate scholarly,
religious, and administrative records. The pictorial lettering used in these writings
eventually led to the two most basic lettering systems used today: Roman and Arabic.

Astronomical ceiling of the tomb of Senenmut (15th century BC)

Senenmut was the architect of the prestigious Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s tomb complex. His
own tomb, however, is equally as impressive as it includes a galactic map on the ceiling
which is the first-known depiction of its kind. The map comprises of two segments – the
northern and southern hemispheres. The northern hemisphere shows the Egyptian
lunar cycles and well-known constellations, while the southern segment records the
stars and planets which are visible to the naked eye. Interestingly, Mars is missing.
Spanning 5,000 years, ancient Egyptian art shows a style and craftsmanship which
remained relatively unchanged with little cultural influence outside the Nile valley. From
depictions of ancient wars to the symbolic portrayal of old religions, ceremonies, and
divinities, the antiquities of ancient Egypt have stood the test of time and many have
survived into the present day, allowing us an insight into one of the oldest civilizations
ever known.
The job of the craftsman is to catch a fleeting moment in time and preserve it in history,
and while a piece of art is undoubtedly of its time, it should also transcend it and be able
to speak to us across the generations. One of the greatest examples of this is the
craftsmanship and art of ancient Egypt.

Egypt is acknowledged as having one of the most well-established and prosperous

civilizations on earth, and its artifacts have stood the test of time. From the sky-scraping
pyramids to the fantastic sphinx that sits as a gatekeeper to the tombs of the pharaohs,
ancient Egyptian architecture and sculpture is iconic. However, there is much more to
this art than these awe-inspiring monuments.
The ancient Egyptians regarded their art not only on an earthly level but also as a
reflection of the spiritual world. Their craftsmanship mirrored their reverence for the
gods and the afterlife, and these ancient pieces of art clearly speak of a rich Egyptian
history and culture. This unique creative style remained practically unaltered for more
than 3,000 years and can be seen in the artifacts which remain today.