The Narmer Palette, also known as the Great Hierakonpolis Palette or the Palette of Narmer, is one of the most significant Egyptian archeological find, dating from about the 31st century BC, it contains some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions ever found in history. It is thought by some to depict the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the king Narmer. On one side, the king is shown with the bulbed white crown of Upper Egypt, and on the other side it shows the king wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt. The Palette of Narmer accommodates one of the earliest known characterizations of an Egyptian king. The Palette shows many of the classic delegations of Ancient Egyptian art. The Egyptologist Bob Brier has referred to the Narmer Palette as "the first historical document in the world". Narmer was an ancient Egyptian king of the Early Dynastic Period. Some people consider Narmer as the unifier of Egypt (both upper and lower) and the father of the First Dynasty, therefore known as the first king of a unified Egypt. The identity of Narmer is the subject of ongoing debate, although mainstream Egyptological consensus identifies Narmer with the First Dynasty pharaoh Menes, who is also credited with the unification of Egypt, as the first pharaoh. This conclusion is based on the Narmer Palette which shows Narmer as the unifier of Egypt and the two necropolis seals from the necropolis of Abydos that show him as the first king of the First Dynasty. Narmer has been cited as
Ahmose returned victoriously to Thebes. The work of his father and brother had finally been completed. Historical evidence has proven that that point in Egyptian history was perceived as the re-birth of Egypt into a unified country, led by one pharaoh, Ahmose I. Egypt had finally conquered the Hyksos and Ahmose I was the hegemony of Thebes. Excavations at Tell el-Dab’a reveal abandonment of the Siege of Avaris, which reveals
The pharaoh was undoubtedly the most important terrestrial figure in ancient Egypt and played a significant role in the functioning of Egyptian society. Entrusted with governing the realm of Egypt and providing a link between the Egyptian people and the gods, pharaohs were “an essential element in the maintenance of the position of society in the order of creation”. This idea has been substantiated through the various artefacts located in tombs in the Valley of the Kings, particularly that of Tutankhamun. These finds have shed light on the role and lifestyle of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Through the discovery and analysis of these items, historians and archaeologists alike have been able to glean considerable amounts of information in
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 palette of King Narmer is more than simply a work of art. It is a blend of artistic creativity, mixed with the function of recording the history of King Narmer. Revealing, Narmer's rise to power as well as share the narrative of how Egypt was united.
A retail store. Promoter of youthful beauty. Often the place that girls as young as the age of 10 go to looking for a solution to cover their insecurities and impurities. Alternatively, for some girls, it is a gateway to heaven where all things cosmetics intertwine into one place: Sephora. Sephora, founded in France by Dominique Mandonnaud, is owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, two well known fashion designers. With the owners of Sephora already having a reputation in the high end fashion industry, it is no surprise they had to create Sephora with an image of elegance, beauty, and creativity through its store design and careful selection of products and brands. The way the owners and advertising management for Sephora contributes these decisions into their company reveals how contemporary American culture focuses on aesthetics and promoting the idea of perfection and flawlessness.
The cultural artifact that I propose to study is a bust of Queen Nefertiti, who was the Royal Wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. The bust is said to be painted with stucco-coated limestone, created in 1345 B.C by Thutmose who was a talented sculptor. The bust was discovered in 1912 in Thutmose’s workshop by Ludwig Borchardt and his archaeological team. The bust had many owners in Germany throughout the years, however, it is currently on display at the Neues Museum in Berlin. The Nefertiti bust is a cultural phenomenon, especially for ancient Egypt as well as Berlin. Germany had the bust for over a century now and it has been their pride and joy. The argument between Egypt and Germany over the bust has been going on for decades. Egypt believes that the bust belongs to them and that it was taken
Egypt became a consolidated state at the beginning the Early Dynastic Period in 3000 BCE. According to legend, following creation, Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north were both unified under Menes. Originally a powerful ruler from Upper Egypt, Menes conquered Lower Egypt and became the first ruler to preside over a unified Egypt. The Palette of Narmer was created in the Early Dynastic Period between 2950-2775 BCE and is often
The reliefs of Ankh-neb-ef are limestone panels with paint that originated from the Old Kingdom of Egypt in 2150 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Pepy II. The delicate carving of the panels in the sunken relief presents a magnificent image. They portray Ankh-neb-ef, an ancient Egyptian priest whose name translates to “may his lord live.” In the reliefs, Ankh-neb-ef holds a Kherep-sceptor and a walking stick, which were symbols of authority in ancient Egypt. Egyptian civilization was extremely religious and most ancient Egyptian artworks involved the portrayal of gods, goddesses, and Pharaoh, as well. Moreover, the Egyptian reverence for order and conservative ideals led to the institution of intricate rules that governed how artists represented both humans and gods (Saylor.org 4). For instance, the apparel worn by Ankh-neb-ef in the painting is not a simple fashion statement. The priest is wearing a prestigious sarong and ornamentation, bracelets, and a wide collar. The jewelry kept their owner safe in a dangerous passage to the afterlife. This formula for representing the human figure in a painting remained popular over several centuries (Robins 24).
The Ancient Egyptian artifact that I chose to analyze and is the most interesting piece I have seen in the museum is the Cartonnage of Nespanetjerenpare. The artwork itself was larger than me and that was one of the reasons why this artwork was very interesting to me, since I am a fairly tall individual. It was created during the Third intermediate period that was around Dynasty XXII or the twenty second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was possibly acquired from Thebes. The dynasty was also known as the Bubastite dynasty which was approxamently from 945-718 B.C.
If I had to say one thing ancient Egyptians were famous for it was that they built tremendous pyramids and had a great amount of skill. Some pyramids still exist and it is amazing how they built them and are still standing today. In the civilization of Ancient Egypt, there were six periods which were the Pre-dynastic period, Old Kingdom, the 1st Intermediate period, the Middle Kingdom, the 2nd Intermediate period, and New Kingdom (TimeMaps). The Pre-dynastic period began in 3500-3000 BC and led to the unified group of Egypt as a community. The Old Kingdom began in 2650 which was around the time that the Great Pyramids of Giza were being built. A man named Narmer was the founder of the 1st dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was looked at as a god. Narmer was mainly known for his hieroglyphic writing and his monuments. Even in todays world, hieroglyphics are used to decode language and is basically the language for the ancient Egyptian
Upper and Lower Egypt were united for the first time under one ruler, however, this would come to an end around 2200 B.C.. In much of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Pharaoh was often depicted as almost larger than life, with great power and much of Egyptian art is a celebration of his accomplishments. The formation of a royal absolutism occurred during this period, with the Pharaoh and a small-centralized administration, composed mainly of royal kin and relatives, overseeing all aspects of Egyptian life. The Pharaoh was looked at as a living god among the Egyptian people, who assured the success of Egypt as well as its peace. "The Pharaoh belonged both to the world of the gods and the world of men, and he was seen as a bridge between them. Some of the local deities represented various aspects of nature, such as the earth and the sky, or the Nile and it's gifts of fertility. So the king, living in their midst, could bring the Egyptians into a harmonious relationship with their divinities and with the forces of nature upon which their whole existence depended" (Hawkes 43).
Egypt had exploited Nubian for resources such as gold since the Old Kingdom, yet expansion of empire into Nubia wasn’t seen as a political and economical necessity until the New Kingdom. Expansion into Nubia politically protected Egypt’s southern borders from further threat, economically it meant safe trade routes and access to further resources that would allow the empire to flourish. From the Middle Kingdom forth, Egypt had built fortresses along the Palestinian border of the Sinai Desert. This ensured protection of their Northern border as well as the establishment of extensive trade routes that would aid economic stability and allow for further expansion North. Ahmose’s expulsion of the Hyksos not only created both the 18th Dynasty and New Kingdom, but lead to a new age of militarism with a succession of ‘warrior pharaohs’. His invasion of the Hyksos territory paved the way for Egypt’s northern expansion, with his conquest of Nubian Hyksos allies at Buhen allowing for expansion south. Evidence of Ahmose’s reign initiating expansion and early stages of the empire comes from the Biography of Ahmose son of
The Egyptian Mummy Mask from the early Roman Period is unique and beautiful in every way possible. This mask that is on display in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston is about 3 feet tall to about 2 feet wide. This certain piece of magnificent art is extremely detailed with intricate designs covering it all around. The Museum of Fine Arts makes it easy to pay attention to, because of its detail and how the mask is displayed. The Mummy Mask has it’s own small alter with a spot light shining down on it creating dramatic shadows in a very dim room. The decorations include inlaid glass eyes, a gold leaf and is hand-painted and gilded glass. This mask is not paper maché like the masks that were made in this era; this Mummy Mask had been created out of cartonnage . The Egyptians decorated this masterpiece with bold vertical and horizontal lines representing rows of beads to go along with the story it tells. The Egyptian Mummy Mask from the first half of the first century A.D illustrates a gaze of innocence and acceptance while looking into the bright future of whom the mask was made for. Perfectly painted images covering the mask tell a story of the traditional funerary practices and the after life Egyptians believed in. Egyptians would create these pieces to fit over the heads of the lost lives wrapped inside the mummy. The mask represents the deceased transformed into a God . Although the face of the mask is idealized and emotionless, the decorations say and express more than a
“Style; noun \ˈstī(-ə)l: a particular form or design of something,” (“Style”). There are many different style types. New Yorkers, California girls, and Italians all have different clothing styles and many different and unique makeup products. Each and every culture has a style of their own.
The Old Kingdom of Egypt, ruled by the 3rd to the 6th dynasties, spanned the five centuries between about 2755 bc and 2255 bc. In about 3100 bc the country was united under one rule by strong chieftains from the south. The idea, however, that Egypt was divided into two distinct parts—Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north—persisted. The unification of Egypt, or one of the stages leading to it, is commemorated on the carved stone Palette of King Narmer (c. 3100 bc, Egyptian Museum, Cairo), on which the king, wearing the crown of the south, is shown subjugating peoples of the north.