RESEARCH NO.

1: TITLE: EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

I. Make a research on the Six Influencing factors of Egyptian Architecture

• Geographical - The satellite imagery shows the narrow fertile strip of alluvial soil on the banks of river Nile
flowing through the desert, which made agriculture possible that resulted in the development of towns &
settlements on the eastern bank of the river. Egyptians built their pyramids & tomb structures on the western
bank, which was known as the valley of the dead. The Nile river also served as a route of transport &
communication & is considered to be sacred by the Egyptians as it serves as the life blood of Egypt.
Geographical Nile river- was a trade route to Eastern and Western foreign trade - On its banks therefore, the
Egyptians sited their villages and cemeteries. Egypt known as “ The Land of Pharaoh “, & “desert Land “. The “
Nile River” is their means of communication , highway , & lifeline . Egypt’s greatest wealth was its fertile “soil”. 

Egypt is addressed to as "The Land of Pharaoh" and "The Desert Land." The "Nile River" serves as their
roadway, lifeline, and means of communication. The fertile "soil" of Egypt was its greatest resource.

The riverbanks of the Nile as a slim, fertile strip of alluvial land that cut through the desert and designed
to allow for agriculture, which led to the growth of towns and settlements on the eastern bank of the
river. The western bank, also referred to as the valley of the dead, is where the Egyptians built their
pyramids and tomb buildings. In addition to being a means of transportation and communication, the
Nile is revered by the Egyptians as being the lifeblood of their nation.

The satellite imagery depicts the narrow, rich alluvial strip that runs along the banks of the Nile across
the desert, enabling agriculture and the growth of towns and settlements on the eastern bank of the river.
On the western side, often known as the valley of the dead, the Egyptians constructed their pyramids and
tomb buildings. The Nile river was used for communication and transportation, and the Egyptians
revered it as the lifeblood of their nation.

According to satellite images, the Nile River flows through a short, fertile strip of alluvial land on its
eastern bank, through which towns and settlements were able to grow as a result of the possibility of
agriculture. Pyramids and other tomb-like structures were erected by the Egyptians on the western bank,
in a region known as the Valley of the Dead. Since it is the lifeblood of Egypt, the Nile river has also
functioned as a means of transportation and communication. The Egyptians regard it as sacrosanct.

• Geological - Egypt had limestone in the north, sandstone in the central region & granite in the south. The
gigantic scale of Egyptian architecture was mainly possible due to the Egyptian methods of quarrying,
transporting & raising enormous blocks of stone to position. Sun-dried & kiln burnt bricks made from Nile mud
& chopped straw were used for palaces & houses, while stone was used for pyramids & temples.

-Stone is abundant in Egypt in quantity and variety -the country was poor in metals. -However, copper is
gained chiefly from the Sinai peninsula. -Tin was imported for the making of bronze. -The chief kinds of stone
were limestone, sandstone, alabaster, granite,quartite and basalt. -Quarrying was done with copper tools and
by the use of timber wedges which when swollen by water, split the blocks away from the natural rock. -
Houses, palaces were constructed of large, sun-dried bricks.

• Climatic - Egypt has a warm, sunny climate with very little rainfall that has led to the preservation of its
ancient buildings. Since sufficient light reached the interiors through doors & roof slits, Egyptian architecture is
characterized by the absence of windows. The massive walls, without openings, protected the interior from the
fierce desert sun & also provided the surface for “hieroglyphics” which is a script with pictorial representations.
The absence of rain also resulted in the use of flat roof with thick stone slabs.

 CLIMATIC -Egypt has only two seasons. Spring and summer. -Simplicity of design is conduced by the brilliant
sunshine; there was no real need for windows and thus unbroken massive walls not only protected the interior
from the fierce heat of the sun, but also provided an uninterrupted surface for Hieroglyphics - Roof was not an
important consideration, and flat roofs of stone slabs sufficed to cover the buildings, and exclude the heat.
Hieroglyphics -pictorial representation of religious ritual, historic events and daily pursuits.

• Religious - The key note of the Egyptian religion is the submission to the power of the sun god, Ammon & the
worship of Osiris, the man-god who died & rose again to eternal life. Egyptian religion had many gods
representing the sun, moon, stars & animals. The belief in life after death made the Egyptians to build
numerous tomb-houses & pyramids for the preservation of the dead. 

•RELIGIOUS -Egyptians in the architecture, focused on both tombs and temples. •Re/Ra-sun god •Osiris, the
man-god, who died and rose again, the god of death, and through death of resurrection to eternal life. •Isis,
osiris’ wife, god of motherhood and protection •Horus, the sky-god • Hathor, goddess of love • Set, dread god of
evil •Serapis, a bull-god representing the strange cult of the sacred bulls. two predominant types of buildings: -
temples of the gods -pyramids of the early kings.
• Social - the Pharaoh, who was considered to be the descendent of the sun god, headed a despotic
government, which employed vast armies of laborers in the erection of monumental buildings, when the
annual inundations made agriculture impossible. Social life is graphically depicted in the wall sculptures of
tombs. Slave labor is written all over the monuments of Egypt with the priests enjoying an exalted position in
society.

• Historical- The Pharaohs who ruled Egypt have been divided into 30 dynasties & 3 divisions by historians as
follows:
 1. Ancient kingdom (4400 – 2466 BC) – Mastabas were built during the 3rd dynasty & most pyramids were built
during the 4th dynasty.
2. Middle kingdom (2466 – 1600 BC) – 12th dynasty founded the great temple of Ammon at karnak.
3. New kingdom ( 1600 – 332 BC) – Thebes became the capital & queen Hatsheput constructed the terraced
temple at Der-el –bahari. Amenophis III built the temple at luxor & Rameses II completed the hypostyle hall of
Ammon temple, built the rock temple at Abu simbel & the Ramesseum at Thebes, mainly by using the slave
labor of the hebrews.

•HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL -The Egyptian civilization Is among the most ancient social and industrial conditions
-in Egypt government, employed large number of staffs, trained craftsmen continuously, vast armies of
laborers for the erection of monumental Buildings. Prisoners of war were also turned on to the same work. -
Craftsmanship was very highly developed, particularly in me royal workshops, and the Egyptians attained great
skill in weaving, glass blowing, pottery turning, metal-working and in making musical instruments, jewelry and
furniture. -The Kings of ancient Egypt are known as pharaohs, sometimes they appear as gods and demi-gods

II. Draw buildings corresponds to Egyptian Architecture. Provide or State the Architectural Character of each
buildings.(TIP 1: In order to get a better grade I recommend that you color your drawings.).

Again, this research is hand written (Except for the Front page)

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