Transcript Ancient Egyptian Architecture
Ancient Egypt Culture & Society The Daily Life of Ancient Egypt
30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 1
Overview
Population
Language
Social structure
Divine kingship
Arts and leisure
Cosmology
30-Apr-20 Skiffs in Nile Swamps 6 th Saqqara Mastaba Dynasty, 2300 BC GNED002 - Ancient Empires 2
Population
Numbers
– Old Kingdom • 1 - 2 million – Roman Empire • 7 million
Immigration
– Nubians, Asiatics, Greeks – Small numbers, acculturated easily 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Nubian tribute 3
Language
“doctor” Afro-Asiatic Egyptian language Five Ancient Language Periods – Old Egyptian (Predynastic Old Kingdom) – Middle Egyptian (Middle Kingdom) – Late Egyptian (New Kingdom) – Demotic (Ptolemy to Middle Ages) – Coptic Egyptian (Middle Ages to 1600’s) • replaced by Arabic Hieroglyphic (picture writing) – evolved into demotic (cursive writing) Literacy – Grew with growth of central administration 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires papyrus scribe 4
Writing
Records, literature, hymns & prayers, technical manuals Hallmark of administrative class
Hieroglyphic:
picture writing – From Old Kingdom – Rosetta Stone: same text in Egyptian hieroglyphic, Egyptian demotic, and Greek – Cursive script 2500 BC
Papyrus
workshops in temples: copying traditional texts 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Rosetta Stone scribe 5
Social Structure
Upper
– pharaoh & court – high-level officials
Middle
– lower-level officials – local leaders, wealthy farmers – priests & professionals – artisans
Lower
– common folk (majority)
Slaves
– Limited to captives, criminals 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Royal couple Sulptors 6
Divine Kingship
Pharaoh son of Sun God - Re
– Sent to maintain
ma’at
– People’s link with gods : divinely authorized order of universe – Rule ensured security, prosperity – Source of law, authority
Centralized Power
– All Egypt belongs to Pharaoh – Strong monarchy = strong central government
Capital Cities
– Old Kingdom: Memphis (near Cairo) – Middle & New Kingdom: Thebes (Luxor) 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 7
Nomes and Cities
1st nome - Saqqara
Nomes
– Provinces of Ancient Egypt – Lower Egypt: 20, Upper Egypt: 22 – Nomarchs • provincial governors • supervised irrigation & dams, dispensed justice
Cities
– Pharaonic capitals • No archaeology: still occupied • Essential wealth in land & products – Provincial capitals • Religious and economic centres for region, frontier fortresses • Nubia ruled directly by viceroy of pharaoh 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 8
Royal Bureaucracy
Writing records
– Land, labour, products, people – Taxes up to 50% Simple geography of Nile lands easy to administer
Administration
– Palace, bureaucracy, army – Built & maintained temples, monuments to pharaoh State monopoly over key sectors of economy – Some local private enterprise 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 9
The Imperial Military
Bedouins
Old & Middle Kingdoms
– Limited contact with other civilizations • Defense against desert raiders – Small standing army of professional soldiers • Local militia when needed
New Kingdom
– Expanded Empire •
Nubia
, Middle East – Trade, not territory • Access to resources e.g. Lebanese cedar 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Egypt’s Kingdoms 10
The Army of Egypt
Weapons
– Striking weapons • club, mace, axe, sword, spear – Throwing weapons • javelin, bow, slingshot – Shield, helmet, armour – chariot after Hyksos invasion New Kingdom Army – Mercenaries – Nobility as officers – Use of specialized forces: sappers (military engineers), trenchers, shock troops – Rewards for excellence: land, slaves, social position 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 11
Shipping and Trade
Ships
– River boats – Seafaring traders – Naval vessels
Trade Routes
– – – –
Nubia
: gold
Sinai
: copper, gems
Canaan
: cedar
Punt
: ostrich eggs, ivory 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 12
Artisans
Carpenters – cabinet making, furniture Sculptors Stonemasons – tomb & temple complexes Goldsmiths – jewellry, funeral masks Weavers – linens Potters Chair for King Tut Funeral mask of Psusennes 21st dynasty 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 13
Nefertari playing Senet
Leisure
Zoos & parks – gardens in house courtyard – animals & birds Hunting & fishing – royal leopard hunts Games – ball, board – sports – toys Banquets – games, music, dancing garden with fish pond 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 14
Music
Strings
– Harps, lyres, lutes
Percussion
– Drums, rattles, cymbals
Wind
– Flutes, trumpets, oboes
Vocal music
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Cosmology
Religion rooted in landscape of Nile
– Vision of cosmic order – Recurrent cycles, periodic renewal
Pharaoh as Chief Priest
– Temples, gifts to gods, tomb monuments – Required great wealth • Continuity of divine kingship • Ensure renewal of life Menkaure and goddesses 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires 16
Gods of Ancient Egypt
Amen 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
– Amen (Amon) Creation deity of Thebes –
Anubis
Jackal head, conductor of souls –
Isis
Mother goddess of fertility & nature –
Re (Ra)
creator, sun god –
Osiris
god of dead, underworld Isis 30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Osiris Anubis Re 17
Temple of Amon - Luxor
Ritual
Temple Cults
– God statue in inner room – Priests serve daily needs
Festivals
– Boat litter carried god statue in public
Household Altars
– Offerings to • Bes, god of marriage & family • Local gods • Family ancestors
Magic
– Amulets : An
amulet
( Latin
amuletum
) can be any object whose most important characteristic is its alleged power to protect its owner from danger or harm.
30-Apr-20 GNED002 - Ancient Empires Bes 18
shabti
Obsession with Afterlife
canopic jar Death as hazardous journey to afterlife – Book of the Dead: ritual & prayer to protect soul – Weighing of deceased’s heart –
Shabti
: figurine servant as companion (also
ushabti
) Mummification – Organs removed to canopic jars – Body dried in natron • Naturally occurring • Salt & sodium carbonate – Sarcophagus: decorated casket in tomb 30-Apr-20 Sarcophagus of Tutankhamen GNED002 - Ancient Empires 19