Palette Of King Narmer: The Afterlife Concept In Egyptian Art

While reading chapter 3, it was pretty clear that the afterlife concept it is incorporated in the Egyptian art. They believed “in the eternal existence of a person’s ka, or life force, which continued to inhabit the corpse after an individual died” (Kindle Edition 55). Thus, individuals with the economic resources available to them decided to decorate their tombs. During the Predynastic period, the finding of the Palette of King Narmer served as the conventional pattern for Egyptian artists. During this period, the Imhotep designed the pyramid of Djoser. The pyramid is a tomb which integrated the Egyptians’ belief of the ka. Following the concept of the afterlife, the pyramids of Gizeh are a perfect example. The purpose of the pyramids was
to facilitate the path of god-kings when they die to reach heaven. During the New Kingdom period, the pharaohs Ramses II and Hatshepsut order the constructions of enormous temples to worship their gods. In addition, the other purpose of the temples was to “served as temples in their own honor after their death” (Kindle Edition 59). Examples are Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut and the temple of Ramses II.