Warmup: Read “Beautification” on page 34 Egyptian music.

Warmup:

Read “Beautification” on page 34

Egyptian musicEgyptian musicEgyptian music

Humanities Chapter 2 Egypt

The student will:•Know the difference between Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom.•Know the religion of Egypt and its importance.

Living History: Living in Ancient Egypt. United Learning. 2000.unitedstreaming. 24 August 2007<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Living History: Living in Ancient Egypt. United Learning. 2000.unitedstreaming. 24 August 2007<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Egypt: Antithesis to Sumeria 1. First national state; unified 2. One people, one language 3. Protected by geography; Nile all important 4. Unchanging society and beliefs

Theocracy: Pharoah is a living god who controlled the Nile. 1. Maat: following the will of god by embracing the four qualities: order, truth, justice, and righteousness. 2. Ka: indestructible spirit within people. a. Mummification (p. 30) b. Pyramids (not mud, but stone—permanent c. Treasures to ensure happiness after death

HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSESServed gods and goddesses

PHARAOHEarthly leader; considered a god

NOBLESFought pharaoh’s wars

MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANSMade furniture, jewelry, and fabrics for

pharaohs and nobles, and provided for other needs

PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVESWorked in the fields and served the pharaoh

Class System in Ancient Egypt2

The pharaoh Living History: Living in Ancient Egypt. United Learning. 2000.unitedstreaming. 24 August 2007<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Ma’at (or Maat) was the god of order, justice and truth. A woman wearing a crown surmounted by a huge ostrich feather. Her totem symbol is a stone platform or foundation, representing the stable base on which order is built. Maat was the personification of the fundamental order of the universe, without which all of creation would perish. The primary duty of the pharaoh was to uphold this order by maintaining the law and administering justice. To reflect this, many pharaohs took the title "Beloved of Maat," emphasizing their focus on justice and truth. “The course of the stars, the sequence of day and night, and the passage of all things from life to death were part of this universal, unchanging ma’at.” (Nagle, 25)

The ka was a most important concept in ancient Egyptian religion. Indeed, the name of Egypt itself is probably derived, though Greek, from the ancient name for the capital city, Memphis,  which was Hut-ka-Pteh, or "House of the Ka of Ptah". The word, ka, was expressed by a hieroglyph depicting two upraised arms, which was usually the symbol of an embrace, the protection of a man by his ka, or a sign of praise. Unfortunately, the concept of the ka has no exact analogues in European culture and so it is difficult to identify the ka with more familiar concepts. Hence, interpretations are frequently ambiguous and often unsatisfactory. One will frequently see the term translated as "soul" or "spirit", the ka was much more than that. In very ancient times, the ka may have indicated male potency, and in all periods it is used as a term for the creative and sustaining power of life. Many ancient Egyptian words, such as "think about" and "thought" have the same basic root as the word for ka, as do other words such as "magic" and "enchant," reflecting the supernatural essence of the ka. The idea of the ka was a dominating concept of the next life in the Old Kingdom. In a less pure form, it continued into the Middle Kingdom, and thereafter lost much of its importance, although the ka always remained the recipient of offerings.

Religion (continued)

Polytheism

• Amon-Re or Ra (Sun god) (temporarily renamed under Amenhotep IV)

• Osiris: God of the Underworld (although began as the god of nature/Nile). Killed by brother Set, chopped to pieces, and put back together by wife Isis.

• Horus: Osiris’ son who killed Set (falcon-headed)• Seth (or Set) was the God of the desert, storm and violence

Osiris and Isis

Osiris, in Egyptian mythology, ruler of the realm of the dead. As king of Egypt, Osiris taught his people law, agriculture, religion, and other blessings of civilization. He was murdered by his brother Seth. His his sister and wife, Isis, buried his scattered remains. Each burial place was thereafter regarded as holy. Osiris lived on in the underworld as the ruler of the dead, but he was also regarded as the source of renewed life.The Encarta® Desk Encyclopedia Copyright © & ℗ 1998 Microsoft Corporation.

Horus, the son of Osiris, was the god of balance and harmony, assigned to maintain the ma’at of Egypt. His function was to ensure the continuing existence and activity of the gods on earth by means of religious acts and to maintain the natural order such as the flow of the Nile an the fertility of the soil. He did not rule by the consent of the governed but by the decision of the gods. (Nagle, 25)

Seth (or Set) was the Seth was the God of the desert, storm and violence, which are all enemies of the fertile, properous, narrow valley of the Nile. He was the brother of Osiris. Seth had killed Osiris by tricking him into a coffin, which he threw into the Nile. When Osiris' wife Isis heard about this, she started searching desperately for her husband's body, to bury it properly. She asked everyone she met and finally some children told her where it was. Isis mourned for her dead husband. Then she hid the body, while she went back to look after her son Horus, still a baby. Seth was terrified that Isis might be able to bring Osiris back from the dead, since she was a great magician. So Seth found where she had hidden the body and cut it into pieces, which he scattered up and down the Nile. Now Isis had to find all the scattered pieces of Osiris. Whenever she found a piece, she buried it there and built a shrine. This means that there are lots of places in Egypt where Osiris was buried! Osiris himself became the King of the Dead, and all Egyptians hoped they would join him after death.

Isis

Seth (or Set)

Statues, paintings, and writings tell us about ancient Egyptian values and attitudes.

Developed painting style that remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Wrote hymns and prayers to the gods, proverbs, love poems, stories of victory in battle, and folk tales.

Built pyramids and other great buildings, such as temple of Ramses II.

Developed a form of picture writing called hieroglyphics.

Doctors diagnosed and cured illnesses, performed surgery, and developed medicines still used today.

Developed 12-month calendar on which modern calendar is based.Astronomers mapped constellations and charted movement of the planets.

Developed practical geometry.Skilled in design and engineering.

Advances in the ArtsAdvances in Learning

Ancient Egypt: A Center of Learning & Culture

2

Scribes and writing

Architecture

Sphinx: body of lion and head of pharoah (largest surviving colossus (art test).

We believe that Khafre's workers shaped the stone into the lion and gave it their king's face over 4,500 years ago. Khafre's name was also mentioned on the Dream Stele, which sits between the paws of the great beast. However, no one is completely certain that it is in fact the face of Khafre, though indeed that is the preponderance of thought. Recently, however, it has been argued that Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, may have also had the Great Sphinx built.  The Sphinx faces the rising sun. figure was buried for most of its life in the sand. In fact, the sand has been its savior, since, being built of soft sandstone, it would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried for much of its existence.  Nevertheless, the statue is crumbling today because of the wind, humidity and the smog from Cairo.

TEST!!

Pyramids: built during the 4th dynasty Old Kindom. The most remarkable change is the transition of Step Pyramids to 'true' pyramids with smooth surfaces. This transition was not only the result of increasing technical skills, but even more of religious views that shifted from stellar to solar. The Step Pyramid symbolised a staircase to the stars. The 'true' pyramid, on the other hand was considered as a solar symbol and as a representation of the primaeval mound from which all life had sprung.

The first pyramid built was the graded one of Zoser, which exists even today, in Sakkarah, the necropolis of Menphis. Built in the year 2650 BC by the architect Imhotep, initially it was supposed to be a mastaba but later floors were added until they reached six. It is the oldest monumental work in stone known to man that exists. Its exterior walls, of white limestone, measures 545 metres from North to South and 227 metres from East to West. The wall has 14 doors, 13 of them false. Its height is 66 metres. In its interior, lies the sepulchral chamber of the Pharaoh Sneferu with cladding of pink granite and sealed with a block of stone of three tons weight.

The Pyramid of Meydum The Bent Pyramid

The Great Pyramids of GizaThe Great Pyramids of Giza

The pyramids

Temple of Amon at Karnak: (p. 37)

tour of Temple of Amon at Karnak

The hypostyle (pillared) hall in the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak in Thebes, Egypt, was decorated by Seti I and Ramses II. The hall was one of the wonders of antiquity, covering an area of some 54,000 square feet (5,000 square metres).

Architecture (continued)

Post & Lintel construction: (p. 36) post-and-lintel construction: a building method that uses two upright or vertical posts set a distance apart with a horizontal beam or lintel placed on top of them to span the distance. Walls and roofs can be built on top of the lintel

which means greater space can be enclosed and multiple levels added.

Art

Art convention: consistent way of seeing and depicting things in a manner generally accepted and understood. In the case of Egyptian artists, it meant a stylized frontal view of body and eyes with face and legs in profile (p. 32 figure 2.3).

Egypt sculpture displayed an impassive calm and enduring serenity that suggested their eternal existence (p. 32; figure 2.4).

A mural of Narmer or Menes conquering Lower Egypt (c.a. 3100 B.C.)

Early Dynastic Period c.a. 3100-2700 B.C.

The Old Kingdom c.a. 2700-2200 B.C.

First Intermediate Period c.a. 2200-2050 B.C.

The Middle Kingdom c.a. 2050-1652 B.C.

Second Intermediate Period c.a. 1652-1567 B.C.

The New Kingdom c.a. 1567-1085 B.C.

Post-empire c.a. 1085-30 B.C.

Historian have divided Egyptian history into three major periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. These were long periods of stability characterized by strong monarchical authority, competent bureaucracy, freedom from invasion, much construction of pyramids and temples, and considerable intellectual and cultural development and activity. These major periods were punctuated by ages of political chaos known as the Intermediate Periods, which were characterized by weak political structures and rivalry for leadership, invasions, a decline in building activity, and a restructuring of society.

G HISTORY

The Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom (2050-1653 B.C.) was characterized by a new concern of the pharaohs for the people. In the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh had been viewed as an inaccessible god-king. Now he was portrayed as the shepherd of his people.

PHARAOHS CROWNED WITH SHEPHERD’S CROOK AND FLAIL

Amenhotep IV (c. 1362-1347 B.C.) introduced the worship of Aton, god of the sun disk, as the chief god and pursued his worship with enthusiasm. Changing his own name to Akhenaten (“It is well with Aton”), the pharaoh closed the temples of other gods and especially endeavored to lessen the power of Amon-Re and his priesthood at Thebes (test).

The Amarna HeresyBy the third year of his reign, Amenhotep IV had begun a series of temples dedicated to the solar cult at Karnak. Called the Aten for short, this god was portrayed as a sun disk whose rays ended in human hands that extended ankh (“life”) symbols to the king. In the fifth year of his reign, Amenhotep IV shocked his subjects by changing his name to Akhenaten (“The One Who is Effective for the Aten”). He also moved the capital from Thebes to a new city on virgin soil, untainted by other gods. Called Akhetaten (“Horizon of the Sun Disk”), we now know this city as Amarna.

The Cultural Impact of One GodTo implement this new religion, agents of the king traveled throughout Egypt, destroying the names and images of other deities. Even the plural word “gods” was obliterated. , the Aten could now be worshipped only through representations of the royal family, who were portrayed in a rounded exaggerated style quite different from traditional Egyptian art.

King Tut: King Tut’s tomb is located in the Valley of the Kings and is by far the best preserved royal tomb ever discovered. The tomb, which was thought to be left intact, was believed to be robbed twice. Even though this tomb revealed treasure beyond our imagination, it was modestly furnished compared to the pharaohs before and after his time. This “humble” tomb had remained hidden for 3000 years and had eluded tomb robbers and flash floods throughout the centuries.King Tut virtual tour

Tut as Pharaoh: Tutankhamun began life with the name Tutankhaten (“Living Image of the Aten”). Most likely the son of the heretic King Akhenaten and his lesser wife Kiya, the young prince would have grown up at Akhetaten, the controversial new capital city. Near the time of his father’s death, Tutankhaten married Ankhsenpaaten—probably his half-sister and the daughter of Akhenaten by Nefertiti, the famous beauty and chief wife.Tutankhamun’s Early ReignSometime soon after Akhenaten’s passing, the ten-year-old Tutankhaten ascended the throne of Egypt. His coronation would have been a grand affair, full of pomp and pageantry. One of Tutankhaten’s first actions as pharaoh was to move away from the Amarna religion, because his father's belief in one god, the Aten, had proved to be quite unpopular with the people.Restoring Traditional BeliefsTutankhaten quickly re-established the orthodox belief in the pantheon of the gods and reopened their temples.Discovery King Tut

We cannot know what prompted his return to orthodoxy—true belief, fear of the power of the Amun priesthood, the desire of his advisors, or simply convenience—but we do know his feelings about his heretic father’s actions, preserved on a monument from Karnak. In this “Restoration Stela,” he claims:The temples of the gods and goddesses from Elephantine to the Delta were destroyed, their sanctuaries allowed to decay. They had become rubbish heaps, overgrown with weeds…. The land was in sickness, the gods had turned their backs….” Tutankhamun goes on to describe how he “rose upon the throne of his father” and immediately determined to right the situation. During his rule of almost ten years, the young king worked hard to restore the worship of Amun and the other gods who had been neglected under Akhenaten. He rebuilt their temples, replenished their treasuries, and left Amarna to return to Memphis and Thebes

Ramses II: He is often regarded as Egypt's greatest and most powerful pharaoh. He ruled for 66 years. "During his long reign of 67 years, everything was done on a grand scale.  No other pharaoh constructed so many temples or erected so many colossal statues and obelisks.  No other pharaoh sired so many children.  Ramesses' 'victory' over the Hittities at Kadesh was celebrated in one of the most repeated Egyptian texts ever put on record.  By the time he died, aged more than 90, he had set his stamp indelibly on the face of Egypt.“--"Chronicle of the Pharaohs" by Peter A. ClaytonWe believe that Ramesses II had as many as fifty sons and fifty daughters, though only a few of them are known to us. His chief, and most likely favorite wife was Nefertari, though he obviously had many others.

Living History: Living in Ancient Egypt. United Learning. 2000.unitedstreaming. 24 August 2007<http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Art test

The Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II (green) bordering on the Hittite Empire (red) at the height of its power in ca. 1290 BC

Decline of Egypt

• Kush empire

• Assyrians

• Persians

• Alexander the Great: Hellenistic culture

• Roman province (30 B.C.)

Invasion of the “Sea Peoples” around 1200 B.C.Invasion of the “Sea Peoples” around 1200 B.C.

Egyptian Drawings of Two Different Tribes of Sea People

The days of Egyptian empire were ended, and the New Kingdom expired with the end of the twentieth dynasty in 1085 B.C. For the next thousand years, despite periodic revivals of strength, Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, and Macedonians.

Professor Fekri Hassan examining ancient hieroglyphs which tell of appalling suffering. A third of the population died and the most ordered of empires was brought to chaos. 

Relief showing men, women, and Relief showing men, women, and children suffering from the effects children suffering from the effects of severe famineof severe famine

The End of the Old Kingdom