Kermena Ishak

9/15/2023

History Arch 2031

Prof. Joseph Watson

Catalhoyuk and Pyramids at Giza

This module's topics have brought us on a visit across history and establishments,

studying ways ancient civilizations used architecture and structured surrounding environments to

communicate their ethnic, political, societal, and religious beliefs. With the many instances of

these historical phenomena, two stand notably as illustrations of the complicated interaction

between human civilizations and their constructed surroundings: the Neolithic town of

Catalhoyuk in Turkey and Egypt's remarkable pyramids at Giza. Regardless of being apart by

numerous years, both of these unique locations provide remarkable knowledge to our current

time.

Catalhoyuk, located in modern-day Turkey, was a thriving agricultural and hunting

village that existed from around 7400 to 5700 BCE. At Catalhoyuk, the tightly spaced mudbrick

homes acted as living painting surfaces, covered with figurines and murals that offered an insight

into the daily activities of its residents (Graeber, 219). This community is notable for its

family-focused lifestyle, in which household traditions and rituals are handed down across

generations. Most importantly, Catalhoyuk lacked visible social classes or power structures, as

opposed to many modern and older communities. Across ages, inhabitants cherished consistency

in their daily lives, with houses reconstructed on the same site characterized by symbolic wall

designs. The placement of relics inside these dwellings, on the other hand, is a complicated
problem, with practices like floor mats possibly concealing some areas/items, giving us only a

partial comprehension of their daily activities.

Giza's pyramids, built approximately 2550 BCE, were huge tombs that functioned as

everlasting burial sites for respected Egyptian pharaoh. Constructing these magnificent structures

was a tremendous effort that necessitated the mining of millions of stone blocks, the

transportation of supplies including granite, and the provision of water, nourishment, and shelter

to a large workforce (Lehner, 406). This massive project demonstrates a highly hierarchical

culture in which kings were revered even after death. The pyramids' exact astronomical

alignment and measurement/scale use reflected the pharaohs' everlasting authority and greatness

(Lehner, 408).

Religion had an impact in developing both Catalhoyuk and Giza, but in different ways.

At Catalhoyuk, artwork and conceptual frameworks, which frequently feature cattle, relate to

fertility rituals (Graeber, 219-221). Giza's pyramids, on the other hand, were surrounded by

extravagant funeral temples representing Egyptian beliefs concerning god-kings reaching the

afterlife. Unexpectedly, Catalhoyuk’s decorative focus was on boars and aurochs rather than

domesticated livestock (Graeber, 220). The development of Giza's pyramids, on the other hand,

demanded a farming system capable of supporting the vast workforce necessary for millennia.

The architecture of Catalhoyuk and the pyramids at Giza continue to stand out. Over the

ages, Catalhoyuk evolved spontaneously, with buildings reconstructed across the same footprint

outlined by figurative wall patterns. Giza's pyramid structures demanded accurate cut stone

shipped from far quarries around Egypt, as well as challenging alignment with stars,

demonstrating more effective measuring ability (Lehner, 410-414). While Catalhoyuk's

principles were communicated through domestic art along with possible matriarchal familial
duties, Giza's monuments displayed the country's power for eternity through the rituals of male

god-kings.

Both Catalhoyuk and the pyramids portrayed a separate societal structure. Catalhoyuk

was a cooperative community with societal customs based on familial relationships. Giza's

pyramids, on the other hand, reflected long-lasting inequity, taking advantage of poor-class

populations for years to glorify authorities beyond death. Both, nevertheless, were linked to

larger commerce networks. Catalhoyuk exchanged shells, obsidian, and other prized items

(Graeber, 233). Giza, on the other hand, obtained stones and metals from within Egypt's domain,

which was frequently transported across the Nile river.

To comprehend the differences between the two communities and architecture, we need

to first study the contexts of their pasts. As people shifted from hunting to agriculture,

Catalhoyuk arose. Farming eventually flourished in the fertile Crescent region of Turkey, with

communities such as Catalhoyuk managing agriculture with harvesting, hunting, and trading.

Earlier agriculture was a part-time occupation that allowed for handcrafted goods and local

ceremonial practice. Similarly, ancient Egypt had a well-established agricultural society.

However, god-kings dominated minorities in order to construct the pyramid by means of massive

bureaucracy. Farming provided the extra food needed for wealthy individuals and architectural

experts as a way to proclaim their supremacy. The pyramids' creation necessitated year-round

management of the enormous labor force.

There are some parallels between Catalhoyuk and the pyramids at Giza besides

agricultural advancement. Whether through drawing artwork on walls or significant burial

structures, both societies employed durable buildings to express their essential values/religion.

Of course, both structures were oriented to astronomical patterns, though at distinct scales. They
both showcased outstanding understanding of engineering concepts that are still significant

today. Both also integrated their community and buildings into their surrounding landscapes.

Catalhoyuk mud-brick houses that reflected Turkey's environment and the pyramids that were

established near the Nile.

Regardless of Catalhoyuk and the pyramids distinct characteristics, these symbolic

buildings embrace a single objective: to instill purpose into life through ritual ceremonies, artistic

endeavors, and long-term stability that exceeds mortal existence. Although we can't know what

they were thinking at the time, the monuments reveal striking distinctions between naturalistic

architecture and labor-focused construction. Finally, their enormous achievements demonstrate

early architecture sustainability as well as how architecture symbolizes cultural significance.

 Resources

Lehner, Mark, and Zahi A. Hawass. Giza and the Pyramids : the Definitive History. Chicago, IL:

University of Chicago Press, 2017.

Graeber, David, and D. Wengrow. The Dawn of Everything : a New History of Humanity. First

American edition. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021.