'Children Of The Deceased Tomb Of Ramose In Thebes'

GUIDE 3 UNIT 1

EGYPTIAN ART [pic] Children of the Deceased (detail of a limestone relief). Tomb of Ramose in Thebes. 1375 B.C.
Many students find ancient Egypt a fascinating subject, and so do I. This is why I have provided some additional information in this guide. The last pages are offered for extra learning.

[pic]
EGYPTIAN ART

In contrast to the diversity of the Near East region, the Egyptians created a remarkably stable civilization that endured without major changes for some three thousand years.

What land is called the Fertile Crescent? - *Mesopotamian__
What area is called the Fertile Ribbon? - *_Egypt_

Why fertile? Because the land of Egypt had been enriched by the Nile’s annual floods.
Its agriculture critically depended on those floods and fertilization they provided.

Name three major aspects of Egyptian art and life: 1. *religion__ 2. *death__ 3. *conventionalism__

The last term means that Egyptian art was based on traditions and conventions (rules) that had not changed for millennia. (millennia is plural for millennium… just reminding)

There were three major periods in the history of Egypt.
I am going to help you with the millennia. Take a minute to check them against your imaginary Timeline or make a quick drawing. Make sure you understand about the first and second halves of millennium B.C.

| Period | Dates | Millennium |
|Old Kingdom |2680 B.C.-2258B.C. | 3rd millennium |
|Middle Kingdom |2000 b.c-1786 b.c | first half of the 2nd millennium |
|New Kingdom |1570 b.c-1342b.c |second half of the 2nd millennium |

OLD KINGDOM

In this period were created the hallmarks of Egyptian art:
Pyramids & Large Statues
What was the focal aspect of Egyptian religion? - *Afterlife__
In what way did these beliefs effect the development of art? - *tombs decorated with everday objects and scenes depicting common earthly activities. As a matter of fact, it is due to the arts we know that much about life of Egyptian people who lived 5000 years ago.

Sculpture
What manner of rendering of the human figure was initiated in the Old Kingdom and lasted thousands of years?conceptual While reading your book, observe the detail of the tomb wall painting (below).

|[pic] |Parts of the body presented in profile: |
| |*…head |
| |*…pelvis |
| |*…legs |
| |Parts are shown in a frontal view: |
| |*…upper torso |
| |*…eyes |
| |Are figures three-dimensional or flat? |
| |*…flat |
| | |
| |Fresco - *mural paintings |
| |Look this word up if you are not sure |
| |what it is. |
| | |
| |Were the Egyptinas first to use this |

Important Art History Notions
In the previous guide, we have already talked about Conventional &Conceptual styles (or manners). There is also the third term which is close in its meaning – Stylized manner.

Terminology – a set of special terms – is an essential part of any area of knowledge, any discipline.
It serves as a language. As one cannot become a doctor without learning medical terminology, one cannot understand art history without knowing the basic terms and notions. Besides, you sound like a true art connoisseur and expert when using terms (smile).

The following terms are related to the major notions in art history. You are going to come across them all the time.

| Any object of human figure can be rendered in two major ways |
| |
|naturalistically |in conventional manner |
|or |or |
|realistically |in conceptual manner |
| |or |
|Artists try to recreate the likeness, |in stylized manner |
|how the objects look in real life – in nature.
|or |
| |in idealistic manner |
| | |
| |In these cases, the artists do not set goal of |
| |making the images look like ‘real.’ |
| |Instead they consciously follow certain |
| |rules (conventions), concepts, styles, ideals.
|

TERMS Free Online Dictionary: http://www.thefreedictionary.com Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/ Remember about these search options
RELIEF (as a kind of sculpture) is * to raise Relief sculpture can be of two types:
HIGH RELIEF - *where more than 50% of the depth is shown and there may be undercut areas

BAS-RELIEF - *where the plane is scarcely more than scratched in order to remove background material

Bas means low in French.
Pronounced [bah] ("s" is mute at the end of words)
- Here we are, learning French…
Don’t ask me why the English-speaking art historians use French word (“bas”) for “low relief” while being quite satisfied with English word “high” in case of “high relief” (smile)

Also remember that the notion relief is opposed to free-standing sculpture, which is also called sculpture in round.

Egyptian sculptors used mostly bas-relief technique.

INCISED detail in the sculptural relief - *to cut into with a sharp tool
Knowing Terms is a critical element of studying any discipline. They will certainly be on the tests.

Before you start reading about the Narmer Palette, I want to elaborate on two terms that are quite confusing for many, and not only students.
|The Egyptians called their Kingdom ‘The Two Lands’ – |[pic] |
|Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt. | |
| | |
|Lower Land (Egypt) - this is how ancient Egyptian called | |
|the delta area of the Nile river. | |
| | |
|Upper Land (Egypt) - was the name for the territories located up the river, beyond the city | |
|of Amarna. | |
| | |
|“While the labelling of "Upper" and "Lower" might seem counterintuitive, with Upper Egypt in| |
|the south and Lower Egypt | |
|in the north on modern maps, the terminology derives from | |
|the flow of the Nile from the highlands of East Africa | |
|(upstream) to the Mediterranean Sea (downstream). | |
| | |
|The two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt | |
|were united c. 3000 BCE, but each maintained its own regalia.” | |
|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_and_Lower_Egypt) | |

|*narmer__ Palette Date: *3200b.c. |Function? - *deflect sun glare__ |
| |What important historical event did it |
|They used palettes like this one for grinding up |commemorate? - *the unification of upper Egypt |
|minerals for pigments (paint colors), |and lower Egypt__ |
|e.g. black to outline the eyes | |
|(see sculptural portrait of Nefertiti | |
|at the end of this chapter) | |
|[pic] | |
| | |
| |Who is depicted on the back of the palette?
- |
| |*King Narmer__ |
| |How does the crown of Upper Egypt look? - |
| |* _bowling pin shape |
| |Hawk is a symbol of which god? |
| |* Horus |
| |Bull-shaped heads represent which goddess? –
|
| |Hathor |
| |symbolizing *_love and joy |
| | |
| | |
| |bobax.tripod.com/artsmart1/id2.html |
|[pic] |And this is how the crown of Lower Egypt looked (right). |
|http://curiositynourished.blogspot.com/2008/11/ancient-egypt-old-kin|It is fancier, isn’t it… |
|gdom.html BTW, this is a good website for children. | |
| | |
| |You can make small simple sketches yourself while reading. |
| |This is a good study technique – |
| |it helps to memorize info. It is also fun. |

Manner in which the king is depicted - conventional? [Leave the right term and erase the wrong one]

As you may notice, I keep dwelling on these basic terms because they are very important. You will continue coming across all the time. Thus, it is going to happen on the next page…

Now take a look at the front of the palette.
REGISTER - * A horizontal segment of a structure of work of art
How many registers is the palette divided into? - * 4
What can you tell about the size of the king’s figure? - *large scaled _
Go back to take another glance at the Akkadian Victory Stele of Naram Sin.
Same case, isn’t it? Keep in mind, that making major figures larger (e.g., kings and gods) had been typical for all ancient art.

****
Egyptian tomb sculpture is represented by large-size statues also called KA-statues
- *carved in the round usully from very hard materials that were likely to endure

KA-statues - *housing the soul if the mummified remains of the deceased disintegrated.

Are the KA-statues naturalistically done portraits? - *… no

Note that there was still some touch of realism in the faces of these statures. Do you know why?
Supposedly, the lifelikeness let the Ka (soul) to recognize the statue as its dwelling)

|[pic] |Statue of *Khafre - example of Ka-figure |
| |Date: *2500 B. C. (3rd millennium B.C.) |
| | |
| |Observe the statue closely and find all the typical |
| |features for Old Kingdom sculpture: |
| |rigid posture |
| |frontal gaze |
| |block-like quality |
| |clenched fists |
| | |
| |Name the conventional attributes of the pharaoh: |
| |*finely pleated kilt __ |
| |*linen headdress gracing the shoulders |
| |*a long thin beard |
|BTW, he beard was false; the she-pharaohs |Hawk (sitting behind his head) represents |
|also had to tier it up. |*Horus__ |
| | |

Canon of proportions - *a set of rules governing the portion of the human body as they are to be rendered by artist.
[Note: Canon generally means set of rules]

Tomb sculpture was usually carved in very hard stones like granite or diorite. Any idea why they would choose the hard materials? –the sculpture would remain intact

ARCHITECTURE

[pic]
*Great Pyramids at Gizeh__- The most spectacular remains of Ancient Egypt. [find Giza on the map]
In what period were these pyramids built? - *old kingdom__
In what millennium? - *3rd__
What was their purpose? - *tomb__
Jot down a few numbers to demonstrate the gigantic size of these amazing structures. [I do not expect you to remember them] Height: *775ft on a side and 450 ft high__ Weight of one block: *2.5 tons__ How many of blocks? *2300000 blocks__
What was the material the pyramids were constructed of? - *limestone__
How do the interiors look? - *network of chambers, galleries, and air shafts__

What was the problem that the pharaohs failed to foresee when creating their Houses for Eternal afterlife? *designed less easily penetrated dwelling places for their spirits.
Many of them probably lost this chance for eternity forever. Isn’t it sad…

[pic]
An oasis and the pyramids of Giza. 1917 3info2u.com/info-great-pyramid-of-giza.htm

MIDDLE KINGDOM Early 2nd millennium B.C. (From 2000 B.C. to 1786 B.C.)
Rock-Cut Tombs -*designed to prevent robberies. Carved out of living rock and their entranceways were marked by columned porticoes of post and lintel construction.__
[Explain how they were built. Why did the Egyptians switched from constructing the pyramids to building rock-cut tombs?]

Living Rock - *natural rock formation as on a mountainside
Portico - * The entrance façade of a Greek temple adapted for use with other buildings and consisting of a colonnade entablature and pediment

NEW KINGDOM 2nd millennium B.C. (2nd half )
The New Kingdom dates from *1570 B.C.__ to *1342 B.C._ (take a look at the table on the first page of this guide)

________/_*1570 B.C._________/__*1342 B.C._______/_______________ /____________O____ 2000 B.C. 1500 B.C. 1000 B.C. 500 B.C.

History of Egypt in the transition from the Middle Kingdom to the next period.
Put it in a few lines on .
*Egypt fell under the rule of an Asiatic tribe__
*introduced Bronze Age weapons to Egypt
*mark expansionism
*increased wealth, economic and political stability
Art of the New Kingdom: [list the main features]
*freedom of expression__
*2 dimensional works like paintings
*relief sculpture few stylistic changes

Mortuary Temple - a new architectural form developed in the New Kingdom.
In what ways was a different from the pyramids?*did not house the mummified remains of the pharaohs but rather served as their place for worship during life and a place at which they could be worshiped after death__

Mortuary Temple of Queen *Hatshepsut …. [type the name of the famous she-pharaoh]
Describe appearance and construction of this temple. How did it look 3,500 years ago? (Not as barren as in this picture, that for sure…).
*temple backs into imposing cliffs and is divided into three terraces which are approached by long ramps that rise from the floor of the valley to the top of pillared colonnades__

Colonnade - * a series of columns placed side by side to support a roof or a series of arches [pic]

Amarna Period NEW KINGDOM Amarna Style in Egyptian art
*_14th century B.C._ [When?]
The reign of *Akhenaton or *Amenhotep IV [2nd name this pharaoh took]

Why did he choose this name? *Akhenaon_

That is correct, the revolutionary pharaoh Akhenaton, established a cult of the sun god * Aton_
He also fostered a new and distinctive artistic style.

At this moment you are probably reading about the “monotheistic fury” of Akhenaton.
In what way did this fury express itself? *Aton was the only god._
Monotheistic –belief in one god

Greek and Latin words:
Mono – one, single
Poly - many
Monotheism - a belief in one god.
Polytheism - a belief that there are *many gods (your guess) Another example: Polychromatic (painting) – painted with many colors; Monochromatic – in one color (+ white); close shades can be used.

Why did the period and style were named Amarna? - *because the pharaoh moved the capital of Egypt to Tell el-Amarna

The short period of the Akhenaton’s reign (17 years) is called a Revolution.

Revolution (term)
This word does not necessarily mean a revolt or uprising. In a wider sense of the word, it indicates any drastic changes happening in a very short period of time.

[pic]Pillar statue of *Akhenaton from the Temple of *Amen-Re__ in Karnak (city). Date: *_1356 B.C._

Observing the statue of Akhenaton put a few lines on “revolutionary” changes in art.
Characteristics of the Amarna style (based on description of the statue):
*elongated jaw__
*thick lips and thick lidded eyes__
Did the sculptor intend to create a likeness of the pharaoh? * yes__

I would emphasize two critical features: 1. Curving fluid lines as opposed to the rigid and block-like forms of earlier sculptures (remember a block-like seating stature of Khafre?) 2. Realism/Naturalism - rendering in likeness – ‘Warts and all’
Here is a curious fact(particularly if you are interested in medicine) : the naturalistic Akhenaton’s depictions is so vivid that it has allowed the doctors to suggest that the pharaoh had hydrocephalus or Marfan’s syndrome (based on the cone-shaped head, elongated face and jar, pot belly and flaring hips).

The revolutionary changes in art canbe even better seen in the bust of the pharaoh's beautiful wife.
[Bust – a piece of sculpture representing a person’s head; could be with the shoulders or upper chest]

|[pic] |Bust of Nefertiti * [type the Queen’s name] |
| |This work of art is considered to be the most extraordinary artistic |
| |achievement of the Amarna period and entire ancient art. |
| | |
| |Date: *1344 B.C… |
| |Material: *Limestone… |
| |Size: *approximate 20”… |
| | |
| |“Eternal female, ceaselessly watching…” (art critic) |
| |She was also called a universal model of woman’s beauty. |
| |How do you feel about such a definition? |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |Doesn't this way of outlining eyes remind you about |
| |60-s make-up type? |

The life-sized carved portrait was discovered in 1912 by a team of German archaeologists in the desert sands near the long-lost city Amarna founded by Akhenaten. (Left eye is unfinished)

This statue-head (bust) is one of the most arresting images of world art. The Queen has a fascinating vitality.
What means did the ancient sculptor use to enhance the naturalism of the work (likeness)?
* _

There is a nice eulogy of Queen Nefertiti in your book - read it and take another look at this beautiful face.

*Tutankhamen… [name of the Akhenaton's successor] Boy-king *….. [why such a term?]

Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered virtually intact by *Howard Carter in 1922….. [by whom and when?]
It is considered the greatest discovery in the history of archaeology [describe it in a few words]
*made of solid gold…
*wrapped in linen face covered astounding gold mask…
*semi precious stones…

“The most spectacular find” was *young pharaoh’s coffin… -
Date: *1922__
Material: *arafonite and obsidian__
*… fashioned out of sheet gold [provide few facts]
*… eyebrows inlaid with lapis lazuli
*…

I would like to show you one more piece from the Tutankhamen’s Tomb treasury – his throne, representing his parents-in-law –Akhenaten and Nefertiti.
|Throne of Tutankhamen | |
|[pic] |The throne’s back shows the royal couple in a homely idyll. |
| | |
| |King’s wife is touching him in a very gentle affectionate manner. |
| | |
| |Observe how the pharaoh sits on his chair. |
| |Can you see any sign of the official solemnity proper for |
| |a living god (who the pharaohs were believed to be)? |
| |(Compare to the earlier statues of the pharaohs?). |
| | |
| |This piece clearly demonstrates that Amarna art brought |
| |a revolutionary change - the thousands years old rules |
| |were broken. |
| | |
| |We can only imagine how shocking this kind of art |
| |was for the Egyptians and priests of the day because |
| |of its novelty. Maybe even more shocking than some contemporary art is for |
| |many today. |
| | |
| |Type and remember the name of this style?- |
| |*……. |

Tutankhamen. Read the page about the young pharaoh and write down a few facts.
*__
*__
*__

Guide 4 is done.
The very last thing - make sure you are well oriented in time and know when the visionary “pharaoh-heretic” lived and created the Amarna style. o What period/kingdom was it? - *Akhenaten__ o What millennium B.C.? - *2nd B.C.__ o What century B.C.? *14th century B.C.__

See the dates under pictures – 1356, 1344, 1340…Draw a quick timeline and place these dates on it. If you need to refresh your Chronology skills, look at the Dating Sheet.

Well, that was plenty of information for one guide. I hope it was not too much. I just felt that ancient Egypt was such a great topic, and that there was not that enough information in the book. This guide is the longest one.

How long it took for you (approximately)? • Because it was a lot of information it took longer but everything was easy to find just a lot of it.

By the way, Akhenaten ruled in the 14th century B.C. and second millennium B.C.
Was your answer right?

Before printing – delete pictures as well as my directions and departures.

Go back to the beginning – scroll down – read the highlighted lines - take the last look at every picture – make sure you remember it – then delete it [point-right click- cut]. Save both versions of guides – with images and without them. While doing this take the time to quickly review the guide.

Study technique: Reviewing your own notes or outline right after you have finished them, helps you see the big picture and retain information in the most efficient way.

This section is for the most curious….
If you are one of those, and if you still have some energy left, here is a chance to learn more.
You might even be able to make a couple of bonus points – read this and see how.

Hieroglyphs!
I invite you to learn about the basics of Egyptian language.
|[pic] |Alphabet (on the left) |
| | |
| |Egyptians glyphs are divided into two groups: |
| |Phonograms (represent sounds) |
| |Ideograms (represent objects or ideas) |
| | |
| |The Egyptians constructed words by using |
| |a combination of the two types of hieroglyphs. |
| | |
| |[pic] |
| |Ideogram (above) |
| | |
| |Example: glyph legs means a noun movement. |
| |When combined with other glyphs, the symbol can |
| |represent the verb to approach, |
| |or the concept “to give directions.” |

Take a look at the letter (fragment) below.
It was written over 4000 years ago ….
[pic]

They say that human nature has not changed in its deep basis, such as love for children, for example. Just think how long ago these lines were written. Amazing, isn’t it…

Hieroglyphs & Champollion

| |‘Champollion was a French classical scholar and archaeologist, responsible for |
|[pic][pic] |deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. He is celebrated as the founding father of |
|Jean-François Champollion, (1790 -1832) |Egyptology’ – |
| |www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/champollion_jean.shtml |
| | |
| | |
| |If you have a few minutes, read an amazing story of how |
| |the young genius had deciphered the “dead” language. |
| | |
| |On hieroglyphs and Egyptian culture: |
| |www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/hieroglyphics/rosettastone.html |
| | |
| | |

[pic]
Credit: photography.nationalgeographic.com/photograph... Photo 1921