Essay on Ancient Egypt

This latter point is exceedingly salient, and the prominent featuring of Egyptian gods throughout Tutankhamun’s tomb denotes the considerable cultural significance of religion and the way in which it essentially governed much of ancient Egyptian society. Correspondingly, such artefacts as the Shabti dolls further emphasize the importance of the afterlife, as the minuscule dolls are intended to represent servants for the pharaoh in life after death. This illustrates that the pharaoh was regarded as a hugely esteemed figure and shows the focus that was placed upon ensuring that the afterlife was a comfortable and hospitable environment for the ruler.

Tutankhamun was an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh whose legacy extends to the present, and currently one of the best-known ancient Egyptians of all-time. The “Boy King” inherited the throne at the age of nine, his reign lasting only ten years before his sudden unexpected death. The traditional burial customs and funeral processions were carried out upon him, but the tomb he was laid to rest in was unique from the typical Eighteenth Dynasty tombs characterised by their lavish style and large scale. This uniqueness has been evidenced in a variety of archaeological and written sources, which express the tomb’s historical significance.

The coffin and mummy of Djedmaatesankh are known as one of the few unopened coffins, retaining the original seal. Currently, it has been decided not to open the coffin in order to examine the mummy within due to the fact that it would severely damage the artwork and hieroglyphs that have been painted on the outside. The coffin is made of cartonnage, which is created with moulded linen and plaster and is painted on the outermost layer. These paintings describe the story of Djedmaatesankh’s life, as well as references to the Book of Caverns in order to provide the body “with safe protection as it makes its journey through the underworld on its way to eternal life in the Field of Reeds”. The coffin is from the 3rd intermediate period of ancient Egyptian culture and has been dated to 945-715 BC, coinciding with the 22nd Dynasty in which Ian Shaw relays that the “Chief of the Meshwesh Sheshonq (King Sheshonq I)” ruled. The base materials used are linen and plaster to form the cartonnage, and the artwork on the outermost layer uses a combination of paint and gold leaf to create depictions of Djedmaatesankh’s life. Ancient Egyptians used paint made from a mixture of pigment and plaster to paint on coffins and sarcophagi, and the higher classes used increased amounts of gold leaf as well. Djedmaatesankh’s coffin would be classified as funerary art, which had been created to be of use in funerary rituals and practices. Djedmaatesankh’s coffin is an excellent example of the extensive

The majority of ancient Egyptian structures studied by architectural historians and planners alike, were erected to honor a pharaoh or as a grand tomb for their journey through to the afterlife. Whether the structure was in the form of a temple, tomb or statue, the ritual and spiritual influence is unquestionable. The location, scale, and materials used to construct these monuments are all defining factors of how the space is used and functions.

Ancient Egyptian art is five thousand years old. It emerged and took shape in the ancient Egypt, the civilization of the Nile Valley. Ancient Egyptian art was shown with emotion beautifully in painting and sculpture, and was both highly symbolic and stylized. The exceptional traditions in Egypt is one of the most important things in the history of art. The tombs and temples of the Egyptians have expressed the grandeur of the kingdom of the Nile. Egyptian sculptors and painters began to formulate patterns to represent figures and stories. Egyptians used the art to represent a continuation of life after death, it was an important part of their culture. They believed that, in order for the spirit to live on, the dead person's body had to be preserved, or mummified, and buried along with supplies of food and drink, tools and utensils, valued possessions. (Scholastic) Egyptian art was becoming more realistic, which moved away from the ways of

Without the ebb and flow of the great Nile River, Egyptian civilization might not have ever existed. The Nile, the longest river in the world, led to prosperity like no other waterway before. Flowing northward, the river was the foundation of Egypt’s economy and lifestyle. The Nile shaped Ancient Egypt through providing stability as a civilization, offering agricultural success, and influencing Egyptian culture. Egypt became a long-lasting civilization as a result of the Nile’s ability to support the needs of the people, including settlement and trade.

Egypt was seen as one of the most important river valley civilizations. Many historians argue that the Nile was the main source that helped Egypt be as successful as it was, because of it’s source of life. The Nile was shaped the entire Ancient Egyptian society from the beginning because of it’s usefulness to the Egyptians. The Nile River helped shape Ancient Egypt because it provided protection from invaders, jobs, trade, food supply, and had god like features.

The shrine of Tutankhamun uncovers the burial customs of the New Kingdom Egyptians. The Canopic Shrine positioned on the east wall of the Treasury holds Tutankhamun's embalmed internal organs. A gold chest held four Canopic jars containing the dead pharaoh's internal organs in each jar. Undoubtedly, through the process of mummification, the embalmers must have removed the internal organs and preserved them in the Canopic jars, perhaps to be taken with the pharaoh to the next world. The third and innermost of three coffins of Tutankhamun is made of solid gold and is inset with semiprecious stones and coloured glass. It is covered with carved decorations and inscriptions inside and outside. It bears the names and epitaph of the deceased king and also protective texts. From this we discover the significance of the importance of the decoration of the mummy was, and the power the coffin was believed to hold. Originally, mummification was so expensive that it was a privilege enjoyed only by the Pharaoh and few nobles. Everybody else was given a simple grave burial in one of the vast cemeteries or "necropolises" of the time. But the promise of eternal life was so appealing that it wasn't long before other classes of Egyptians began signing up for mummification, too.

These two piece of ancient Egyptian art may come from different kingdom time periods during Egyptian reign, but both represent the afterlife for the deceased by showing a comfy after life for them. The Egyptian artwork Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt depicts figures on boats floating in the Nile, where hippopotamus lie below and papyrus grows tall. You imminently know who TI is in the sculpture painting, because the artist has made him larger than the other figures in the sculpture painting, this is considered Higher Archery Scale. We also see this in Menna and Family Hunting in the Marshes, where he is depicted twice in the painting and is shown larger than the other figures in the painting. He shown standing on boat hunting for fish in different positions on each side of the painting.

I will see what the artworks mean to me, and I will make my own interpretations as to why their art is this way. Moreover, I expect look at many of their varying art forms and see how the use of animals differs between them. This is because I believe different kinds of art are able to impact people in different ways, and have an implication that is unlike the other. I plan to analyze the assorted characteristics and traits of the various art forms the ancient Egyptians practiced to see similarities and differences, and consider in what way this influences the meaning of the works.

In summary, Egypt’s abundant natural resources and benevolent climate greatly influenced its arts and architecture. The Nile, which its annual inundation, fertilized the arid fields and allowed the Egyptians to survive for over 3000 years. The river contributed to the development of agriculture, farming and the overall economic prosperity of the region. The Nile made possible the subsistence of trees, plants and animals, which thrived in the unique North African environment. Most importantly, the river valley landscape provided Egyptians with a plethora of resources such as stones, wood, minerals, metals and semi-precious stones. With those materials, the Egyptians were able to create aesthetic masterpieces to communicate their views and ideas.

Ancient Egyptian art is painting, sculpture, architecture and other arts constructed by the civilization of ancient Egypt in the lower Nile River from 3000 BC. Ancient Egyptian artist tried to idealize the universe, not as it actually existed, but more enduring and lasting symbols. They tended to portray life and people as they wished them to be and not how they actually are. The artist followed certain rules or styles that made it unique and unmistakable. Most of the art was influenced by religion, mainly the belief in life after death. Most statues were meant to glorify and a physical representation of the Gods (including the Pharaoh) and Goddesses. Male statues was made darker in color than female statues. Sculpture and paintings were very precise and strictly followed. Human figures followed a specific pattern; the heads were viewed from the side while the body was viewed from the front. The artists used this style to preserve order and stability, and the current relationship between the king, people, and gods. They also used this type of style to dedicate to ensuring safety and happiness in the next life. The standard Egyptian tombs was a rectangular brick or stone structure with sloping sides build over an underground burial chamber. The Old Kingdom statues survived all those years because they fulfilled an important function in Egyptian tombs as substitute abodes for ka (the immortal human life force). Although the characteristics of Ancient Egyptian art has been

This thesis proposes that Egyptian tomb painting served as a housing for the Ka. The analysis examined the link between the tomb paintings and therefore the Ka at intervals the modern non secular literature finding that they served this purpose. the primary relationship incorporates the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony that returns life to the deceased in each the texts and illustrations. The ambiguous nature of the texts refers the returning of life to the deceased. This includes all the elements of the soul (Ka, Ba, and Akh) and every one physical and inventive representations. These paintings conjointly support the Ka with depictions of food offerings. A secondary question addresses the identification of the deceased showing within the paintings.

We are still finding evidence of paintings and artifacts as of today. Some of the paintings of ancient Egypt have stood the test of time due to Egypt’s dry climate. Most of the paintings were done on walls and in caves and in funeral tombs to depict the life of the deceased and offer a pleasant passage. A famous painting that was done by the Egyptians is called Judgment before Osiris. This painting was done on papyrus and depicted a scale and judgment. If the heart of the deceased was lighter than the feather of truth then their soul could enter afterlife.

Egyptian art has attained a high level in painting and sculpting, they both are extremely stylized and depicts power through art. To the Egyptians, art was very important in their lives and culture, it was either commissioned by kings or Pharaohs. They valued the beauty of life and in the afterlife, as the Egyptian arts was for a religious and funerary objective. Through these funerary objectives they had statues, temples, tombs, and walls that were decorated to serve for spiritual intent but it wasn’t made just for the ordinary people. It was only for the kings, queens, and Pharaohs who had the power and wealth. The three objects that I will be covering about Tomb of Ti, The Last Judgement of Hugh-Nefer and the Tutankhamen’s mummy are couple of the main reason why art in the ancient Egyptian art is usually centered around Pharaohs, as they had a strong belief in the afterlife.