Middle Kingdom 2030-1640 BCE
• After the civil wars that took place at the end of the Old Kingdom, Upper and Lower Egypt were united again under a single king, this time by Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II
• Thebes served as the capital and artistic center of the country during this kingdom
• Dynasties 11-13• However, this was considered the “dark ages”
of Egypt due to the chaos of foreign invaders
Senusret III
• Senusret III was Mentuhotep II’s successor• Fought 4 brutal military campaigns in Nubia• Never fully secured control over Nubia• However, did establish a more powerful
central government in Egypt
Senusret III
• His portraits show a change in Egyptian art away from the style of the Old Kingdom:– More realistic– Emotions are more accurately portrayed• Portray his anxiety, pessimism, sadness that came with
being a ruler during these dark times
Middle Kingdom Art
• The major architectural accomplishment during this time was Mentuhotep’s mortuary complex
• Cut into the bedrock near cliffs in western Thebes
• Terraced temple with pillared porticoes• Very unique for its time• Included painted reliefs of ceremonial scenes
and hieroglyphic texts
Reconstruction of the Original Complex
Although this complex was used for several centuries after Mentuhotep II’s death, it waseventually severely damagedby an Earthquake
What it looks like now:THIS is Mentuhotep II’s mortuary complex at Deir el-Bahri…
The bigger, more impressiveone is for Hatshepsut (literally,The Woman Who Would Be King)which was built during theNew Kingdom
She was the first greatfemale monarch whose name was ever recorded
She ruled for 2 decades!
Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11, ca. 2051–2000 B.C., Painted limestone; H. 14 1/8 in.
Painted relief carving from Mentuhotep II’s mortuary complex
Cosmetic Jar in the Form of a Cat, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1991–1783 B.C., Egyptian alabaster (calcite) with inlaid eyes
of rock crystal and copper; H. 5 1/2 in.
Egyptians were known for domesticating cats
This is the first known 3D artwork of a cat
It was a cosmetic jar meant to hold scented oil
Incredibly lifelike: looks like a tense, alert, hunter
The eyes are made of rock crystal with drill holes at the back that were filled with pigment, creating a startlingly lifelike impression
The eye sockets were lined with copper, which corroded to form a heavy green rim
Pectoral of Princess Sit–Hathor–yunet (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reigns of Senwosret II–Amenemhat III, ca. 1887–
1813 B.C., Gold, carnelian, feldspar, garnet, turquoise
Middle Kingdom jewelershad incredible skill
This served as a necklace forPrincess Sit–Hathor–yunet
The two falcons with sun-disks = Sun god Re
Ankh = symbol for life
Mummification
• Just for fun, as mummification was a standard practice at this point in Egyptian history, here’s what the process of mummification entailed:
Mummification
• Mummification was not systematically practiced until the 4th dynasty
• 10 week process• Surgical removal of the lungs, liver, stomach, and
intestines through an incision in the left flank– Thought to be most subject to decay
• They were individually wrapped an placed in 4 containers (canopic jars) to put in the burial chamber with the corpse
Mummification
• Brain is sucked out through the nose and discarded– Egyptians did not attach any special significance to
the brain!• Heart was left in place– Egyptians believed it was the base of intelligence
• Body was treated for 40 days with natron:– A natural salt compound that dehydrates the body
Mummification
• Corpse was filled with resin-soaked linens• Embalming incision was closed and covered
with a representation of the wedjat eye of Horus, an amulet, to ward off evil
Mummification
• Body is treated with lotions and resins • Wrapped tightly in hundreds of yards of linen
bandages to maintain its shape • Other amulets, like scarabs (gems in the shape
of beetles) would be placed either in the linens or on the corpse with spells written on them to return the heart to its owner if it were ever lost
Mummification
• Often, a scroll copy of the Book of the Dead was placed between the legs of the corpse – It contained 200 spells to protect the mummy and
the ka in the afterlife
Mummification
• Mummies of the wealthy had their faces covered with gilded funerary masks
• Mummification endured for thousands of years – Even when Egypt was ruled by the Greeks and later
by the Romans – Valley of the Golden Mummies:
• 1996 discovery at Bahariya Oasis in the desert of southwest Cairo
• Evidence this necropolis was used as late as 300-400 CE
What goes in the tomb with the Mummy?
• Food• Drink• Clothing• Utensils• Small statues called “ushabtis” (answerers)– To perform any labor required of the deceased in
the afterlife– Answer whenever his or her name is called