Ancient Egyptian architecture 2672171 225842821 2008-07-15T17:34:03Z A. Parrot 839494 [[Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 00289.JPG|thumb|400px|The well preserved [[Temple of Edfu|Temple of Horus at Edfu]] is an exemplar of Egyptian architecture]] The [[Nile]] valley has been the site of one of the most influential [[civilization]]s which developed a vast array of diverse structures encompassing '''[[ancient Egypt]]ian architecture'''. The architectural monuments, which include the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] and the [[Great Sphinx of Giza]], are among the largest and most famous. == Characteristics of Egyptian Architecture == Due to the scarcity of lumber,<ref>R. G. Blakemore, ''History of Interior Design and Furniture: From Ancient Egypt to Nineteenth-Century Europe'', John Wiley and Sons 1996, p.100</ref> the two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sunbaked [[mud brick]] and [[Rock (geology)|stone]], mainly limestone, but also sandstone and granite in considerable quantities.<ref>Blakemore, 1996, p.107</ref> From the [[Old Kingdom]] onward, stone was generally reserved for [[tomb]]s and [[temple]]s, while bricks were used even for royal palaces, fortresses, the walls of temple precincts and towns, and for subsidiary buildings in temple complexes. Egypt houses were made out of mud collected from the Nile river. It was placed in molds and left to dry in the hot sun to harden for use in construction. Many ancient Egyptian towns have disappeared because they were situated near the cultivated area of the Nile Valley and were flooded as the river bed slowly rose during the millennia, or the mud bricks of which they were built were used by peasants as fertilizer. Others are inaccessible, new buildings having been erected on ancient ones. Fortunately, the dry, hot climate of Egypt preserved some mud brick structures. Examples include the village [[Deir al-Madinah]], the Middle Kingdom town at Kahun,<ref>W. M. Flinders Petrie, ''Kahun, Gurob, and Hawara'', Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, and Co., London 1890</ref> and the fortresses at [[Buhen]]<ref>Charles Gates, ''Ancient Cities: The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome'', Routledge 2003, p.101</ref> and Mirgissa. Also, many temples and tombs have survived because they were built on high ground unaffected by the Nile flood and were constructed of stone. Thus, our understanding of ancient Egyptian architecture is based mainly on religious monuments,<ref>Dieter Arnold, Byron Esely Shafer ''Temples of Ancient Egypt'', I.B.Tauris, 2005</ref> massive structures characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls. In a similar manner, the incised and flatly modeled surface adornment of the stone buildings may have derived from mud wall ornamentation. Although the use of the [[arch]] was developed during the [[Fourth dynasty of Egypt|fourth dynasty]], all monumental buildings are [[trabeated (architecture)|post and lintel]] constructions, with flat roofs constructed of huge stone blocks supported by the external walls and the closely spaced columns. Exterior and interior walls, as well as the [[column]]s and [[pier (architecture)|piers]], were covered with [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyph]]ic and pictorial frescoes and carvings painted in brilliant colors.<ref>Blakemore, 1996, pp.107ff.</ref> Many motifs of Egyptian ornamentation are [[symbolic]], such as the [[Dung beetle#Scarab in Ancient Egypt|scarab]], or sacred beetle, the [[solar disk]], and the [[vulture]]. Other common motifs include [[palm tree|palm]] leaves, the [[papyrus]] plant, and the buds and flowers of the [[Nymphaea caerulea|lotus]].<ref>Arnold, 2005, pp.204ff</ref> [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|Hieroglyphs]] were inscribed for decorative purposes as well as to record historic events or spells. == The Giza pyramid complex == {{main|Giza pyramid complex}} The Giza Necropolis stands on the [[Giza Plateau]], on the outskirts of [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]]. This complex of ancient monuments is located some 8 [[kilometre]]s (5&nbsp;[[mile|mi]]) inland into the desert from the old town of [[Giza]] on the Nile, some 20 kilometers (12&nbsp;mi) southwest of Cairo city center. This [[Ancient Egypt]]ian [[necropolis]] consists of the [[Pyramid of Khufu]] (also known as the ''[[Great Pyramid of Giza|Great Pyramid]]'' and the ''Pyramid of Cheops''), the somewhat smaller [[Pyramid of Khafre]] (or Kephren), and the relatively modest-sized [[Pyramid of Menkaure]] (or Mykerinus), along with a number of smaller satellite edifices, known as "queens" pyramids, and the [[Great Sphinx]]. [[Image:Pyramids_of_Egypt1.jpg|thumb|300px|The Pyramids of Giza]] The pyramids, which were built in the Fourth Dynasty, testify to the power of the pharaonic religion and state. The [[Great Pyramid]], which was probably completed c. [[2580 BC]], is the oldest and largest of the pyramids, and is the only surviving monument of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. The pyramid of Khafre is believed to have been completed around [[2532 BC]], at the end of Khafre's reign. The date of construction of Menkaure's pyramid is unknown, because Menkaure's reign has not been accurately defined, but it was probably completed sometime during the [[26th century BC]]. With few openings, the pyramids had complex mazes of tunnels and rooms all hidden by the massive hunks of stone. Nevertheless, grave robbers stubbornly stole from the pyramids, thus forcing the ancient Egyptians to halt construction on these massive structures and build their tombs in the [[Valley of the Kings]] instead. In a canyon far from any ancient Egyptian town, the Egyptians began to build inconspicuous tombs dug into the ground, thinking the tombs would go unnoticed by grave robbers. == Karnak == {{main|Karnak}} The temple complex of Karnak is located on the banks of the River Nile some 2.5 kilometers (1.5&nbsp;mi) north of [[Luxor]]. It consists of four main parts, the [[Precinct of Amon-Re]], the [[Precinct of Montu]], the [[Precinct of Mut]] and the [[Temple of Amenhotep IV]] (dismantled), as well as a few smaller temples and sanctuaries located outside the enclosing walls of the four main parts, and several avenues of ram-headed sphinxes connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amon-Re and Luxor Temple. [[Image:Hypostyle hall, Karnak temple.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The hypostyle hall of Karnak Temple]] The key difference between Karnak and most of the other temples and sites in Egypt is the length of time over which it was developed and used. Construction work began in the [[16th century BC]]. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere. Few of the individual features of Karnak are unique, but the size and number of features is overwhelming. == Luxor Temple == {{main|Luxor Temple}} The Luxor Temple is a large [[ancient Egypt]]ian temple complex located on the east bank of the [[Nile|River Nile]] in the city today known as [[Luxor]] (ancient [[Thebes (Egypt)|Thebes]]). Construction work on the temple began during the reign of [[Amenhotep III]] in the [[14th century BC]]. [[Horemheb]] and [[Tutankhamun]] added columns, statues, and friezes{{ndash}} and [[Akhenaten]] had earlier obliterated his father's [[cartouche]]s and installed a shrine to the [[Aten]]{{ndash}} but the only major expansion effort took place under [[Ramesses II]] some 100 years after the first stones were put in place. Luxor is thus unique among the main Egyptian temple complexes in having only two [[pharaoh]]s leave their mark on its architectural structure. [[Image:Egypt.LuxorTemple.06.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Luxor Temple, from the east bank of the Nile]] The temple proper begins with the 24 [[metre]] (79&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) high First [[Pylon (architecture)|Pylon]], built by Ramesses II. The [[pylon]] was decorated with scenes of Ramesses's military triumphs (particularly the [[Battle of Qadesh]]); later pharaohs, particularly those of the [[Nubia]]n and [[Ethiopia]]n dynasties, also recorded their victories there. This main entrance to the temple complex was originally flanked by six colossal statues of Ramesses{{ndash}} four seated, and two standing{{ndash}} but only two (both seated) have survived. Modern visitors can also see a 25 metre (82&nbsp;ft) tall pink granite [[obelisk]]: this one of a matching pair until 1835, when the other one was taken to [[Paris]] where it now stands in the centre of the [[Place de la Concorde]]. Through the pylon gateway leads into a peristyle courtyard, also built by Ramesses II. This area, and the pylon, were built at an oblique angle to the rest of the temple, presumably to accommodate the three pre-existing barque shrines located in the northwest corner. After the peristyle courtyard comes the processional colonnade built by Amenhotep III{{ndash}} a 100 metre (328&nbsp;ft) corridor lined by 14 [[papyrus]]-[[capital (architecture)|capital]] columns. Friezes on the wall describe the stages in the Opet Festival, from sacrifices at Karnak at the top left, through [[Amun]]'s arrival at Luxor at the end of that wall, and concluding with his return on the opposite side. The decorations were put in place by Tutankhamun: the boy pharaoh is depicted, but his names have been replaced with those of Horemheb. Beyond the colonnade is a peristyle courtyard, which also dates back to Amenhotep's original construction. The best preserved columns are on the eastern side, where some traces of original colour can be seen. The southern side of this courtyard is made up of a 36-column hypostyle court that leads into the inner sanctums of the temple, which begin with a dark chamber not achechamber. == References== <div class="references-small"><references /></div> == See also == * [[Egyptian pyramids]] * [[Medinet Habu (temple)|Medinet Habu]] * [[Edfu]] * [[Valley of the Kings]] * [[List of ancient Egyptian sites]] {{Archhistory}} == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Ancient_Egypt_rope_usage.jpg|Egyptian workers pulling a giant statue on a sled Image:pyramids_at_giza_01.jpg|The Giza pyramid field, viewed from the southwest Image:Egypt.LuxorTemple.06.jpg|Luxor Temple, from the east bank of the Nile Image:Egypt.MedinetHabu.02.jpg|Ceiling decoration in the peristyle hall of [[Medinet Habu (temple)|Medinet Habu]] Image:Obeslisk_karnak.jpg|Obelisk at Karnak Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 LUXOR OBELISK.JPG|Obelisk and first pylon, Luxor Temple, Egypt Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 KARNAK-OBELISK.JPG|Obelisk, Karnak Temple, Egypt Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 KARNAK 00078.JPG|Karnak Temple, Egypt Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 HATSHEPSUT00195.JPG|Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 DENDERA 01389.JPG|Temple of Hathor, Dendera Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01366.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01360.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01358.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01320.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01319.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01309.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 RAMASEUM 01294.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 KARNAK 00954.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-KARNAK-0043.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-ESNA-0080.JPG|Temple of Khnum, Esna Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-EDFU-0086.JPG|Temple of Horus, Edfu Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 01385.JPG|Bes at the Temple of Hathor, Dendera Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 00671.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 00661.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 00466.JPG|Temple of Horus & Sobek, Kom Ombo Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2006 FEB 00289.JPG|Temple of Horus, Edfu Image:S F-E-CAMERON Egypt 2006 feb 00081.JPG|Luxor Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 APR 00363.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 APR 00361.JPG|Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 APR 00354.JPG|Temple of Nefertiri, Abu Simbel Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 APR 00152.JPG|Temple of Horus & Sobek, Kom Ombo Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-WESTBANK-0153.JPG|Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0130.JPG|Temple of Isis, Philae Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0112.JPG|Temple of Isis, Philae Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-KARNAK-0209.JPG|Karnak Temple, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-KARNAK-0002.JPG|Karnak Temple, Luxor Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-EDFU-0059.JPG|Temple of Horus, Edfu Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-EDFU-0020.JPG|Temple of Horus, Edfu Image:S F-E-CAMERON Hatshepsut Hawk.JPG|Hawk symbol at Temple of Hatshepsut Image:S F-E-CAMERON EGYPT 2005 APR 01210.JPG|Night at Karnak Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-Col1.JPG|Philae Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0114.JPG|Philae Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0089.JPG|Philae Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0088.JPG|Philae Temple Image:S F-E-CAMERON 2006-10-EGYPT-PHILAE-0047.JPG|Philae Temple </gallery> {{Link FA|pl}} ==External links== *[http://www.aldokkan.com/art/architecture.htm Ancient Egyptian Architecture - Aldokkan] *[http://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/ancient-egypt-houses.html Ancient Egypt Houses] {{Ancient Egypt topics}} [[Category:Egyptology]] [[Category:Ancient Egyptian architecture| ]] [[Category:Architectural history]] [[bg:Архитектура в Древен Египет]] [[ca:Arquitectura de l'antic Egipte]] [[es:Arquitectura del Antiguo Egipto]] [[eu:Arkitektura egiptoarra]] [[fa:معبد لوکسور]] [[fr:Architecture de l'Égypte antique]] [[he:אדריכלות מצרים העתיקה]] [[nl:Oud-Egyptische architectuur]] [[pl:Architektura i rzeźba starożytnego Egiptu]] [[pt:Arquitetura do Egito Antigo]] [[ro:Arhitectura în Egiptul antic]] [[sr:Египатска архитектура]] [[ta:தொல்பழங்கால எகிப்தியக் கட்டிடக்கலை]] [[vi:Kiến trúc Ai Cập cổ đại]]