Edifices to the Gods and Social Perception of A Nation

The ancient civilizations of the Ancient Egypt, as well as the great Mesopotamia, are the world’s greatest civilization as recorded by history. The civilization was highly facilitated by rivers which cut across their land. The Euphrates, Nile, as well as Tigris, constantly moving along the river banks which in turn resulted in the adjoining land is extremely fertile (Backman). This led to flourishment and development of Ur and Eriku cities in Mesopotamia as well as the city of Thebes in Egypt (Backman). The Nile was very significant in Ancient Egypt as it made invasion by enemies impossible due to its marshy deltas (Backman). On the other hand, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia differed fundamentally in many aspects more specifically in how their societies were structured, cultural orientation, religion, technological experiences, literature, and art among other things (Backman). This paper will center on examining these differences as well as similarities between these two regions as well as what they communicate concerning the circumstances that people from these two regions faced.

When you look back in history to the development and the contributions of both the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, you see that there was a lot accomplished, as well as a lot created. The earliest forms of writing developed in Mesopotamia, while Egypt was referred to the “Gift of the Nile” by traveler Herodotus (McKay,42). Development of cities was another major marker, especially in the “old world”, of how people eventually determined civilizations and what they represented. According to McKay, civilizations were determined by people who considered themselves more “civilized”, urban people mostly. Made up of cities, written rules of law, and social justice codes, Mesopotamia and Egypt would develop into two of the largest civilizations in history.

The artworks of Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt are both strikingly different and similar at the same time. Consistent is the theme of serving the different gods the two cultures believed in. In Mesopotamia the various city-states each had their own protective deity, and in Egypt they sometimes differed from one dynasty to the next. Whatever the case, with the beginning of kingdoms and rulership came the need to justify a position of power and establish a hierarchy. And as more time passed came also the human need to leave an impression on their world. Looking at the example of the statues of Gudea from the Neo-Sumerian period and the Temple of Ramses II from the New Kingdom of Egypt in the 19th dynasty, will show how both rulers of

Throughout the centuries, Ancient Egypt has faced many changes, different Dynasties, rulers and wars. The one thing that has rarely ever changed, is Egyptian religion, and by proxy their temples. Throughout Ancient Egypt, Temples have been a focal point in every village. The temples more often than not were grand displays of extravagance to show a god's strength and power in the mortal world. The temples of Ancient egypt are rife with culture and different architectural designs. The egyptians felt that each god had to be presented to the best of their mortal abilities.

This is proof of the Sumerian architectural abilities. The architecture in Mesopotamia are considered to have been contemporary with the founding of the Sumerian cities, but there was some complexity in the architectural design during this Protoliterate period (c. 3400-c. 2900 BC). This is shown in the design of many religious buildings. Typical temples of the Protoliterate period--both the platform type and the type built at ground level--are, however, much more elaborate both in planning and ornament. The interior was decorated with cones sunk into the wall, covered in bronze. Most cities were simple in structure, but the ziggurat was one of the world's first complex architectural structures.

     Paralleling the pyramids in Egypt were the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia (meaning between two rivers, the Tigress and Euphrates) began making these structures around roughly 2000 BC. They were made of bricks that they produced on the building’s work site. There were sun-dried bricks to make up the solid inside of the ziggurat, and there were kiln fired bricks that made up the structures façade. These bricks were much smaller than the stones used in Egypt and also did not have to be brought from far away. Some of the ziggurats were built on top of older ones. Like Egyptian pyramids, the ziggurat was believed to be a kind of gateway between heaven and earth, but unlike the pyramids, the ziggurats where not tombs for kings. Rather they were believed to be the earthly homes of gods. Egyptians built their massive structures outside of major populated areas. But the ziggurats were in prominent areas. Cities had their own patron god or goddess (some places even had two ziggurats, one for a god of both sexes) and priests were the only ones allowed into these temples. They had the honor of catering to the needs of the gods and were powerful figures in their respective communities. Mesopotamians also built the Tower of Babel, which was supposed to have been built as bridge from earth to heaven. It was most likely located in Neo-Babylonia (home of the Hanging Gardens) and was also one of

By juxtaposing the Mesopotamian and Egyptian religion and royal power, we can see how these two different ascendancies acted similarly and antithetically as they both affected their people's fabrications. These strong concepts, religion and royal power (starting around approximately the early,ancient 3500 B.C.E.) compelled their people to follow their rulings. Mesopotamian & Egyptian cultural architecture, writing/arts, and geographical location act as evidence to exhibit how religion and royal power were sovereignties that influenced these creations. The royal power and religion of Egypt and Mesopotamia both affect the architecture of their region. Document 2 is the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, c. 2648 B.C.E.; a monument, which stood at 204 feet

Almost everyone has heard of the ancient civilization of Egypt. Most people generally know when and where the Egyptians lived, what their government was like, how they lived on a day to day basis, and what all they achieved in the many centuries that they flourished. This paper will go in depth on all of these categories.

The evolvement of two noteworthy key societies in the Middle East and North Africa inspires my effort at comparative analysis. Because different geography, various degrees of exposure to outside invasion and influence, and different prior beliefs, Egypt, and Mesopotamia were similar to one another in many ways. Egypt emphasized strong central authority, while Mesopotamian politics shifted more frequently over a substructure of regional city-states. Mesopotamian art focused on less impressive structures while embracing a pronounced literary element that Egyptian art lacked. Egyptian civilization, formed by 3000 B.C., advanced from trade and technological influence from Mesopotamia, but it produced an entirely different social order and culture. Since its ethics and its tightly knit political association encouraged monumental building, we know more about Egypt about Mesopotamia, even though the latter was in the most respects more important and richer in subsequent heritage.

The Egyptian pyramids have been the subject of many outlandish claims and construction theories for centuries. The Great Pyramid for example has been associated with pyramid power, curses, Atlantis, Mexican pyramids, Stonehenge, Nazca, the Bermuda Triangle, Biblical prophecy, Martian faces, advanced civilizations, space aliens, cavity resonators, and even levitation. It is not surprising that some who have proposed such theories have been dubbed "pyramidiots". This paper will attempt to give a more logical solution to the methods ancient Egyptians may have had used, and the problems they may have had, using factual information, scientific evidence and a bit of common sense.

According to ancient Egyptian belief, the primordial hillock first emerged from of the primeval waters of chaos in the land of Djanet, now know as the city of Thebes. This location was also believed to be the sacred burial grounds of the Ogdoad, enriching the land with a celestial power. It is here that we find the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, Medinet Habu. The pharaohs of the New Kingdom constructed these elaborate temples in order to honor themselves after death and unite with the divine world through cult practices. Modeled after the mortuary temple of Ramses II, Medinet Habu has served a range of purposes. It’s hosted the visiting gods of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu during the Festival of the Valley, it served as the site of history’s first documented protest during the food shortages and economic turmoil that plagued the land during the 29th year of Ramesses III’s reign, and when the Libyans invaded Thebes it served as a refuge for the fleeing residents. However, most importantly, this mortuary temple served as an earthly representation of cosmic structure, function, and regeneration. In essence, it symbolized a passage through the cosmic lifecycle , and via cult practice served as a portal into the divine world. This paper will examine the architectural structure and its symbolic importance to the cosmology of the ancient Egyptians. Further, it will explore the ideological implications of the text and imagery depicted throughout the temple. Lastly, it will analyze the

Throughout ancient history, one can find many different examples of civilization, each with different geography, political systems, and cultures. Although many of these empires were prominent and influential, one could argue that the two most contrasting, impactful civilizations were perhaps Egypt and Mesopotamia. These two empires had entirely different circumstances in terms of the land they were erected on, the peoples both in the land and surrounding it, and the social customs that developed. However, in spite of the wildly differing conditions, both Egypt and Mesopotamia were able to develop in such a way that the two cultures were both in a position to leave behind impactful legacies that still influence the world today. Before one considers how Egypt and Mesopotamia differ socially and politically, one must first understand the different geographies that drove

The early civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia don’t often receive their rightful credit for modern day civilizations. These two groups of outstanding engineers and architects gave us phenomenal examples of how to build a strong city or town. In their days, there was no modern technology… yet they still used their ingenuity to craft cities whose remains have been unearthed, centuries later.

The Egyptians were notorious for creating large monuments like the Great Spinx. The majority of the Egyptians massive sculptural structures was created in preparation for the afterlife. The Egyptians had the great ability to import large stones for building their structures, and also were able to organize the labor force to complete

In the deserts of Egypt lie the colossal remains of an ancient civilization. These enormous works of human endeavor are the only member of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World that time has passed down to us. These are, of course, the great pyramids of ancient Egypt. But these imposing structures were not built to impress civilization millennia down the road. The pyramids in fact had a purpose to the ancient Egyptians. While they seem very simple in nature, as they are simply four-sided pyramids with square bases, they had a meaning for those that had them built. Even by today’s standards, the pyramids of ancient Egypt were an impressive feat of engineering, due to their enormous size, both in building materials and finished product.