Egyptian

Architecture
5000 B.C.- 1ST CENTURY A.D.
OBJECTIVES:
-To determine the influences that affect development of Egyptian
Architecture.
-To know the Architectural character of Egypt.
-To identify the architectural examples of Ancient Egypt.

A. GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

EGYPT- “Land of Pharaoh” and “Desert Land”

Nile River- was the means of communication, highway and lifeline.

The fertile soil was Egypt’s greatest wealth.

ANCIENT EGYPT
B. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
STONE- Abundant building material except on temples and
pyramids.
SOFT STONE-(Limestone,Sandstone,Alabaster)
HARD STONE-(Granite,Quartzite,basalt,Porphyry)
SAND DRIED BRICKS- made up clay and chopper stone for
pyramids and temples.
MUD BRICKS- for Houses
DATE PALM- for roofing’s
PALM LEAVES- for roofing materials.
ACACIA-for their boat
SYCAMORE-Mummy cases
PAPYRUS- The stem of the papyrus was used by the ancient
Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans to make sheets of paper like
writing material.
PAPYRUS
C. CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
Egypt has only two seasons: SPRING and SUMMER. The climate is
warm, snow is unknown. Rain is rare.

Structures have no downspout, drainage, gutters due to absence

of rain. No windows to cut heat penetration and sandstorm.
D.RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Pyramids were built because they believe in “ Life and Death”
and for the preservation of the dead body. Pharaoh is not only
king but also “God” both political and religious ruler, when he
dies he becomes “OSIRIS”, god of dead. They’re “ Monotheistic”
in theory and “Polytheistic” in practice.
Intestine
EGYPTIAN GODS
E.HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
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”
1. ANCIENT KINGDOM (1st-10th Dynasty)
Development of two types of tombs
A. MASTABA- was built above a burial tomb and contained a
chapel and statue of the dead.
B. PYRAMID
2. MIDLE KINGDOM (11TH-17TH dynasty)
Important Personalities
a. Mentuhetep II- developed the 3rd type of tomb “rock-cut
tomb”.
b. Senusrets- erected the earliest known “ OBELISK” at
Heliopolis.
c. Amenemhat I- founded “Great temple of Ammon Kharnak”
grandest of all temples.
3. NEW EMPIRE (18TH -30TH dynasty)
Important Personalities
a. Thotmes I- began the additions to the Temple of Ammon,
Kharnak.
b. Hatshepsut- Queen of egypt, famous for her Funerary Temple
at Mt. Der-El-Bahari.
c. Thotmes IV- the one responsible for the cleaning away of sand
from the “SPHINX”
d. Amenophis III- erected the “Colossi of Memmon”, one of the
wonders of the world.
e. Rameses I- began the construction “Great Hypostyle Hall” at
Kharnak
f. Rameses II- finished the construction of the “Hypostyle Hall”
and erection of the “Rock Temple at Abu-Simbel”, and the
“Remission”, Thebes.
C. The Ptolemaic Period
Important Personalities
a) Ptomely II- built the Pharaohs or the “Light House”
b) Ptomely III- founded the “Greatest Serapeum” at Alexandria.
F. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE

a) Monarchy- form of government

b) Pharaoh- King of Egypt, ruler, highest priest in
Egypt
c) Son of Pharaoh- normal successor to the
throne
d) Vizier- King’s most powerful official
e) Chancellor- he controls the royal treasuries,
granaries and supervises the census
f) Chief Steward- in charge of the King’s
personal estate and household
SOCIAL RANKS
1. Noble Families- royal throne with his family
2. Soldiers, Viziers, Chancellors, Chief Stewards-
next to leaders
3. Fishermen, Farmers, Craftsmen, Merchants-
ordinary Egyptians
4. Slaves- lowest form
G. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

a) Simplicity
b) Monumentality
c) Solidity or Massiveness

H. SYSTEMS OF CONSTRUCTION

Post and Lintel

Columnar or Trabeated
Feature of Egyptian Architecture
1. Batter Wall- inclination from base to top of
the facade.
2. Hieroglyphics- use as ornaments, pictures and
writing from the walls.
STRUCTURES
1. TOMBS- use to secure the preservation of the body
after death till that time should have past when,
according to their belief in mortality of the soul
would once again return to the body.

TYPES OF TOMBS

A. MASTABA- an ancient Egyptian rectangular, flat

topped funerary mound, with battered (slopping sides)
covering a burial chamber below ground.
Mastaba of Thi
THI-(Royal Architect in Egypt)
THREE IMPORTANT PARTS OF MASTABA

1. OUTER CHAMBER- Where offerings were

placed.
2. SERDAB- Inner chamber containing the
statues of the deceased member of the
family.
3. CHAMBER CONTAINING THE SARCOPHAGUS
(COFFIN)- Can be reached by an underground
shaft.
B. PYRAMIDS- evolved from mastaba; with four sides
facing the four cardinal points, they were made by
100,000 men for 100 years.

THREE TYPES OF PYRAMID

1. STEP PYRAMID- Evolved from mastaba
e.g. PYRAMID OF KING ZOSER OR ISER- Built by
Imhotep, oldest surviving masonry building structure in
the world.
 The step pyramid of Zoser at Sakkara is the world’s
first large scale monuments in stone. It has been
changed no less than five times.
 SCALE: 545.60m x 278m or 151,676.8 sqm.
2. BENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID- 2 degrees of
inclination of slope.
e.g. PYRAMID OF SENEFERU
3. SLOPE PYRAMID
PARTS OF THE SLOPE PYRAMID
a. KING’S CHAMBER
b. QUEEN’S CHAMBER
c. SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER
d. GRAND GALLERY
e. AIRSHAFT
THREE FAMOUS PYRAMIDS AT GIZEH built by
the 4th Dynasty successor of Seneferu
1. GREAT PYRAMID OF CHEOPS or KHUFU
 Largest and famous pyramid in Egypt
 146.4m (480ft. Height) and 230.6m (756ft) square on
plan with an area of 13 hectares; two times the area
of the famous St. Peter Basilica in Rome.
 Equilateral triangles and make an angle of 51’52’ with
the ground.
 With 3 separate internal chamber.
 The entrance is 7.3m (24ft off center of the North
side, and 17m (55ft) above ground level
 Before the Queen’s chamber was entirely completed,
the approach was sealed off the ascending corridor
extended.
 QUEEN CHAMBER GRAND GALLERY
THE ENTRANCE
2. PYRAMID OF CHEPHREN or KAFRA
 The second of the three at Gizeh
 216m (708 ft) side and 143m (470ft) high, 52’20’
steep slope
3. PYRAMID OF MYKERINOS or MENKAURA
 Smallest of the three pyramids at gizeh
 109m (365ft) square and 66.5m (218ft) high with
sides sloping at 51’
PARTS OF PYRAMID COMPLEX
 Elevated Causeway
 Offering chapel
 Mortuary
 Valley bldg.
C. ROCK-CUT or ROCK-HEWN TOMBS- cut deep
into the mountain rock
e.g. Tombs of the kings, Thebes

Valley of the Kings

2. TEMPLES- they were sanctuaries that only
kings and priests can penetrate.
TWO TYPES OF TEMPLES
1. MORTUARY TEMPLE- built in honor of the
Pharaoh; for ministration of defied pharaohs;
chapels for the royal mastabas and pyramids

Mortuary Temple of
Queen Hatsepsut
By Royal Architect Senemut
b. Cult Temple- built for the worship of the
ancient and mysterious gods; only high priest
can enter in both of temples

- At the end of the court was pavilion

comprising vestibule and sanctuary
- Walled open court with colonnades around
leading to a covered structure
 Temple of Isis,
Memphis

Temple of Philae
Parts of the Egyptian Temple
1. Entrance Pylon- massive sloping towers fronted by
obelisks; known to be the gateway in Egyptian Temple
2. Hypaethral Court- large outer court open to the sky
3. Hypostyle Hall- a pillared hall in which the roof rests on
columns
4. Sanctuary- usually surrounded by passages and
chambers used in connection with the temple service
5. Avenue of Sphinx- lastly located in the temple

Other terms:
Cella- main body of classical temple
Dromos- avenue leading to temples
Entrance pylon
Hypaethral Court

Avenue of Sphinx

Hypostyle Hall Sanctuary

Example of Temples
Great Temple of Abu Simbel- entrance forecourts leads
to an imposing façade formed by pylon carved with four
colossal seated statues of Ramses
Great Temple of Ammon, Kharnak- the most grandest
temple in Egyptian planning and was commenced by
Amenemhat I, occupying an area of 1,200 ft x 360 ft
Temple of Ammon, Der-El-Bahari with;
temple of Queen Hatshepsut (three-terraced
court)
Temple of Elephantine

Temple of Hathor, Dendera

Temple of Horus, Edfu

Temple of Isis, Philae

Temple of Khons, Kharnak- built by Rameses III

Temple of Luxor

Temple of Mammisi

Temple of Mentuhetep, Del-El-Bahari, Thebes

Temple of Seti, Abydos

Example of Ramesseum, Thebes- built by Rameses II

3.Obelisks
- Monumental pillars usually in pairs at the temple
entrances
- - Considered the symbol of “Heliopolis” the sun
of God
- Square in plan and stands at the height of 9 to 10
times the diameter of the base, the four side
tapers to the top in the form of a small pyramid.
e.g Cleopatra’s Needle, Embankment, London
Piazza of St. John Laterano, Rome
4. Sphinx
- A mythical monster with a body of a lion and head of
a man (androsphinx); body of a lion and head of a
hawk (heirosphinx); body of a lion and head of a ram
(criosphinx)
- Is a mythological creature that is depicted as a
recumbent feline with a human head. It has its origin
in sculpted figures or lionesses with female human
head
- 73.15x20.12 meters or 73.15 long and 20.12 high
 e.g Great Sphinx at Gizeh
near the Pyramid of Cheops
F.Capitals and Columns
a. Bud and bell capital
b. Hathor-headed capital
c. Palm type capital
d. Papyrus Capital
e. Volute Capital
f. Polygonal Columns
g. Osiris Pillars
h. Square Pillars
K. MOULDINGS
A. GORGE AND HOLLOW

B. TORUS
F. ORNAMENT